Latest news with #FirstNations&PasifikaXV
The Age
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘It's going to be like a storm coming': Ella returns to take on the Lions
Nearly a quarter of a century after helping guide Australia to a series win over the British and Irish Lions as an assistant to Rod Macqueen in 2001, Glen Ella will get another crack at the tourists as part of the coaching set-up for the First Nations & Pasifika XV. The combined XV will take on the Lions at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on July 22, boasting an all-star coaching team. Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu is the head coach, with New Zealand's Tana Umaga, former Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui and former Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu joining Ella in supporting roles. Ella last coached at Test level in 2017, when he travelled to Argentina to help close friend Eddie Jones prepare England for their summer tour. Away from rugby, the former Wallabies fullback has been enjoying life in Nowra, running his own business and casting fishing lines with close friends. But if you want an indication of what else is important to him, you need look no further than a sticker on the rear window of his car which features a South Sydney Rabbitohs logo in the colours of the Australian Aboriginal flag, showcasing his lifelong love of South Sydney and his continued commitment to representing his culture. All of which means that when he took the call from Rugby Australia to canvas his interest in the First Nations & Pasifika XV, there was only ever going to be one answer. 'The players will never get an opportunity like this again, probably in their lives. I think the Pasifika team and First Nations team will be very passionate,' Ella said. 'Normally in a game you'd swap your jumpers with the Lions, but I'm thinking, no, keep those jumpers instead of giving them away. They're representing their countries, they're representing their communities and they're representing their families. 'We keep on saying it, but this has never been done before. What we want to do is make sure that when we play the game in Melbourne, whether we win or lose, that we do our countries proud.'
Sydney Morning Herald
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘It's going to be like a storm coming': Ella returns to take on the Lions
Nearly a quarter of a century after helping guide Australia to a series win over the British and Irish Lions as an assistant to Rod Macqueen in 2001, Glen Ella will get another crack at the tourists as part of the coaching set-up for the First Nations & Pasifika XV. The combined XV will take on the Lions at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on July 22, boasting an all-star coaching team. Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu is the head coach, with New Zealand's Tana Umaga, former Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui and former Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu joining Ella in supporting roles. Ella last coached at Test level in 2017, when he travelled to Argentina to help close friend Eddie Jones prepare England for their summer tour. Away from rugby, the former Wallabies fullback has been enjoying life in Nowra, running his own business and casting fishing lines with close friends. But if you want an indication of what else is important to him, you need look no further than a sticker on the rear window of his car which features a South Sydney Rabbitohs logo in the colours of the Australian Aboriginal flag, showcasing his lifelong love of South Sydney and his continued commitment to representing his culture. All of which means that when he took the call from Rugby Australia to canvas his interest in the First Nations & Pasifika XV, there was only ever going to be one answer. 'The players will never get an opportunity like this again, probably in their lives. I think the Pasifika team and First Nations team will be very passionate,' Ella said. 'Normally in a game you'd swap your jumpers with the Lions, but I'm thinking, no, keep those jumpers instead of giving them away. They're representing their countries, they're representing their communities and they're representing their families. 'We keep on saying it, but this has never been done before. What we want to do is make sure that when we play the game in Melbourne, whether we win or lose, that we do our countries proud.'
Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Les Kiss to coach a combined Australia-New Zealand team against the British and Irish Lions
– Wallabies coach-elect Les Kiss will take charge of a combined Australia-New Zealand XV, and Toutai Kefu will helm the First Nations & Pasifika XV against the British & Irish Lions in tour matches in July, Rugby Australia said on May 19. Australia has only four Super Rugby sides after the demise of the Melbourne Rebels in 2024 and the Lions will play the tour matches against the invitational sides in Adelaide and Melbourne as preparation for the Test Series. Queensland Reds boss Kiss, who will take over as Wallabies coach from Joe Schmidt in July 2026, 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 statement. '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.' It will be the first time Australia and New Zealand will field a combined side since 1989. World Cup-winning former Wallabies No. 8 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,' said Kefu, who is currently coaching in Japan after seven years with Tonga. '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. Meanwhile, New Zealand coach Allan Bunting said he thought the Black Ferns were building nicely for their Women's World Cup title defence despite being held to a 27-27 draw by Canada in a Pacific Four clash on May 17. The Black Ferns had been desperate for a win in Christchurch to avenge their first-ever loss to the second-ranked Canadians in the 2024 Pacific Four and confirm that they were on the right track for the Aug 22-Sept 27 World Cup. 'Just that intent and effort from our ladies was outstanding, we've just got to be a bit better at execution,' Bunting told reporters. 'Canada's a quality side and once they got going, they're pretty hard to stop. The speed of the ball was pretty hard, and we need to react a little bit quicker. We needed that test now, and we'll get some pretty good learnings out of this. We'll definitely be better for it.' REUTERS, AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
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 Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
