Force vs Lions Official Long Lunch

Celebrate the start of the British & Irish Lions’ 2025 Tour in Perth by joining the Western Force’s annual Long Lunch at Optus Stadium’s River View Room on Friday 27 June from 1pm-4pm.

Be part of this once-every-12-years event which will include a three-course lunch, guest speakers from the Lions camp and the chance to watch the touring side in the flesh training at Optus Stadium ahead of Saturday’s Force-Lions tour game.

MCed by respected long-time Australian rugby commentator Nick McArdle, you won't want to miss this!

Guest Speakers: 

Johnny Sexton is part of the British & Irish Lions coaching staff, following on from an incredible playing career with Ireland. Sexton earned 118 caps for Ireland, with a 15-year international career spanning four World Cups, two Lions tours and captaining his country to a rare grand slam. He’s done it all in the game, winning the 2018 World Rugby Player of the Year and being Ireland’s all-time record points scorer. Since retiring from playing in 2023 after captaining Ireland at the World Cup, he’s moved into coaching.

Andrew Goodman is part of the British & Irish Lions coaching staff, known internationally as the attack guru. Nelson-born Goodman previously was the Crusaders’ assistant coach in Super Rugby, helping them to the 2022 title, and coached Tasman in New Zealand’s NPC. He’s also worked as an assistant coach for two years at Leinster Rugby, where he won the Celtic League and European Challenge Cup during his playing days.

John Fogarty is also one of the British & Irish Lions assistant coaches offering an insight into their camp. The brains behind one of the best scrums in world rugby, Fogarty was appointed to the Lions’ coaching staff after working with Ireland and Leinster. As a player, Fogarty was a highly respected hooker for Munster and Connacht, plus he won the 2009 Heineken Cup with Leinster. He also represented his country as a player, before moving into coaching.

Kurtley Beale has tallied 95 Wallabies caps and played a key role for Australia during 2013 Test series. The 36-year-old debuted for the Wallabies in 2009, winning the John Eales medal in 2011, has played at three World Cups along with playing more than 150 Super Rugby games. He still has ambitions to be part of this upcoming Lions series.

Sam Carter will retire following the Force-Lions game, calling an end to a decorated 14-year career that included playing for the ACT Brumbies in an upset win over the Lions in 2013 tour. The 35-year-old lock was part of the Wallabies’ 2015 World Cup squad and, after more than 100 Super Rugby games at the Brumbies, spent five years playing in Europe with Ulster and Leicester Tigers.

Nic White is desperate to be part of this upcoming tour having missed the 2013 series despite being on the cusp of his international debut, having suffered a shoulder injury in the final round of the Super Rugby season. The experienced Wallabies scrum-half has 71 international caps to his name and is in the mix to be part of the Wallabies squad named on Thursday.

The tour will see the Lions play nine matches in Australia, with three Tests against the Wallabies, and six tour games around the country starting in Perth.

Tickets available from $280.