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ANZAC XV

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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]

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

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1989 British Lions tour

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Further information: 1989 British Lions tour of Australia

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

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Coaching team:[6]

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

2025 British & Irish Lions tour

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Further information: 2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia

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

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

Statistics

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List of try-scorers
No. Player Tour Position Tries
1 Ian Williams 1989 Wing 1
List of point-scorers
No. Player Tour Position Points
1 Michael Lynagh 1989 Fly-half 11

Notes

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

References

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  1. ^ a b "The Lions Down Under: 1989". lionsrugby.com. British & Irish Lions. Archived from the original on 1 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b "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.
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