Les Kiss to coach a combined Australia-New Zealand team against the British and Irish Lions

SYDNEY – 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