Anzac XV
Australia–New Zealand XV
Shirt badge/Association crest
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)

Anzac XV,[lower-alpha 1] often stylised as ANZAC XV, and often cited as Australia–New Zealand XV, is a combined rugby union team, consisting of players eligible to represent either Australia or New Zealand. The name "Anzac" comes from Australia and New Zealand's involvement in World War I. The Australian War Memorial states that "the formation in which Australian and New Zealand soldiers in Egypt were grouped before the landing on Gallipoli in April 1915."[4] The team was initially supposed to be a "Barbarian-style" side combining many Wallabies and All Blacks. However many New Zealand-picked players dropped from the squad before the match against the Lions in 1989.[5]

History

1989 British Lions tour

The team was first established for the 1989 British Lions tour of Australia.[6] After an initial selection that included seven New Zealand players (Richard Loe, Frano Botica, Wayne Shelford, Michael Brewer, Steve McDowall, John Schuster, John Gallagher),[7] only two of the announced contingent players were still in the final squad to play the Lions by match-day,[8] with many New Zealanders refusing to play for the team.[5][9]

2025 British & Irish Lions tour

In November 2022 (2 years, 239 days before the first test) Rugby Australia (RA) had opened discussions with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) of the possibility of reinventing an ANZAC XV team to play the British & Irish Lions when they tour Australia in 2025. Rugby Australia chairman, Hamish McLennan, whom spoke to the Daily Mail, said: "We've talked to the Kiwis about hosting an Anzac team against the Lions in 2025 and they're considering the idea," adding, "The best of the Wallabies and the All Blacks against the Lions would create enormous global coverage."[9][10]

In July 2023, following the announcement of the Lions full tour schedule for the 2025 tour, it was confirmed that an ANZAC XV team would compete in the series against the Lions again.[6][11][12] There match is the test in-line against the Lions, and will be before the first Lions test against the Wallabies.[12] The teams reinvention got the support of former Wallaby captain, and ANZAC XV captain, Nick Farr-Jones.[11]

Squads

1989

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

No. Date Venue Score Winner Series/Tour Ref.
1 23 July 1989 Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland 15–19  British and Irish Lions 1989 British Lions tour of Australia [13][14]
2 12 July 2025 Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, South Australia — 2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia

Statistics

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

  1. ↑ There have been many names given to the team. Some include: Combined Australia–New Zealand XV[1][2] and Anzac Rugby Team.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ "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.
  4. ↑ "ANZAC acronym". Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 29 April 2020.
  5. 1 2 "The Lions Down Under: 1989". lionsrugby.com. British & Irish Lions. Archived from the original on 1 November 2022.
  6. 1 2 "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.
  7. ↑ "Loe, Botica chosen". The Press. 12 July 1989. p. 68.
  8. ↑ "Chance for Botica". The Press. 22 July 2023. p. 88.
  9. 1 2 Payten, Iain (2 November 2022). "Return of the Anzac XV? RA pitch for Wallabies-All Blacks team to play Lions". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  10. ↑ "Anzac XV: Combined Australia & New Zealand team could play Lions in 2025". BBC Sport. 2 November 2022.
  11. 1 2 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.
  12. 1 2 Jones, Chris (19 July 2023). "British and Irish Lions to play combined New Zealand-Australia XV on 2025 tour". BBC Sport.
  13. ↑ "Lions end tour with success". The Press. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 24 July 1989. p. 44.
  14. ↑ "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.
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