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ANZAC XV
Combined rugby union team From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
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History
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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]
- Head coach:
Bob Dwyer - Assistant coach: Bob Templeton
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:
- Head coach: Les Kiss
- Assistant coach:
Ian Foster - Assistant coach: Simon Cron
- Assistant coach: Zane Hilton
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Statistics
Notes
- 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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