ANZAC XV

Last updated

The ANZAC XV was a rugby union team made up of players eligible to represent either Australia or New Zealand, which played against the British Lions in 1989. The name ANZAC comes from Australia and New Zealand's involvement in World War I. In 1989, the team was intended to combine many Wallabies and All Blacks, but most New Zealand players dropped out of the squad before the match. [1]

Contents

In 2025, a similar team, the AUNZ Invitational XV. played against the British & Irish Lions in Adelaide during the Lions' 2025 tour of Australia.

History

1989 British Lions tour

The team was first established for the 1989 British Lions tour of Australia. [2] After an initial selection that included seven New Zealand players (Richard Loe, Frano Botica, Wayne Shelford, Michael Brewer, Steve McDowall, John Schuster, John Gallagher), [3] only two of the announced players were still in the final squad to play the Lions, [4] with many New Zealanders refusing to play for the team. [1] [5]

1989 squad

Coaching team: [6]

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark McBain Hooker (1959-10-30)30 October 1959 (aged 29)7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland / Brothers
Flag of New Zealand.svg Steve McDowall Prop (1961-08-27)27 August 1961 (aged 27)20 Flag of New Zealand.svg Auckland
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Andy McIntyre Prop (1955-12-23)23 December 1955 (aged 33)37 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland / University of Queensland
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steve Cutler Lock (1960-07-28)28 July 1960 (aged 28)38 Flag of Australia (converted).svg New South Wales / Gordon
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bill Campbell Lock (1961-11-28)28 November 1961 (aged 27)19 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland / Wests
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simon Poidevin Back row (1958-10-31)31 October 1958 (aged 30)50 Flag of Australia (converted).svg New South Wales / Randwick
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tim Gavin Back row (1963-11-20)20 November 1963 (aged 25)4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg New South Wales / Eastern Suburbs
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jeff Miller Back row (1962-07-04)4 July 1962 (aged 27)20 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland / University of Queensland
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Nick Farr-Jones Scrum-half (1962-04-18)18 April 1962 (aged 27)35 Flag of Australia (converted).svg New South Wales / Sydney University
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Michael Lynagh Fly-half (1962-10-25)25 October 1962 (aged 26)11 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland / University of Queensland
Flag of New Zealand.svg Frano Botica Centre (1963-08-03)3 August 1963 (aged 25)7 Flag of New Zealand.svg North Harbour
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Dominic Maguire Centre (1964-07-02)2 July 1964 (aged 25)3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland / Brothers
Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Campese Wing (1962-10-21)21 October 1962 (aged 26)45 Flag of Australia (converted).svg New South Wales / Randwick
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Williams Fullback (1962-09-23)23 September 1962 (aged 26)10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg New South Wales / Eastwood
Flag of New Zealand.svg Kieran Crowley Wing (1961-08-31)31 August 1961 (aged 27)9 Flag of New Zealand.svg Taranaki

2025 British & Irish Lions tour

In July 2023, following the announcement of the Lions' schedule for the 2025 tour, it was confirmed that a combined team would play against the Lions again. [2] [7] [8] As France would be on a three-test tour of New Zealand at the same time as the Lions tour, ESPN wrote: "it is expected that All Blacks who are instead playing in Japanese rugby or elsewhere, and therefore not eligible for Test selection, will instead be targeted to join the invitational team." [9] In March 2025, Rugby Australia (RA) announced that former New Zealand head coach (2020–2023) Ian Foster would be a part of the ANZAC XV coaching staff. [10] [11] In the following months (May 2025), the full coaching staff was announced, with Queensland Reds head coach Les Kiss leading the team, [12] alongside his assistant Zane Hilton, aforementioned former New Zealand coach Ian Foster, and Western Force coach Simon Cron. [13]

2025

On 1 July 2025, the first set of players selected were confirmed. [14] [15] The players' selection, all from New Zealand, came 8 days after New Zealand had selected their squad to face France in their international tour. [16] New Zealand centre Ngani Laumape was later confirmed as an additional member of the squad. [17] More players were revealed for selection days later, including flanker Pete Samu, hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, [18] and winger Marika Koroibete. [19]

The squad was confirmed on 7 July 2025, 5 days ahead of their match against the British & Irish Lions. [20]

Coaching team:

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Richie Asiata Hooker (1996-05-03)3 May 1996 (aged 29)0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland Reds
Flag of New Zealand.svg Kurt Eklund Hooker (1992-01-05)5 January 1992 (aged 33)0 Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues / Bay of Plenty
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brandon Paenga-Amosa Hooker (1995-12-25)25 December 1995 (aged 29)20 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Western Force
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Daniel Botha Prop (2001-12-16)16 December 2001 (aged 23)0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg New South Wales Waratahs
Flag of New Zealand.svg George Dyer Prop (1999-10-22)22 October 1999 (aged 25)0 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs / Waikato
Flag of New Zealand.svg Josh Fusitua Prop (2001-05-01)1 May 2001 (aged 24)0 Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues / Auckland
Flag of New Zealand.svg Aidan Ross Prop (1995-10-25)25 October 1995 (aged 29)2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland Reds
Flag of New Zealand.svg Jeffery Toomaga-Allen [a] Prop (1990-11-19)19 November 1990 (aged 34)1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland Reds
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Angus Blyth Lock (1998-03-04)4 March 1998 (aged 27)4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland Reds / Bond University
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lukhan Salakaia-Loto Lock (1996-09-19)19 September 1996 (aged 28)41 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland Reds
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Matt Philip Lock (1994-03-07)7 March 1994 (aged 31)31 Flag of Australia (converted).svg New South Wales Waratahs
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Joe Brial Back row (2002-01-07)7 January 2002 (aged 23)0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland Reds
Flag of New Zealand.svg Shannon Frizell Back row (1994-02-11)11 February 1994 (aged 31)33 Flag of Japan.svg Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Pete Samu Back row (1991-12-17)17 December 1991 (aged 33)33 Flag of France.svg Bordeaux Bègles
Flag of New Zealand.svg Hoskins Sotutu Back row (1998-07-12)12 July 1998 (aged 26)14 Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues / Counties Manukau
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Seru Uru Back row (1997-01-03)3 January 1997 (aged 28)2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland Reds
Flag of New Zealand.svg Folau Fakatava Scrum-half (1999-12-16)16 December 1999 (aged 25)2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Highlanders / Hawke's Bay
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kalani Thomas Scrum-half (2002-04-18)18 April 2002 (aged 23)0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland Reds
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tane Edmed Fly-half (2000-08-16)16 August 2000 (aged 24)1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg New South Wales Waratahs
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Harry McLaughlin-Phillips Fly-half (2004-04-13)13 April 2004 (aged 21)0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland Reds
Flag of New Zealand.svg David Havili Centre (1994-12-23)23 December 1994 (aged 30)30 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders / Tasman
Flag of New Zealand.svg Ngani Laumape Centre (1993-04-22)22 April 1993 (aged 32)15 Flag of Japan.svg Kobelco Kobe Steelers
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Joey Walton Centre (2000-05-27)27 May 2000 (aged 25)0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg New South Wales Waratahs
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lachie Anderson Wing (1997-08-27)27 August 1997 (aged 27)0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland Reds
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mac Grealy Wing (2002-03-06)6 March 2002 (aged 23)0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Western Force
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Marika Koroibete Wing (1992-07-26)26 July 1992 (aged 32)63 Flag of Japan.svg Saitama Wild Knights
Flag of New Zealand.svg AJ Lam Wing (1998-07-29)29 July 1998 (aged 26)0 Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues / Auckland
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Darby Lancaster Wing (2003-04-23)23 April 2003 (aged 22)1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg New South Wales Waratahs
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jock Campbell Fullback (1995-05-17)17 May 1995 (aged 30)4 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Queensland Reds
Flag of New Zealand.svg Shaun Stevenson Fullback (1996-11-14)14 November 1996 (aged 28)1 Flag of Japan.svg Kubota Spears

Statistics

List of try-scorers
No.PlayerTourPositionTries
1Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ian Williams 1989 Wing 1
List of point-scorers
No.PlayerTourPositionPoints
1Flag of Australia (converted).svg Michael Lynagh 1989 Fly-half 11

Notes

  1. ↑ Whilst Toomaga-Allen is a current Samoan international, he had previously played for New Zealand before changing international allegiance in 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Lions Down Under: 1989". lionsrugby.com. British & Irish Lions. Archived from the original on 1 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Rugby Australia revives Anzac XV for 2025 British and Irish Lions tour". ABC News . 19 July 2023. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  3. ↑ "Loe, Botica chosen". The Press . 12 July 1989. p. 68.
  4. ↑ "Chance for Botica". The Press. 22 July 2023. p. 88.
  5. ↑ Payten, Iain (2 November 2022). "Return of the Anzac XV? RA pitch for Wallabies-All Blacks team to play Lions". The Sydney Morning Herald .
  6. ↑ "Five All Blacks for Anzac match". The Canberra Times . Vol. 63, no. 19, 642. 19 July 1989. p. 50 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ Payten, Iain (19 July 2023). "Farr-Jones backs return of Anzac XV for Lions tour, but Eddie unconvinced". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  8. ↑ Jones, Chris (19 July 2023). "British and Irish Lions to play combined New Zealand-Australia XV on 2025 tour". BBC Sport.
  9. ↑ Bruce, Sam (19 July 2023). "Invitational Aus-NZ green lit as 2025 Lions Tour confirmed". ESPN. Archived from the original on 8 October 2024.
  10. ↑ Bruce, Sam (20 March 2025). "Foster to face Lions on Au/NZ staff, targets Mo'unga and Smith". ESPN . Archived from the original on 20 March 2025.
  11. ↑ "Former All Blacks coach Ian Foster to battle British and Irish Lions". Radio New Zealand . 21 March 2025. Archived from the original on 22 March 2025.
  12. ↑ Grey, Lachie (19 May 2025). "Kiss unveiled as AUNZ coach, Kefu to steer First Nations & Pasifika XV". Rugby.com.au. Archived from the original on 26 May 2025.
  13. ↑ Williamson, Nathan (28 May 2025). "Cron, Hilton added to AUNZ Invitational XV coaching staff for Lions match". Rugby.com.au. Archived from the original on 28 May 2025.
  14. ↑ "Four New Zealanders confirmed in Invitational side to take on Lions". Radio New Zealand . 1 July 2025. Archived from the original on 1 July 2025.
  15. ↑ "All Black Frizell among first names for Aus/NZ combined side". BBC Sport . BBC. 30 June 2025. Archived from the original on 7 July 2025.
  16. ↑ "All Blacks squad named to face France". allblacks.com. 23 June 2025. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025.
  17. ↑ "FIFTH All Blacks star revealed in AUNZ Invitational side to take on British and Irish Lions". The Roar . 1 July 2025. Archived from the original on 1 July 2025.
  18. ↑ "British and Irish Lions: Three Wallabies added to AUNZ Invitational squad". ESPN. 3 July 2025. Archived from the original on 3 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  19. ↑ Worthington, Sam (3 July 2025). "Marika Koroibete gets call in plan to 'soften the Lions up' as star-studded Anzac team starts to take shape". Nine.com.au . Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on 3 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  20. ↑ Wasiliev, Nick (7 July 2025). "AUNZ Invitational XV full squad confirmed ahead of historic Lions clash". Rugby.com.au . Archived from the original on 7 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.