The British and Irish Lions women's team will make history on September 11, 2027, when they play their first-ever Test series against New Zealand at Auckland's Go Media Stadium. This will be a landmark event for women's rugby, as the Lions have never previously fielded a women's team in a Test match. The three-Test series, announced in 2024, is being hailed as a major development for the sport, with Lions chief executive Ben Calveley calling it "something truly special for the women's game." New Zealand Rugby has also expressed enthusiasm, describing the tour as a "significant moment for rugby globally." The tour will begin in Whangarei on September 4 with a match against the Black Ferns XV, a team made up of players not in the main national squad. The first Test will take place in Auckland on September 11, followed by matches in Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch. The decision to not hold the opening Test at Eden Park, a famous rugby venue that hosted the 2022 Rugby World Cup final, has been noted as a disappointment by some fans. Former England captain Jo Yapp has been appointed as the head coach of the Lions women's team, making her the first person to hold this role. Yapp emphasized that the team will be selected based on merit, and it is expected that a large number of English players will be included. The coaching staff is still being finalized, with names like Rachel Taylor, Sarah Hunter, and Emily Scarratt under consideration. The final squad is expected to be announced in May after the Women's Six Nations tournament, though it is uncertain if it will follow the same 38-player format as the men's Lions in 2025. Public awareness of the tour remains low, according to New Zealand rugby journalist Alice Soper, who noted limited marketing efforts and a decline in women's sports coverage since the 2022 Rugby World Cup. The timing of the tour, which overlaps with the men's Rugby World Cup in Australia, is also a concern for visibility. However, organizers are optimistic, with more than 124,000 supporters expected to attend the matches in person. Tickets are already on sale, with packages ranging from £1,595 to £14,495. While stadium capacity is a concern, the new One NZ Stadium in Christchurch has shown promise, drawing over 11,000 fans for a recent women's match. Efforts to build a dedicated fan base for women's rugby in New Zealand are ongoing, and upcoming matches involving the Black Ferns may help increase interest in the Lions' tour.