Latest news with #AUNZInvitationalXV
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Kiss to lead combined Australia-NZ team against Lions
Les Kiss will be the head coach of a combined Australia and New Zealand side that will play the British and Irish Lions this who will take over from Joe Schmidt as Australia coach in 2026, will have former All Blacks head coach Ian Foster as an assistant for the game in Adelaide on Saturday, 12 will be the first combined Australia and New Zealand team since 1989 and they will play a Lions side who start a three-Test series against Australia on Saturday, 19 July in Brisbane."It's a privilege to be able to lead the coaching group for the combined AUNZ Invitational XV," said Kiss, currently Queensland Reds head coach."The British and 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."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 former Australia international and ex-Tonga coach Toutai Kefu will lead a First Nations and Pasifika XV that will play the Lions on Tuesday, 22 July in between the first and second Tests against Australia. "I feel honoured to be named head coach of the first ever First Nations and Pasifika XV," said Kefu."First Nations and Pasifika people contribute massively to the game all around the world and the significance of this game in celebrating those ongoing contributions can't be overstated, especially against a team with the history of the British and Irish Lions." What are the British and Irish Lions fixtures? Friday, 20 June - Lions v Argentina, Dublin (Aviva Stadium)Saturday, 28 June - Lions v Western Force, Perth (Optus Stadium)Wednesday, 2 July - Lions v Queensland Reds, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium)Saturday, 5 July - Lions v NSW Waratahs, Sydney (Allianz Stadium)Wednesday, 9 July - Lions v ACT Brumbies, Canberra (GIO Stadium)Saturday, 12 July - Lions v Invitational AU & NZ, Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)Saturday, 19 July - Lions v Australia, first Test, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium)Tuesday, 22 July - Lions v First Nations & Pasifika XV, Melbourne (Marvel Stadium)Saturday, 26 July - Lions v Australia, second Test, Melbourne (Melbourne Cricket Ground/MCG)Saturday, 2 August - Lions v Australia, third Test, Sydney (Accor Stadium)All matches kick off at 11:00 BST apart from the game in Dublin which starts at 20:00 BST
The Guardian
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Incoming Australia coach Les Kiss to take charge of Lions tour invitational team
Incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss will get an early taste of international rugby when he oversees the AUNZ Invitational XV against the British & Irish Lions in Adelaide. Queensland Reds mentor Kiss will team up with former All Blacks coach Ian Foster, who was already announced as an assistant for the July fixture, the first time since 1989 that Australia and New Zealand have combined on the field. That match was won 19-15 by the touring Lions, however only two of the seven Kiwi players originally named in the squad decided to play. There are hopes that Japan-based stars like Michael Hooper, Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga could be attracted to participate this time around. Kiss, who will replace current Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt next year, was looking forward to guiding the trans-Tasman selection, with the match a week before the first Test in Brisbane on 19 July. 'It's a privilege to be able to lead the coaching group for the combined AUNZ Invitational XV,' he said in a statement. 'I'm looking forward to working with a coach like Ian, who has wide-ranging experience at the highest level of the game.' Rugby Australia also announced that former Wallabies No 8 Toutai Kefu would coach the First Nations and Pasifika XV, who will play the Lions at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on 22 July. Currently coaching in Japan, Kefu was part of the victorious Wallabies squad in the 2001 Lions series and was previously head coach of Tonga for seven years. 'First Nations and Pasifika people contribute massively to the game all around the world and the significance of this game in celebrating those ongoing contributions can't be overstated, especially against a team with the history of the British and Irish Lions,' Kefu said in the statement. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion 'I'm looking forward to getting together as a group in July and representing our people with a strong performance.'
France 24
19-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Kiss to coach Australia-New Zealand combined XV against Lions
Kiss, who will succeed Joe Schmidt at the Wallabies next year, will have former All Blacks head coach Ian Foster as an assistant for the clash which takes place a week before Australia's first Test against the Lions in Brisbane. Kiss said it would be an honour to be in charge when Australia and New Zealand field a combined side for the first time since 1989. "It's a privilege to be able to lead the coaching group for the combined AUNZ Invitational XV. The British and Irish Lions are one of world sport's most renowned teams," said Kiss, the current Queensland Reds coach. "I'm looking forward to working with a coach like Ian." Wallabies great and former Tonga head coach Toutai Kefu will take charge of a First Nations and Pasifika XV against the Lions in Melbourne on July 22, it was also announced Monday. "I feel honoured," said Kefu, who is currently coaching in Japan and spent seven years previously working with Tonga. "I'm looking forward to getting together as a group in July and representing our people with a strong performance." The British and Irish Lions begin their nine-match Australia tour against Western Force in Perth on June 28. They will play three Tests against Australia in Brisbane on July 19, at the MCG in Melbourne on July 26 and in Sydney on August 3.
The Advertiser
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Kiss, Kefu to coach in Lions tour invitational matches
Incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss will get an early taste of international rugby when he oversees the AUNZ Invitational XV against the British and Irish Lions in Adelaide. Queensland Reds mentor Kiss will team up with former All Blacks coach Ian Foster, who was already announced as an assistant for the July fixture, the first time since 1989 that Australia and New Zealand have combined on the field. That match was won 19-15 by the touring Lions, however only two of the seven Kiwi players originally named in the squad decided to play. There are hopes that Japan-based stars like Michael Hooper, Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga could be attracted to participate this time around. Kiss, who will replace current Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt next year, was looking forward to guiding the trans-Tasman selection, with the match a week before the first Test in Brisbane on July 19. "It's a privilege to be able to lead the coaching group for the combined AUNZ Invitational XV," he said in a statement. "I'm looking forward to working with a coach like Ian, who has wide-ranging experience at the highest level of the game." Rugby Australia also announced that former Wallabies No.8 Toutai Kefu would coach the First Nations and Pasifika XV, who will play the Lions at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on July 22. Currently coaching in Japan, Kefu was part of the victorious Wallabies squad in the 2001 Lions series and was previously head coach of Tonga for seven years."First Nations and Pasifika people contribute massively to the game all around the world and the significance of this game in celebrating those ongoing contributions can't be overstated, especially against a team with the history of the British and Irish Lions," Kefu said in the statement."I'm looking forward to getting together as a group in July and representing our people with a strong performance." Incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss will get an early taste of international rugby when he oversees the AUNZ Invitational XV against the British and Irish Lions in Adelaide. Queensland Reds mentor Kiss will team up with former All Blacks coach Ian Foster, who was already announced as an assistant for the July fixture, the first time since 1989 that Australia and New Zealand have combined on the field. That match was won 19-15 by the touring Lions, however only two of the seven Kiwi players originally named in the squad decided to play. There are hopes that Japan-based stars like Michael Hooper, Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga could be attracted to participate this time around. Kiss, who will replace current Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt next year, was looking forward to guiding the trans-Tasman selection, with the match a week before the first Test in Brisbane on July 19. "It's a privilege to be able to lead the coaching group for the combined AUNZ Invitational XV," he said in a statement. "I'm looking forward to working with a coach like Ian, who has wide-ranging experience at the highest level of the game." Rugby Australia also announced that former Wallabies No.8 Toutai Kefu would coach the First Nations and Pasifika XV, who will play the Lions at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on July 22. Currently coaching in Japan, Kefu was part of the victorious Wallabies squad in the 2001 Lions series and was previously head coach of Tonga for seven years."First Nations and Pasifika people contribute massively to the game all around the world and the significance of this game in celebrating those ongoing contributions can't be overstated, especially against a team with the history of the British and Irish Lions," Kefu said in the statement."I'm looking forward to getting together as a group in July and representing our people with a strong performance." Incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss will get an early taste of international rugby when he oversees the AUNZ Invitational XV against the British and Irish Lions in Adelaide. Queensland Reds mentor Kiss will team up with former All Blacks coach Ian Foster, who was already announced as an assistant for the July fixture, the first time since 1989 that Australia and New Zealand have combined on the field. That match was won 19-15 by the touring Lions, however only two of the seven Kiwi players originally named in the squad decided to play. There are hopes that Japan-based stars like Michael Hooper, Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga could be attracted to participate this time around. Kiss, who will replace current Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt next year, was looking forward to guiding the trans-Tasman selection, with the match a week before the first Test in Brisbane on July 19. "It's a privilege to be able to lead the coaching group for the combined AUNZ Invitational XV," he said in a statement. "I'm looking forward to working with a coach like Ian, who has wide-ranging experience at the highest level of the game." Rugby Australia also announced that former Wallabies No.8 Toutai Kefu would coach the First Nations and Pasifika XV, who will play the Lions at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on July 22. Currently coaching in Japan, Kefu was part of the victorious Wallabies squad in the 2001 Lions series and was previously head coach of Tonga for seven years."First Nations and Pasifika people contribute massively to the game all around the world and the significance of this game in celebrating those ongoing contributions can't be overstated, especially against a team with the history of the British and Irish Lions," Kefu said in the statement."I'm looking forward to getting together as a group in July and representing our people with a strong performance."
West Australian
19-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Kiss, Kefu to coach in Lions tour invitational matches
Incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss will get an early taste of international rugby when he oversees the AUNZ Invitational XV against the British and Irish Lions in Adelaide. Queensland Reds mentor Kiss will team up with former All Blacks coach Ian Foster, who was already announced as an assistant for the July fixture, the first time since 1989 that Australia and New Zealand have combined on the field. That match was won 19-15 by the touring Lions, however only two of the seven Kiwi players originally named in the squad decided to play. There are hopes that Japan-based stars like Michael Hooper, Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga could be attracted to participate this time around. Kiss, who will replace current Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt next year, was looking forward to guiding the trans-Tasman selection, with the match a week before the first Test in Brisbane on July 19. "It's a privilege to be able to lead the coaching group for the combined AUNZ Invitational XV," he said in a statement. "I'm looking forward to working with a coach like Ian, who has wide-ranging experience at the highest level of the game." Rugby Australia also announced that former Wallabies No.8 Toutai Kefu would coach the First Nations and Pasifika XV, who will play the Lions at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on July 22. Currently coaching in Japan, Kefu was part of the victorious Wallabies squad in the 2001 Lions series and was previously head coach of Tonga for seven years."First Nations and Pasifika people contribute massively to the game all around the world and the significance of this game in celebrating those ongoing contributions can't be overstated, especially against a team with the history of the British and Irish Lions," Kefu said in the statement."I'm looking forward to getting together as a group in July and representing our people with a strong performance."
