First Nations & Pasifika XV is an Australian-based rugby union team which played the British & Irish Lions during their 2025 tour of Australia.[1] The team was made up of players with Indigenous Australian or Pacific Islander origin.[2]
 | |
| Full name | First Nations & Pasifika XV |
|---|---|
| Union | Australian Rugby Union |
| Founded | 2025 |
| Coach | Toutai Kefu (2025) |
Background
editOriginally, the British and Irish Lions were scheduled to play nine matches on their tour of Australia. This included the Melbourne Rebels, whom went into administration in January 2024 and were dropped from the tour schedule as a result.[3] The First Nations & Pasifika XV were formed by Rugby Australia to replace the disbanded Melbourne Rebels side, to maintain a 9-match tour for the Lions.[2] The team was to be made up of indigenous Australian and Pacific Islands heritage players, with the match scheduled to take place on 22 July 2025 at the Docklands Stadium in Melbourne. It was aimed that the team would be made up of New Zealand All Blacks internationals that were playing abroad, and ineligible otherwise to play international rugby for the All Blacks.[2]
On 19 May, former Wallabies forward and Tonga head coach Toutai Kefu was named head coach,[4] whilst on 26 May, Glen Ella, Sekope Kepu, Simon Raiwalui and Tana Umaga were named assistants.[5] On 26 June, it was announced that the former Australian international Kurtley Beale would be the captain of the team.[6] The jersey was chosen as a result of a public vote run by Rugby Australia.[7][8]
Squad
editThe full First Nations & Pasifika XV squad for their match against the British & Irish Lions as part of the 2025 tour of Australia was named on 14 July 2025.[9] Some of the players selected had previously played against the Lions on the tour for the AUNZ Invitational XV.[10] It also features the first Fijian internationals to play against the Lions since they played against the Fiji national rugby union team in the 1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand.[10]
On 17 July, Filipo Daugunu and Taniela Tupou were released from the Wallabies squad for the tour match, whilst Ponepati Loganimasi also received a late call-up following the conclusion of the Fijian national team's July internationals.[11]
Coaching team:
- Head coach:
Toutai Kefu (
Tonga) - Assistant coach:
Tana Umaga (
Samoa) - Assistant coach:
Simon Raiwalui ( Fiji) - Assistant coach: Glen Ella (
First Nations)
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Foster announced in AU/NZ coaching staff, First Nations Pasifika game confirmed for Lions Series". Rugby Australia. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Lions to face indigenous-heritage team in Australia". BBC Sport. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ↑ "British and Irish Lions: Australia planning indigenous team to fill gap left by Melbourne Rebels for 2025 tour". Sky Sports. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ↑ "Kiss unveiled as AUNZ coach, Kefu to steer First Nations & Pasifika XV". Rugby Australia. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ↑ "First Nations & Pasifika XV coaching staff confirmed". Rugby Australia. 26 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
- ↑ Snape, Jack (26 June 2025). "Kurtley Beale to lead First Nations & Pasifika XV against Lions in Melbourne". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ↑ "First Nations & Pasifika XV: Jersey Fan Vote". Rugby Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ↑ "Pasifika First Nations jersey revealed for Lions test". ABC Pacific. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ↑ "First Nations & Pasifika XV squad confirmed for Lions tour match". Rugby.com.au. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- 1 2 Woods, Melissa (15 July 2025). "Overlooked lock included in First Nations and Pasifika squad". National Indigenous Times. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
- ↑ "Wallabies duo, Fijian flyer added to First Nations Pasifika squad". Rugby.com.au. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 17 July 2025.