Sports and Entertainment
William Bowyer
June 2025
Associate William Bowyer comments on the dispute between the British and Irish Lions and Rugby Australia, and discusses whether this could escalate into legal action over breach of contract.
Will’s comments were published in City AM, 23 June 2025, and can be found here.
“If, as Lions CEO Ben Calveley states, the formal tour agreement between the British and Irish Lions and Rugby Australia includes a specific clause governing which Test players must be released to participate in fixtures leading up to the Test series, not just the Tests themselves, then the Lions would likely have grounds for a breach of contract claim.
“An international sports dispute would have to be carefully considered from a jurisdictional standpoint and the contract will likely contain a clause dealing with which laws and courts or private arbitration house would consider the issue.
“With major commercial stakes – from broadcast rights to sponsorship and ticketing – both parties are under pressure to find a swift, negotiated resolution, while leveraging their respective contractual positions.”
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