ANZAC XV explained

ANZAC XV
Union:	Rugby Australia New Zealand Rugby
Coach:	Bob Dwyer (1989)
Captain:	Nick Farr-Jones (1989)
Top Scorer:	Michael Lynagh (11)
Top Try Scorer:	Ian Williams (1)
First Game:	ANZAC XV 15–19 British Lions (Brisbane; 23 July 1989)

The ANZAC XV, was a combined rugby union team, made up of players eligible to represent either Australia or New Zealand, which played against the British Lions in 1989. The name ANZAC comes from Australia and New Zealand's involvement in World War I. The team was intended to combine many Wallabies and All Blacks, but most New Zealand players dropped out of the squad before the match.^[1]

There will be a game between the British & Irish Lions and an ANZAC XV during the Lions' 2025 tour of Australia.

History

1989 British Lions tour

The team was first established for the 1989 British Lions tour of Australia.^[2] After an initial selection that included seven New Zealand players (Richard Loe, Frano Botica, Wayne Shelford, Michael Brewer, Steve McDowall, John Schuster, John Gallagher),^[3] only two of the announced players were still in the final squad to play the Lions,^[4] with many New Zealanders refusing to play for the team.^{[1] [5]}

2025 British & Irish Lions tour

In July 2023, following the announcement of the Lions' schedule for the 2025 tour, it was confirmed that an ANZAC XV would play against the Lions again.^{[2] [6] [7]}

Squads

1989

1989 squad
Props Steve McDowall Andy McIntyre Hookers Mark McBain Locks Steve Cutler Bill Campbell	Back row Simon Poidevin Jeff Miller Tim Gavin Scrum-halves Nick Farr-Jones (c) Fly-halves Michael Lynagh	Centres Frano Botica Dominic Maguire Back three David Campese Kieran Crowley Ian Williams
(c) Denotes team captain Bold denotes player was active within domestic union national team.

Results

No.	Date	Venue	Score	Winner	Series/Tour
1	23 July 1989	Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland	15–19	British Lions	1989 British Lions tour of Australia	^[8] ^[9]
2	12 July 2025	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, South Australia	2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia

Statistics

Player! width=90px

Tour	Position	width=70px	Tries
1	Ian Williams	1989	Wing	1

Player! width=90px

Tour	Position	width=70px	Points
1	Michael Lynagh	1989	Fly-half	11

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Lions Down Under: 1989 . lionsrugby.com . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221101112203/https://www.lionsrugby.com/2010/06/23/the-lions-down-under-1989/ . 1 November 2022 .
2. News: 19 July 2023 . Rugby Australia revives Anzac XV for 2025 British and Irish Lions tour . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230721224959/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-19/rugby-australa-revives-anzac-xv-for-lions-tour/102621462 . 21 July 2023 . 22 July 2023 .
3. News: 68 . 12 July 1989 . Loe, Botica chosen . .
4. News: 88 . 22 July 2023 . Chance for Botica . The Press .
5. News: Payten . Iain . 2 November 2022 . Return of the Anzac XV? RA pitch for Wallabies-All Blacks team to play Lions . .
6. News: Payten . Iain . 19 July 2023 . Farr-Jones backs return of Anzac XV for Lions tour, but Eddie unconvinced . The Sydney Morning Herald . 22 July 2023 .
7. News: Jones . Chris . 19 July 2023 . British and Irish Lions to play combined New Zealand-Australia XV on 2025 tour . BBC Sport .
8. News: 44 . 24 July 1989 . Lions end tour with success . The Press . Brisbane, Queensland, Australia .
9. News: Worries continue as Lions beat Anzacs . The Canberra Times . 63 . 19,647 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 24 July 1989 . 22 July 2023 . 22 . National Library of Australia .