Lions v Argentina Score 2025: Historic 28-24 Win

For 98 years, the British & Irish Lions had never lost to Argentina. That streak ended on a June evening in Dublin, when Los Pumas claimed a 28-24 win that reshaped the narrative of the 2025 tour. This article breaks down the final score, the key moments, and what the result means for both sides.

Final Score: Lions 24 – 28 Argentina ·
Date: June 20, 2025 ·
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin ·
Tour Context: 2025 British & Irish Lions tour opener ·
Historic Result: First Argentina win over Lions

Five key details from the match — one pattern: Argentina dominated the first half and held off a Lions fightback in the second.

Was the match between the Lions and Argentina a test match?

Definition of a test match in rugby union

• A test match is the highest level of international rugby, typically played between full member unions of World Rugby (World Rugby).
• Matches that are part of a specific tour but not against the host nation are sometimes classified as mid-week tour games.

Status of the June 2025 match

• The fixture was widely referred to as a pre-tour match rather than a tour Test (BBC Sport).
• The Lions’ official match page labels it simply as “British & Irish Lions vs Argentina,” without the test designation used for matches against Australia (British & Irish Lions).

The implication: Argentina’s win carries symbolic weight but does not alter the Lions’ official test-match record, which remains focused on the upcoming Australia series.

Who scored for the Lions against Argentina?

Lions try scorers

• The British & Irish Lions scored 24 points through tries by Bundee Aki, a penalty try, and Tadhg Beirne (Rugby.com.au).
• Kicking: the Lions converted two of the tries and added a penalty goal (exact kicker not confirmed by sources).

Argentina try scorers

• Argentina scored 28 points through tries by Santiago Carreras, Tomas Albornoz, and Ignacio Mendy (Rugby.com.au).
• Santiago Albornoz also scored a try near halftime, according to match reports (Wallabies Rugby).

Kicking summary

• Argentina’s conversion and penalty kicks were handled by their goal-kickers, contributing the remaining points to reach 28 (ESPN).

What this means: Argentina’s try-scoring depth — three different players crossing the line — exposed defensive holes the Lions will need to patch before facing the Wallabies.

Has Argentina ever played the Lions before?

Early encounters in 1927 and 1936

• Argentina first faced the Lions on July 31, 1927, losing 37-0. A second match on August 7 ended 46-0 (Wikipedia – History of Argentina vs Lions).
• In 1936, the Lions toured Argentina and played three matches, all comfortably won by the tourists (Wikipedia – Lions international matches).

Modern matches summary

• After 1936, the Lions did not face Argentina again until the 2025 match in Dublin — 89 years later (Rugby.com.au).
• Until June 20, 2025, Argentina had never beaten the Lions in any fixture (BBC Sport).

The trade-off: While the Lions may dismiss this as a warm-up, the historical significance is undeniable — and it sets a psychological benchmark for Argentina ahead of future tours.

How much do Lions rugby players get paid?

Player wages during the tour

• Each Lions player receives a fixed tour fee rather than a match-by-match salary. For the 2025 tour, reports suggest a fee of approximately £70,000 per player (Betmaster – player salary data).

Andy Farrell’s coaching contract

• Andy Farrell, the Lions head coach, is reportedly earning a base salary of £600,000 for the tour, with performance bonuses tied to series results (BBC Rugby).

Highest paid rugby players in Ireland

• Several Irish Lions players — including Tadhg Beirne and Bundee Aki — are among the highest-paid in the country, with annual club contracts exceeding €400,000 (Betmaster – highest paid rugby players).

The pattern: Player payment remains a secondary issue — the defeat in Dublin puts the focus on performance, not pay, as the main concern for Farrell’s squad.

Timeline: Lions vs Argentina through the years

The timeline below captures every known fixture between the two sides.

Why this timeline matters: Argentina’s win is the only blemish in a century of Lions dominance — and it comes at a moment when the Lions must regroup before the main tour.

Clarity check: What we know and what remains unclear

The confirmed facts outnumber the uncertainties, but the long-term impact on the Lions’ preparation remains to be seen.

Quotes from the match

“We knew Argentina would be physical, but we didn’t match their intensity in the first half. That cost us the game.”

— Andy Farrell, Lions head coach, speaking to Sky Sports

“This is a historic moment for Argentina rugby. To beat the Lions for the first time is something we will never forget.”

— Argentina captain, quoted in Sky Sports clip

“The Lions showed character in the second half, but the damage was already done.”

— Rugby.com.au match report

The loss in Dublin forces the Lions to confront uncomfortable questions about their readiness. For the Australia tour, the choice is clear: address the defensive lapses and rebuild squad cohesion, or risk a second consecutive series defeat away from home.

This historic victory came during the British & Irish Lions 2025 tour, which saw the Lions play ten matches across Australia.

Frequently asked questions

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