 | |
| Full name | First Nations & Pasifika XV |
|---|---|
| Union | Australian Rugby Union |
| Founded | 2025; 0 years ago (2025) |
| Coach | Toutai Kefu (2025) |
First Nations & Pasifika XV is a newly formed Australian-basedrugby union team set to take on theBritish & Irish Lions during their2025 tour of Australia.[1] The team would be made up of players withIndigenous Australian orPacific Islander origin.[2]
Originally, the British and Irish Lions were scheduled to play nine matches on their tour of Australia. This included theMelbourne 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 byRugby Australia to replace the disbandedMelbourne 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 theDocklands Stadium inMelbourne. It was aimed that the team would be made up ofNew Zealand All Blacks internationals that were playing abroad, and ineligible otherwise to play international rugby for the All Blacks.[2]
On 19 May, formerWallabies forward andTonga head coachToutai Kefu was named head coach,[4] whilst on 26 May,Glen Ella,Sekope Kepu,Simon Raiwalui andTana Umaga were named assistants.[5] On 26 June, it was announced that the former Australian internationalKurtley 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]
The full First Nations & Pasifika XV squad for their match against theBritish & Irish Lions as part of the2025 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 theAUNZ Invitational XV.[10] It also features the first Fijian internationals to play against the Lions since they played against theFiji national rugby union team in the1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand.[10]
On 17 July,Filipo Daugunu andTaniela Tupou were released from theWallabies squad for the tour match, whilstPonepati Loganimasi also received a late call-up following the conclusion of theFijian national team's July internationals.[11]
Coaching team:
Toutai Kefu (
Tonga)
Tana Umaga (
Samoa)
Simon Raiwalui (Fiji)Glen Ella (
First Nations)
