David Havili among 8 NZers in squad to face British and Irish Lions
The full squad of Australians and New Zealanders for Saturday's tour game in Adelaide was confirmed by coach Les Kiss on Monday and will feature a core of players from his Queensland Reds franchise.
Halves pairing Kalani Thomas and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips were involved when the Reds lost 52-12 last week in Brisbane after leading the Lions 12-7 early in the first half.
This is the first time since 1989 that a combined squad of Australians and New Zealanders will take on the touring Lions lineup, which contains players from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.
Havili, Blues hooker Kurt Eklund and Chiefs prop George Dyer will join All Blacks Aidan Ross, Folau Fakatava, Hoskins Sotutu, Ngani Laumape and Shannon Frizell in the squad.
ADVERTISEMENT
Marika Koroibete, Pete Samu, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Matt Philip and Seru Uru are experienced Wallabies included in the invitational squad.
Kiss will be joined on the coaching team by former All Blacks coach Ian Foster, Western Force coach Simon Cron and Reds assistant Zane Hilton.
"We have quality coaches and a highly motivated group of players that represent the depth of talent across Australia and New Zealand," Kiss said. "Each of them has a lot to play for and there's a real sense of anticipation about the unique opportunity in front of us.
"As the first AUNZ side to be assembled in 36 years, we have the chance to do something pretty special here in Adelaide."
Jack Conan of the British & Irish Lions runs at the defence during their game against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane, Australia, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (Source: Associated Press)
The Lions are 3-0 since a 28-24 loss to Argentina in a warmup in Dublin before the traveling Down Under for their nine-game tour, which includes three Tests against the Wallabies on July 19, 26 and Aug. 2.
After wins over Western Force in Perth, Queensland Reds in Brisbane and New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney, the Lions will play the Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday before taking on the AUNZ squad in their final preparation for the Test series.
Australia opened its international season with a 21-18 comeback win over Fiji in Newcastle on Sunday, a day after New Zealand held off France 31-27 in Dunedin.
AUNZ XV squad: Aidan Ross, AJ Lam, Angus Blyth, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Daniel Botha, Darby Lancaster, David Havili, Folau Fakatava, George Dyer, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Hoskins Sotutu, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Jock Campbell, Joe Brial, Joey Walton, Joshua Fusitu'a, Kalani Thomas, Kurt Eklund, Lachlan Anderson, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Mac Grealy, Marika Koroibete, Matt Philip, Ngani Laumape, Pete Samu, Richie Asiata, Seru Uru, Shannon Frizell, Shaun Stevenson, Tane Edmed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
What it's really like for a first-time ocean swimmer
So yes, I'm in. I con a friend into joining and we talk about swim training. A month goes by before we head to a shop to buy goggles, a swim cap and togs that will withstand an ocean workout as opposed to floating around the foreshore. My first swim is at Auckland's Point Erin outdoor pool and friend Rina and I are both excited and nervous. Turns out she's an ex-competitive swimmer and it all comes rushing back to her quickly. Not so much for me. One lap and I'm gasping for air. How on earth will I be able to do a 1km swim over three days? Three months, countless pool swims and two ocean swims later, we are ready. Or, ready enough. Swimming beside Olympians, Wendy pushed herself out of her comfort zone. Photo / Wendy Petrie At two hours and 26 minutes, the Air New Zealand flight to Fiji barely feels like an international journey yet the tropical warm air hits us as we walk off the plane. In no time, we're whisked away to the Sofitel Hotel in Denerau. We spend the afternoon at the pool with a pina colada trying not to overthink the next 3 days of swimming. That night more than 200 swimmers and partners gather for dinner on the lawn of the Sofitel. There's a kava drinking ceremony and a show. Dame Sophie Pascoe has come along for the first swim and I can't believe I will be swimming beside a Paralympics champion. The kids will laugh their heads off. 'How to Dad' is there too so hopefully he's a terrible swimmer and I won't look quite so bad. Wendy Petrie tackled a three-day ocean swim in Fiji despite minimal experience. Photo / Wendy Petrie Day one of our ocean swim arrives. It's an early one. By 7.45am we are at the Denarau marina pushing off for Tivua Island. It's a beautiful boat ride with the crew singing Fijian songs. We meet a few Aussies who are doing the 3km swim. In fact, there are more Australians here than Kiwis. It's also predominantly female, something organiser Scott Rice suggests is because women are far better at planning and organising a trip together. There are some excellent swimsuits that would have required some pre-planning, with one group of women from Wagawaga in pink matching sets. Back to the swim. Thankfully, the 1km swimmers are going first. The nerves are kicking in. The day is beautiful, but the wind has picked up and it's a bit choppy around the last buoy. Over 200 people took part in the three-day ocean swimming event. Photo / Wendy Petrie For some reason I stand next to Rina, who is right at the front. First wrong move. The gun goes and we are off; a mass of arms and legs churning up the ocean. I'm breathing quite hard heading to the first buoy and trying to do some backstroke. I try to relax like Liv's swim teacher used to say. Loose as a goose, fast as an eagle. The water is crystal clear with fish darting and even a couple of pretty blue starfish waving up at me from the ocean floor. By the last buoy I'm really pushing myself when the chopping water crashes over my cap and I swallow some sea water. Running under the finish line banner is a real thrill and Rina is there with water and a high five along with our new friends, the sisters. Stunning views, new friendships, and a swim medal made it unforgettable. Photo / Wendy Petrie I feel great! I did it. I came 50th out of 80 and 11th in my age group. Not bad for a newbie. We watch the 3km swimmers in wonder, especially the 70 year olds who are smashing it. The rest of the day is spent on Tivua Island eating a buffet lunch and snorkelling. Day two is a more relaxed start time with the swim off the Sofitel Hotel. I change my mindset for the second swim. I've done it, I know I can do it, now enjoy it. I start off at the back of the pack this time which means less splashing. Twenty seven minutes later I'm running under the finish line with another ocean swim under my belt. The afternoon is spent at the adults only Waitui Bar & Grill which we have access to for the day. It's lovely and by now a lot of the attendees are socialising and mixing with each other. A pina colada in the pool and another happy hour drink at the hotel bar is quite enough for day two. Day three is a trip to Malamala, a beautiful island a half hour away by quick-cat. Rina and I decide we need to warm up before our swim for once. We swing our arms like I've seen Liv (swimming daughter do) and slap our biceps, then head out for a quick 100m ocean warm up. We've also talked to the 3km winner who advises us to kick less as your legs are the biggest muscle that eats up energy. Each swim was followed by a social event or island lunch. Photo / Wendy Petrie The gun goes and we are off. It's beautiful and although I can feel a couple of bites from sea lice, they don't worry me. The view underwater is mesmerising. With 'Nothing's gonna stop us now' blaring over the loudspeaker, I finally find it - my swimming mojo! One, two, one two and I have so much energy. I barely kick my legs and my breathing is even and in control. I could swim like this all day! It's like I'm in an ocean hammock, with the tide gently cradling me as I make my way around the island. I finished in 22 minutes, my best time yet. A finisher's medal tops it off and a few dozen photos later, we are lying on loungers enjoying the day with our catered lunch. The final gathering is back on the lawn of the Sofitel, with white tablecloths and awards. Rina gets a silver medal for coming second in her age group. There are swimmers in their 60s, 70s and 80s crushing it out there. It's quite inspiring. After dinner, we hit the dance floor with our new swimming friends and reflect on our fun week. As I head into my 50's I'm keen to keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and that's exactly what I got. Now, what's the next challenge?
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Rugby live updates: AUSNZ v British & Irish Lions
The Lions celebrates a try against the Waratahs, 2025. Photo: DEAN LEWINS / PHOTOSPORT One of the most talked-about fixtures of the Lions tour finally takes place in South Australia, with the Ian Foster-coached AUSNZ combined side taking the field. Kickoff is at 10pm NZT.
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- NZ Herald
Gregor Paul: Beef with Wellington - the case for NZR to abandon the capital city
Wellington is fast-becoming a ghost-city, and certainly it's a place where the All Blacks feel they have been haunted in recent years. New Zealand Rugby House in Wellington is one of two offices run by the sport's governing body. Photo / Mark Mitchell Their record in the capital has been dire since 2017: catastrophically out of alignment with their legacy of prolonged success. They have won just two of their last eight tests at the Cake Tin, and the loss to Argentina last year is one that head coach Scott Robertson still lies awake at night replaying in his head, endlessly pondering how on earth it happened. Everyone insists it's not rational to be talking about the capital being cursed, but so much has happened in Wellington in the past eight years that it's maybe not rational to not consider it. Ever since Sonny Bill Williams lost the run of himself in the second test against the British and Irish Lions and was red carded midway through the first half for a reckless shoulder charge, the All Blacks have endured multiple unexplainable phenomena when playing in the capital. In 2018, they lost to the Springboks when they couldn't stop conceding soft tries or work out how to drop a goal at the death. In 2020, they drew with the Wallabies after Rieko Ioane inexplicably dropped the ball over the line in the act of scoring when no one was near him. In 2022, somehow Irish prop Andrew Porter was only yellow carded midway through the second half for breaking Brodie Retallick's cheekbone. Last year, the All Blacks contrived to blow the game by throwing two consecutive wild passes that saw them retreat 50 metres and hand Argentina an attacking scrum from which they scored. Maybe, then, the capital is cursed – but certainly there is a growing sense that it's not just an unhappy place for civil servants, but that rugby is also re-evaluating and considering its relationship with the capital. The All Blacks have already effectively detached from Wellington itself as last year they committed to a partnership with the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport in Upper Hutt. That state-of the-art facility is now their dedicated training base whenever they play in Wellington, and the team only decamped into town on Thursday night. An aerial view of the NZCIS Sports Hub in Trentham, Upper Hutt. Photo / NZCIS And then there is the question of how often the All Blacks will play in the capital in the coming years. There will only be four home tests in 2026 and three in 2027, and with the new, roofed stadium in Christchurch set to open next year, the unloved Cake Tin won't be kicked off the rotation, but it will inevitably struggle to be allocated as many tests as it currently is. But there is an even bigger question under consideration, which relates to whether New Zealand Rugby should continue to be headquartered in Wellington, or even have any office presence at all in the capital. The national body is in the midst of a major cost-saving review and the feedback from the consultancy running the rule over the organisation has asked whether NZR needs to have significant offices in both Auckland and Wellington as it currently does. NZR has historically been based in Wellington, but in the past 15 years or so has built a growing presence in Auckland – basing most of its commercial staff there as well as (departing in December) chief executive Mark Robinson. Auckland is the country's economic powerhouse, a magnet for new migrants, and arguably the most likely destination in which the yet-to-be-found new chief executive is going to want to be based. It would be hard for NZR to sell the merits of Wellington to applicants for the CEO role while the city is suffering a slow and painful economic death caused by civil servant job cuts and the consequential collapse of the service and hospitality sectors so dependent on the government's administrative workforce. In a work-from-home digital world, it seems archaic to be talking about office locations, but the lease on NZR's Wellington and Auckland properties both expire at the end of 2027, and a decision has to be made on whether to renew both, rationalise to just one city or relocate the headquarters entirely. A decision has all-but been made already to relocate NZR's high-performance staff to the NZCIS facility in Upper Hutt. The Hurricanes are based there, the All Blacks are likely to start training there more regularly even when they are not playing in the capital, and it's a natural fit for NZR's high-performance team to operate out of there rather than be in Wellington. But this will inevitably weaken the rationale for NZR to retain a base in Wellington post 2027. New Zealand Rugby House, on Molesworth Street, Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell No decision will be made until NZR's board has seen a detailed cost-benefit analysis that will tell them the financial impacts of operating out of just one city and the potential impact – financial and staff retention – of being based in either just Auckland or just Wellington. Given Auckland is the country's commercial epicentre, it's difficult to see how any review would produce an evidential base for NZR to shut up shop there, and really the question being asked is whether the national body can justify keeping a base in Wellington. Maybe it will ultimately make financial sense for NZR to stay in the capital, but the occupied doorways, prevalence of sleeping bags on public benches and closed darkened units where flat whites no longer flow, suggest the city is not New Zealand's – nor rugby's – future. Gregor Paul is one of New Zealand's most respected rugby writers and columnists. He has won multiple awards for journalism and written several books about sport.
