The Lions victory in the first test of the three-test series was a workmanlike performance that demonstrated the dominance of the British and Irish side and confirmed the longevity of the concept of the selected touring side. It was a routine win for the Lions and the scoreline flattered the Wallabies. But the 19-27 victory in Brisbane has some potentially serious implications for world rugby as a whole.
Last week’s eagerly awaited Lions team selection announcement had one glaring omission, with no Welsh player being selected for the Test side. As only two Welsh players were originally called up for the 38-man squad, and one of them, Tomos Williams, subsequently having left Australia due to injury, there was a good chance that the remaining Welshman Jac Morgan would be selected. The current Welsh Captain has had an impressive tour so far and was many people’s favourite to gain the number 7 jersey, or at least to be part of the 23-man match day quad.
Unfortunately for Jac and three million Welsh people, Lions Head Coach Andy Farell decided against including him, opting instead for Englishman Tom Curry. From a rugby ability point of view it is hard to argue with the decision, as Tom Curry is a tried and tested international player and ended up playing very well. However, the decision had historic implications for the sport in Wales, as it meant that there was no Welshmen in a Lions squad for a Test against traditional opponents Australia, New Zealand or South Africa for the first time since 1896.
To put it into context, in the last Lions Test match, against South Africa in 2021, six Welshmen started the game with another one coming off the bench. Since the inception of the Lions, and especially through the 1970s and 80s, it would have been unthinkable to field a side without a Welsh representative. But it is an indictment of the current state of Welsh rugby. Having only just ended an 18-match losing streak by beating Japan, Welsh rugby is in dire straits. As former Welsh International Dafydd James stated, the situation “says exactly where Welsh rugby is and it’s worrying”.
While traditional rivals, such as England, may grin at the predicament Welsh rugby finds itself in, any true supporter of the game will know that the sport needs a competitive Wales team or else the foundations of the sport start crumbling. A Six Nations competition where Wales is constantly defeated will quickly lose its appeal for supporters, and most importantly for corporate sponsors, and speed up the flood of Welsh children turning their heads and passion towards football.
Recently the Welsh RFU confirmed its intention to finalise a ‘radical strategy’ to improve the country’s ailing game by October. Initial speculation is that this is likely to result in the governing body cutting the number of domestic teams from four to two, to ensure they are properly resourced. While it may seem counter-intuitive to try to expand the sport by cutting teams, there is some logic to this approach by concentrating playing and financial resources. Something radical needs to be done, but for me this approach is the wrong one and I would much rather look at a link up with the English Prem, with two conference-style leagues.
The Welsh RFU has also appointed a new coach in Steve Tandy. With Tandy’s appointment the board has decided to look inwards by appointing the first homegrown permanent head coach of the men’s Test side since Gareth Jenkins was sacked in September 2007. While it is interesting to see a change of direction from Wales and a commitment to rebuild the foundations of Welsh rugby, the jury is still out on whether these steps will make a profound difference – Autumn tests against New Zealand, South Afrida, Argentina and Japan will provide a stern test!
Australian rugby has also suffered of late, with major competition for attention from Rugby League and Aussie Rules, affecting both its playing pool and its revenue. However, Rugby Australia Chief Executive Phil Waugh has been in a positive state recently, and it’s unlikely that the first test result will dampen that much. Despite losing to the Lions, this tour could prove to be the turning point for rugby union in Australia.
In last year’s accounts Rugby Australia posted a loss of £17.9million, but Waugh predicts that Rugby Australia could end this year with a £24m surplus, with a mammoth 100,000-plus crowd for the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground contributing heavily to helping it wipe out its extensive borrowing.
So mixed fortunes for the Welsh and Australian unions, with the Lions vividly illustrating the poor state of Welsh rugby, while throwing a financial lifeline to Australia – I just hope that Jac gets a chance to show his skills in the remaining part of the tour.
David Little is a Partner at Bishop & Sewell in our expert Sports Law and Corporate & Commercial
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The above is accurate as at 23 July 2025.
The information above may be subject to change. The content of this note should not be considered legal advice, and each matter should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
