The British and Irish Lions might encounter a squad featuring Indigenous and Pacific heritage players during their 2025 tour, as revealed by Rugby Australia's CEO, Phil Waugh. Waugh disclosed that talks are in progress with the Lions to organize this match, which is intended to fill the void in the tour schedule caused by the Melbourne Rebels' financial difficulties.
"We possess some remarkable talent with First Nations heritage," Waugh told the Sydney Morning Herald, emphasizing that the team would comprise players from the remaining Super Rugby teams. "It was about how we could amalgamate these concepts to create a truly unique game within a significant tour." He further stated that the preference would be to include Australian-eligible players of Pacific and First Nations descent, along with high-profile players to generate substantial interest.
The match against the Rebels was initially slated for 22 July, positioned between the first and second Tests. Waugh also mentioned ongoing discussions regarding New Zealand players from overseas teams potentially forming part of an Anzac XV, which is set to face the Lions in Adelaide on 12 July, a week prior to the opening Test. However, the availability of All Blacks squad players seems unlikely due to France's tour of New Zealand at the same time.
Source link: https://www.theguardian.com
