The tour includes three tests against the Black ferns. Photo: Getty ImagesDunedin has suffered another blow with the announcement it will play no part in a groundbreaking women’s rugby tour next year. Still, there is no reason the city could not host both, and missing out on being part of a history-making Lions tour is a negative, no matter how it is spun. New Zealand Rugby acting chief executive Steve Lancaster said the visit of the Lions promised to be ‘‘something truly special’’. Lions women 2027 scheduleSeptember 4: v Black Ferns XV, WhangāreiSeptember 11: v Black Ferns, AucklandSeptember 14: v Invitational XV, HamiltonSeptember 18: v Black Ferns, WellingtonSeptember 25: v Black Ferns, Christchurch

Source: Otago Daily Times January 21, 2026 05:37 UTC