Coach Les Kiss has named a strong Australia-New Zealand invitational squad to face the British & Irish Lions in Adelaide on Saturday.
The squad boasts 18 internationals with Kiss hoping they can produce “something special” on the night.
They include All Blacks David Havili, Shannon Frizell and Hoskins Sotutu, with the Australia contingent led by Marika Koroibete, Pete Samu and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto. There are 10 Australian internationals and eight from New Zealand in the squad with a combined 300 caps.
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Trans-Tasman rivals. One team
Your AUNZ Invitational XV squad has been named to face the British & Irish Lions.#LionsTour2025 pic.twitter.com/ksrefgG6zB
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) July 6, 2025
“There has been a lot of work behind the scenes to build this squad and it’s exciting to see it come together,” said Kiss, who felt the full force of the Lions last week when they crushed his Reds 52-12.
“We have quality coaches and a highly motivated group of players that represent the depth of talent across Australia and New Zealand. 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,” he said of the squad picked in a joined Australia and New Zealand team for the first time since 1989.
“As the first AUNZ side to be assembled in 36 years, we have the chance to do something pretty special in Adelaide.”
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Andy Farrell’s tourists take on the Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday and then meet the invitational XV in Adelaide on Saturday for their fifth and final warm-up game before the opening Test against the Wallabies on 19 July in Brisbane.
Kiss, who is set to succeed Joe Schmidt as Wallabies coach next year, is being assisted by former All Blacks head coach Ian Foster.
AUNZ squad:
Aidan Ross (Reds), AJ Lam (Blues), Angus Blyth (Reds), Brandon Paenga-Amosa (Western Force), Daniel Botha (Waratahs), Darby Lancaster (Waratahs), David Havili (Crusaders), Folau Fakatava (Highlanders), George Dyer (Chiefs), Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Reds), Hoskins Sotutu (Blues), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Reds), Jock Campbell (Reds), Joe Brial (Reds), Joey Walton (Waratahs), Joshua Fusitu’a (Blues), Kalani Thomas (Reds), Kurt Eklund (Blues), Lachlan Anderson (Reds), Lukhan Salakai-Loto (Reds), Mac Grealy (Western Force), Marika Koroibete (Panasonic Wild Knights), Matt Philip (Waratahs), Ngani Laumape (Moana Pasifika), Pete Samu (Waratahs), Richie Asiata (Reds), Seru Uru (Reds), Shannon Frizell (Toshiba Brave Lupus), Shaun Stevenson (Kubota Spears), Tane Edmed (Waratahs)
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images
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