Latest news with #FirstNationsPasifikaXV
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Old head O'Connor an asset for Wallabies: Beale
Overlooked for his own fairytale recall, Kurtley Beale is applauding the selection of fellow Wallabies veteran James O'Connor to face the British and Irish Lions. Beale will still get a chance to tackle the tourists, leading an historic First Nations and Pasifika XV that will line up for the first time at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on July 22. The 36-year-old has overcome a hamstring twinge that ruled him out of the Western Force clash that opened the Lions tour last month. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wallabies (@wallabies) After injury to first-choice flyhalf Noah Lolesio, 35-year-old O'Connor, who was part of the 2013 Lions series, was a surprise inclusion almost three years after playing his last Test. O'Connor was in the thick of action in his first training session; both he and the Wallabies posting a photo on social media that showed stitches to a cut above his eye with blood dripping down his face. Beale, who also played in the losing campaign 12 years ago, said an experienced head such as O'Connor would add value to the squad and in particular to the playmakers in Tom Lynagh and Ben Donaldson. "You definitely need, like, a bit of an older head ... I feel like there's value, not just for the two young 10s to bounce ideas off, to compete with, but also for the whole squad in general," Beale told AAP. "I know from from the past, being in a squad with Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper, two guys that I looked up to in terms of playing the same positions and just bouncing ideas and kind of learning how they they craft a game, it's really important in the background, right?" Beale watched the Wallabies snatch a last-gasp win over Fiji last Sunday and believed there were enough signs in their first Test of the year to give hope they could topple the classy Lions. "I think we do have a chance," he said. "The Wallabies' performance against Fiji, it lacked a little bit of cohesion, the finishing touches, but I thought we created a some great opportunities. "There were couple of forward passes and we nail those and there's scoreboard pressure, we're in front, and we start to kind of get into a game plan. "I'm sure the guys understand that and no doubt they'll be working really hard to put it all together so that we go out there confident and stick it to the Lions in game one." First Nations and Pasifika coach Toutai Kefu has so far unveiled five players - Queensland's Seru Uru, NSW Waratahs pair Rob Leota and Charlie Gamble and Brumbies speedster Andy Muirhead - and touted Beale as his captain, although the flyhalf said nothing had been made official. "If that's the case, what an absolute honour," said the 95-Test veteran, who still harbours ambitions of adding to that Test tally. "It's a huge privilege to be able to represent my culture and represent the team at this level against the Lions. "After being involved last time there's a bit of redemption there ...it'd be great to be able to kind of get back and put in a performance that we can all be proud of."
CNA
19-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Kiss to coach invitational team against Lions, Kefu leads Pasifika
SYDNEY :Wallabies coach-elect Les Kiss will coach the AUNZ Invitational XV and Toutai Kefu the First Nations & Pasifika XV against the British & Irish Lions in tour matches in July, Rugby Australia said on Monday. Australia has only four Super Rugby sides after the demise of the Melbourne Rebels last year and the Lions will play the tour matches against the invitational sides in Adelaide and Melbourne as preparation for the test series. Kiss, who will take over as Wallabies coach from Joe Schmidt in July next year, said it would be a privilege to lead the AUNZ side along with a coaching team including former All Blacks boss Ian Foster for the July 12 clash. "The British & Irish Lions are one of world sport's most renowned teams and to be able to play them at an iconic Australian venue such as the Adelaide Oval will be an incredible spectacle," he said in a press release. "I'm looking forward to working with a coach like Ian who has wide-ranging experience at the highest level of the game and linking up with the wider management in due course." World Cup-winning Wallabies number eight Kefu, who was coach of Tonga until 2023, said it would be a particular honour to lead the inaugural First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne on July 22. "First Nations and Pasifika people contribute massively to the game all around the world," Kefu said. "The significance of this game in celebrating those ongoing contributions can't be overstated, especially against a team with the history of the British & Irish Lions." The first clash between the Lions and Australia will take place in Brisbane on July 19 with the second and third tests in Melbourne and Sydney on the following two Saturdays.
Reuters
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Kiss to coach invitational team against Lions, Kefu leads Pasifika
SYDNEY, May 19 (Reuters) - Wallabies coach-elect Les Kiss will coach the AUNZ Invitational XV and Toutai Kefu the First Nations & Pasifika XV against the British & Irish Lions in tour matches in July, Rugby Australia said on Monday. Australia has only four Super Rugby sides after the demise of the Melbourne Rebels last year and the Lions will play the tour matches against the invitational sides in Adelaide and Melbourne as preparation for the test series. Kiss, who will take over as Wallabies coach from Joe Schmidt in July next year, said it would be a privilege to lead the AUNZ side along with a coaching team including former All Blacks boss Ian Foster for the July 12 clash. "The British & Irish Lions are one of world sport's most renowned teams and to be able to play them at an iconic Australian venue such as the Adelaide Oval will be an incredible spectacle," he said in a press release. "I'm looking forward to working with a coach like Ian who has wide-ranging experience at the highest level of the game and linking up with the wider management in due course." World Cup-winning Wallabies number eight Kefu, who was coach of Tonga until 2023, said it would be a particular honour to lead the inaugural First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne on July 22. "First Nations and Pasifika people contribute massively to the game all around the world," Kefu said. "The significance of this game in celebrating those ongoing contributions can't be overstated, especially against a team with the history of the British & Irish Lions." The first clash between the Lions and Australia will take place in Brisbane on July 19 with the second and third tests in Melbourne and Sydney on the following two Saturdays.
