First Nations & Pasifika XV squad named ahead of clash with British & Irish Lions - Wallabies legend included

Monday, 14 July 2025 at 10:19

byTom Sansom

The full roster for the First Nations & Pasifika XV has been finalized ahead of their high-profile showdown with the British & Irish Lions, on Tuesday 22nd July at Docklands Stadium in Melbourne.

Following the earlier announcement of key names such as Wallabies legend Kurtley Beale, Charlie Gamble, Rob Leota, Seru Uru, and Andy Muirhead, an additional 22 players have now joined the team to complete the 27-man squad.

The side brings together a powerful mix of cultures and talent, featuring 20 players of Pasifika descent and seven with First Nations heritage. Among them are four players who suited up for the AUNZ XV in Saturday’s clash at Adelaide Oval; Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Pete Samu, and Kalani Thomas, who are now set to lend their support again in Melbourne.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, in particular, could be set for a third outing against the Lions this summer, having previously lined up for both the AUNZ XV and the Queensland Reds in matches against Andy Farrell’s touring side.

The squad is set to come together in Melbourne on Tuesday for final preparations. Head coach Toutai Kefu, who recently served as an ambassador with the AUNZ XV, is enthusiastic about the opportunity to lead this culturally significant team into action.

“It’s incredibly exciting to unveil the players that are set to be involved in this unique team,” Kefu said.

“There is a nice blend of youth and experience within the group, with countries and territories represented across the Pacific and Indigenous Australia.

“The players are aware at how big an opportunity this is to perform for their communities and grow the game of rugby.

“We have seen how strong the Lions are in recent weeks. The coaching staff and all the players will be working as hard as possible to prepare for this match and try to pull off something special in Melbourne.”