Rugby Australia plans to field a team of players with First Nations and Pasifika heritage against the British and Irish Lions in July next year in Melbourne, following the demise of the Rebels.
The closure of the Melbourne Rebels earlier this year, following the club’s entry into voluntary administration due to almost $23 million of debt, left a gap in the nine-game schedule of the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia.
The Lions were due to play against the Rebels on July 22 at Marvel Stadium, between the first and second Test matches against the Wallabies.
Chief executive Phil Waugh confirmed on Tuesday that RA are in the final stages of discussions with Lions counterparts about the fixture being a team comprised of Australian players with First Nations or Pacific Island heritage, drawn from the ranks of the Super Rugby teams.
The intention is to celebrate the diversity of cultures that make up Australian rugby, said Waugh.
“Given the popularity of rugby in the Pacific Island communities was one point, and the connection to the Victorian rugby community in Melbourne was another really important element,” Waugh said.
Kurtley Beale playing against the British and Irish Lions in 2013.Credit: Fairfax Photos
“And we also have some great talent with First Nations heritage. So it was a matter of how do we will pull those ideas together to make a very special game in a massive tour?
“So the preference will be to have Australian-eligible players of Pacific and First Nations backgrounds, and high-profile players to drive a high level of interest.”
Given the game is played between the first and second Tests, and with some Lions players having to feature in the midweek game and the Tests, Waugh said the Lions were keen for the game to be against a Super Rugby-standard team, and not a “fourth Test” against an Australia A-type outfit.
But despite the fact Australian rugby is blessed with many players of Pasifika background, and there is a big Pacific Island representation in the Melbourne rugby community, the harsh reality is that Australian rugby has very small numbers of professional footballers with Indigenous heritage.
The Lions took on the Rebels at AAMI Park in 2013.Credit: Sebastian Costanzo
Along with Dylan Pietsch, who became the 15th Indigenous Wallaby this year, the players who identify as having Indigenous heritage in Super Rugby include Andy Muirhead, Harrison Goddard, Triston Reilly, Connor Vest and Isaac Henry. Maurice Longbottom could be drafted in from the Australian sevens team, and he has proved a handy 15s player with Randwick.
Former Melbourne Rebel star Kurtley Beale could be the ideal man to captain the side but he suffered an Achilles’ tendon rupture in June and it is uncertain if he’ll be offered another contract at the Western Force for 2025.
Rugby Australia and the Lloyd McDermott Foundation run development programs, and some Super Rugby teams have launched their own initiatives to encourage indigenous talent. The Ella 7s is also a long-running, flagship tournament.
Indigenous Waratah winger Triston Reilly would be an obvious choice.Credit: Getty Images
But Waugh conceded it would be an impetus for Australian rugby to re-double its efforts.
“The reality is obviously AFL do it very well and rugby league have done it well, historically, also. And we probably haven’t captured and brought through as many of the extremely talented Indigenous athletes into rugby as we would like,” he said.
“There have been some of our biggest names, but certainly not enough of them. So we definitely want to connect with Indigenous rugby supporters and participants, and work hard to bring into our game.”
There are plans for the Wallabies to play a warm-up match against a Pacific Island Test nation prior to the Lions Test series, but Waugh said Australia will look to field strong-as-possible Super Rugby sides.
The Anzac XV game in Adelaide will likely see Australia A complemented with high-profile New Zealand players based overseas, given France are touring New Zealand at the same time.
“There are conversations beginning,” Waugh said. “We certainly want to get some high-profile Kiwi players, and given France are in New Zealand then, the sensible place to test some conversations would be the New Zealand players who are offshore. We are starting to engage with some clubs and players.”
The success of the Wallabies so far on the Spring Tour has served to not only quieten critics who claimed Australia will get thumped by the Lions, but escalated demand for the few remaining tickets, said Waugh.
“The next week or so is important in terms of momentum and keeping things going but there is a high level of interest,” he said. “Clearly the England game was important and the convincing win against Wales gives more interest and confidence for touring Lions supporters about a strong series, and Wallabies supporters at home as well. A good win against Scotland would certainly help.”
