The ANZAC XV,[a] was a combined 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. The team was intended to combine many Wallabies and All Blacks, but most New Zealand players dropped out of the squad before the match.[4]
| Union | |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  Bob Dwyer (1989) |
| Captain | Nick Farr-Jones (1989) |
| Top scorer | Michael Lynagh (11) |
| Top try scorer | Ian Williams (1) |
| First international | |
 ANZAC XV 15–19 British Lions  (Brisbane; 23 July 1989) | |
There will be a game between the British & Irish Lions and an ANZAC XV during the Lions' 2025 tour of Australia.
History
edit1989 British Lions tour
editThe team was first established for the 1989 British Lions tour of Australia.[5] After an initial selection that included seven New Zealand players (Richard Loe, Frano Botica, Wayne Shelford, Michael Brewer, Steve McDowall, John Schuster, John Gallagher),[6] only two of the announced players were still in the final squad to play the Lions,[7] with many New Zealanders refusing to play for the team.[4][8]
2025 British & Irish Lions tour
editIn July 2023, following the announcement of the Lions' schedule for the 2025 tour, it was confirmed that an ANZAC XV would play against the Lions again.[5][9][10]
Squads
edit1989
edit| 1989 squad | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Props Hookers Locks |
Back row Scrum-halves Fly-halves |
Centres Back three |
| (c) Denotes team captain Bold denotes player was active within domestic union national team. |
Results
edit| No. | Date | Venue | Score | Winner | Series/Tour | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 July 1989 | Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland | 15–19 | British Lions | 1989 British Lions tour of Australia | [11][12] |
| 2 | 12 July 2025 | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, South Australia | — | 2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia | ||
Statistics
edit| No. | Player | Tour | Position | Tries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ian Williams
|
1989 | Wing | 1 |
| No. | Player | Tour | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Lynagh
|
1989 | Fly-half | 11 |
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ Harvey, Joe (21 July 2023). "Lions 2025: Picking a Combined Australia-New Zealand XV today". Rugby World. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ Payten, Iain (20 July 2023). "Combined Australia-New Zealand XV to take on British and Irish Lions in 2025". Stuff. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- ^ "Injury woes beset Anzac rugby team". The Canberra Times. Vol. 63, no. 19, 641. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 18 July 1989. p. 26. Retrieved 22 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "The Lions Down Under: 1989". lionsrugby.com. British & Irish Lions. Archived from the original on 1 November 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Loe, Botica chosen". The Press. 12 July 1989. p. 68.
- ^ "Chance for Botica". The Press. 22 July 2023. p. 88.
- ^ Payten, Iain (2 November 2022). "Return of the Anzac XV? RA pitch for Wallabies-All Blacks team to play Lions". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Jones, Chris (19 July 2023). "British and Irish Lions to play combined New Zealand-Australia XV on 2025 tour". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Lions end tour with success". The Press. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 24 July 1989. p. 44.
- ^ "Worries continue as Lions beat Anzacs". The Canberra Times. Vol. 63, no. 19, 647. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 24 July 1989. p. 22. Retrieved 22 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.