Wales great Evans to leave role as Lions chair
Ieuan Evans will step down as British and Irish Lions chair on Wednesday, ending almost four years in the role as his term concludes. The former Wales captain oversaw a successful period for the men’s team and preparations for the first Lions women’s tour, due to take place in New Zealand next year.
Appointed in 2022, Evans was tour manager when the Lions beat Australia in a series in 2025. He also oversaw governance changes, including the appointment of independent directors to the board. The 62-year-old played on Lions tours in 1989, 1993 and 1997, and scored the series-winning try in the third Test against Australia in 1989; the organisation has begun looking for his successor.
- Ieuan Evans is leaving the Lions chair after almost four years.
- He oversaw the 2025 men’s series win in Australia.
- The Lions are seeking a successor ahead of the first women’s tour.
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The British and Irish Lions bring together leading rugby union players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales for tours, usually held every four years. The team plays a series of matches in a host country, with the Test matches against that country’s national side at the centre of the tour.
Ieuan Evans is a former Wales captain who played for the Lions on three tours and later became chair of the organisation. In that role, he helped oversee the men’s team and preparations for the first Lions women’s tour, planned for New Zealand.
The chair leads the Lions’ board, which oversees the organisation and its planning. The search for a successor comes as the Lions prepare for a new stage in their tours, including the women’s team’s first trip to New Zealand.