Lions Stars Earn Big Bonuses After Series Win Over Wallabies

Thanks to a bumper new profit-sharing model, each of the 38 squad members is walking away with a six-figure sum – around £100,000 for their efforts down under.

That’s a record payout for a Lions tour – eclipsing the £80k dished out in 2017 and absolutely smashing the £48k earned during the Covid-era 2021 series (remember that awkward £10k bonus clause for winning? Brutal…).

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So, what’s driving the surge?

Simple. The 2025 tour is projected to generate over £10 million, and for the first time ever, the players are getting their cut.

Forget the flat fees – this is rugby’s version of revenue share, and the Lions are all-in.

This historic shift didn’t just fall from the sky. Credit goes to the combined muscle of the players' unions from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Irish rep Simon Keogh summed it up: “An agreement that’s fair and collaborative.” Translation: the players pushed, and the Lions listened.

Lions CEO Ben Calveley was full of praise, calling the deal a turning point that finally puts players front and centre.

“It’s the pinnacle of their careers,” Calveley said. “This agreement reflects the value we place on them.”

And let’s be honest – when you're putting your body on the line for one of the most iconic teams in sport, you’ve earned every penny.

Despite a classy offload for Beirne's try and some composed moments, Lowe was error-prone under the high ball and defensively vulnerable once again. A mixed bag leaning heavily toward underperformance.

BALLS 5/10: "One good flicked offload to Gibson-Park. Spilled a high ball, early in the second half. Composed take and footwork, on 57 minutes. Great step and offload for Beirne's try. His best, and last, contribution of the game."

Planet Rugby 4/10: "His try assist was the highlight of an otherwise poor performance from the winger who missed three of his seven tackle attempts, conceded a penalty and struggled in the air. He is a big moments player and produced that with a brutal fend and offload, but far from a complete performance."

Telegraph 3/10: "Lovely offload to put Beirne over but was another disappointing display. A liability once again in defence and several handling errors."

RUCK 4/10: "Lowe has looked off the tempo in both tests and today was another story of that. He never got going and was exposed hugely in defence. In attack he was nothing to fear for the Wallabies apart from his assist for Beirne."

Replacement: Duhan van der Merwe

Grew into the game and made a crucial carry in the lead-up to Beirne’s try, but defensive lapses and an avoidable penalty undermined his overall contribution.

Express 5/10: "Not the huge carrier he is with Ireland, ineffective apart from one second half charge"

Telegraph 5/10: "Grew into the game and his carry set the platform for Beirne’s try. Suaalii slipped past him for Wright’s try and gave up a really dumb penalty."

Planet Rugby 3/10: " Caught out defensively by both Jake Gordon and Joseph Suaalii and conceded a penalty that Lynagh duly slotted. He made an incredible break which led to Tadhg Beirne’s try, but it was rather mystifying that he went the full 80 minutes today as he was a long way off his best."

Replacement: Sione Tuipulotu

Busy but largely ineffective, Chessum struggled with the physicality of Australia’s second row and couldn’t spark the partnership with Itoje. Lions missed McCarthy’s bite.

Planet Rugby 5/10: "Quietly went about his performance but was accurate and efficient in doing so. He stayed on the right side of the referee’s whistle but was guilty of four missed tackles and conceded a turnover. Replaced on 55 minutes."

RUCK 5/10: "Chessum was mainly a passenger and struggled heavily against Skelton and Frost in both physicality and tempo of the game. The Itoje and Chessum partnership just didn’t seem to click the way the Lions would’ve hoped."

BALLS 5/10: "Was kept busy, mainly in defence, in the first half. Solid lineout option. Made 13 tackles but missed four."

Telegraph 5/10: "Was busy without being particularly eye-catching. Felt that the Lions missed McCarthy’s physical strength in the exchanges with Skelton."

Replacement: Joe McCarthy (If fit)

Anchored a dominant scrum and worked hard in defence, but key missed tackles leading to tries exposed costly defensive frailties.

RUCK 5/10: "The Lion’s scrum was mighty, and more often than not, Porter was the first to show that to referee Andrea Piardi, he looked okay in attack but looked better defensively, but was caught short for Gordon’s darting try."

Telegraph 5/10: "Targeted by Australia in defence with both Gordon and Suaalii slipping through his grasp for tries. Still made 16 tackles, but misses were big black marks."

Planet Rugby 4/10: "Beaten for two of the Wallabies’ tries in the first half as he watched Gordon sprint past him before missing a tap tackle on Suaalii in the build-up to Tom Wright’s try. Conceded a penalty, and while his work-rate was top tier, his mistakes were costly. He was fortunate not to be penalised at scrum time too."

Replacement: Ellis Genge