Combined New South Wales–Queensland Country

Combined Country is an Australian rugby union team that was formed for the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. Unlike the 2001 tour, the Lions faced a combined team made up of players representing the Queensland Country and New South Wales Country rugby unions.

Combined New South Wales–Queensland Country

Combined Country
Full name	Combined New South Wales–Queensland Country
Union	Australian Rugby Union
Nickname(s)	Combined Country
Emblem(s)	Waratah and Cooktown orchid
Founded	2013 (2013)
Region	Country New South Wales, Country Queensland
Coach(es)	Cameron Blades (2013)
Captain(s)	Tim Davidson (2013)

Combined Country v Lions lineups

The match was the fourth game of the tour and was played in Newcastle on 11 June 2013 at Hunter Stadium. Referee Steve Walsh was in charge of the game.

The Combined Country team was coached by former Wallaby prop, Cameron Blades.

Squad

On 10 June a 23-man squad was announced to play the British & Irish Lions. Included were nine players from Super Rugby, 10 Country players (seven QLD, three NSW) and four players from Premier rugby in New South Wales and Queensland.

Reds flanker Beau Robinson was in the initial squad but withdrew following an injury he suffered while playing for the Reds against the Lions on 8 June. He was replaced by his Reds' teammate, Jarrad Butler. The other player forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury was NSW Country flyhalf Ben Greentree. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Queensland Country player Shaun McCarthy, with fellow Queensland Country player Rory Arnold brought into the lineup on the bench to complete the squad.

Melbourne Rebels player Tim Davidson was named as captain.

Head coach: Cameron Blades

Forwards

Player	Position	Club	Region
Tom Kearney	Hooker	Noosa Dolphins	QLD Country
Joshua Mann-Rea	Hooker	Brumbies	Super Rugby
Rikki Abraham	Prop	Teachers West	QLD Country
Dylan Evans	Prop	Wanderers R.U.C.	NSW Country
Haydn Hirsimaki	Prop	S.C. Stingrays	QLD Country
Tim Metcher	Prop	S. Districts	Premier Rugby
Phoenix Battye	Lock	Force	Super Rugby
Blake Enever	Lock	Reds	Super Rugby
Rory Arnold	Lock	G.C. Breakers	QLD Country
Richard Stanford	Flanker	E. Suburbs	Premier Rugby
Jarrad Butler	Flanker	Reds	Super Rugby
Trent Dyer	Flanker	Rebels	Super Rugby
Tim Davidson (c)	Number 8	Rebels	Super Rugby

Backs

Player	Position	Club	Region
Adam McCormack	Scrum-half	Hastings Valley	NSW Country
Michael Snowden	Scrum-half	Force	Super Rugby
Angus Roberts	Fly-half	Rebels	Super Rugby
Shaun McCarthy	Fly-half	Burdekin R.U.C.	QLD Country
Lewie Catt	Centre	Wanderers R.U.C.	NSW Country
Tereta-Junior Siakisini	Centre	G.C. Breakers	QLD Country
Dale Ah-Wong	Wing	Barron-Trinity Bulls	QLD Country
Tom Cox	Wing	Brumbies	Super Rugby
Alex Gibbon	Wing	S. Districts	Premier Rugby
Nathan Trist	Fullback	Sydney University	Premier Rugby

Result

The Lions beat Combined Country by ten tries, seven of which converted (64 points) to nil.

See also

• Australia national rugby union team
• Australian Rugby Union
• Queensland Country (NRC team)
• New South Wales Country Eagles