Combined New South Wales–Queensland Country

Combined Country is an Australian rugby union team that was formed for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia. Unlike the 2001 tour, the Lions faced a combined team made up of players representing the Queensland Country and New South Wales Country rugby unions.

Combined New South Wales–Queensland Country
Combined Country
Full nameCombined New South Wales–Queensland Country
UnionAustralian Rugby Union
Nickname(s)Combined Country
Emblem(s)Waratah and Cooktown orchid
Founded2013 (2013)
RegionCountry New South Wales, Country Queensland
Coach(es)Cameron Blades (2013)
Captain(s)Tim Davidson (2013)
Combined Country v Lions lineups

The match was the fourth game of the tour and was played in Newcastle on 11 June 2013 at Hunter Stadium.[1] Referee Steve Walsh was in charge of the game.[2]

The Combined Country team was coached by former Wallaby prop, Cameron Blades.[3]

Squad

On 10 June a 23-man squad was announced to play the British and Irish Lions. Included were: nine players from Super Rugby, 10 Country players (seven QLD, three NSW) and four players form Premier rugby in New South Wales and Queensland.[4]

Reds flanker Beau Robinson was in the initial squad but withdrew following an injury he suffered while playing for the Reds against the Lions on 8 June. He was replaced by his Reds' teammate, Jarrad Butler.[4] The other player forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury was NSW Country flyhalf Ben Greentree. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Queensland Country player Shaun McCarthy, with fellow Queensland Country player Rory Arnold brought into the lineup on the bench to complete the squad.[4]

Melbourne Rebels player Tim Davidson was named as captain.[5]

Head coach: Cameron Blades

Forwards

Player Position Club Region
Tom Kearney Hooker Noosa Dolphins QLD Country
Joshua Mann-Rea Hooker Brumbies Super Rugby
Rikki Abraham Prop Teachers West QLD Country
Dylan Evans Prop Wanderers R.U.C. NSW Country
Haydn Hirsimaki Prop S.C. Stingrays QLD Country
Tim Metcher Prop S. Districts Premier Rugby
Phoenix Battye Lock Force Super Rugby
Blake Enever Lock Reds Super Rugby
Rory Arnold Lock G.C. Breakers QLD Country
Richard Stanford Flanker E. Suburbs Premier Rugby
Jarrad Butler Flanker Reds Super Rugby
Trent Dyer Flanker Rebels Super Rugby
Tim Davidson (c) Number 8 Rebels Super Rugby

Backs

Player Position Club Region
Adam McCormack Scrum-half Hastings Valley NSW Country
Michael Snowden Scrum-half Force Super Rugby
Angus Roberts Fly-half Rebels Super Rugby
Shaun McCarthy Fly-half Burdekin R.U.C. QLD Country
Lewie Catt Centre Wanderers R.U.C. NSW Country
Tereta-Junior Siakisini Centre G.C. Breakers QLD Country
Dale Ah-Wong Wing Barron-Trinity Bulls QLD Country
Tom Cox Wing Brumbies Super Rugby
Alex Gibbon Wing S. Districts Premier Rugby
Nathan Trist Fullback Sydney University Premier Rugby

Result

The Lions beat Combined Country by ten tries, seven of which converted (64 points) to nil.[6]

See also

References
  1. 2013 Tour Fixtures
  2. Referees named for Lions series
  3. Blades to coach Combined Country against Lions
  4. "Two changes to Combined Country team to face Lions". Australian Rugby. 10 June 2013. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  5. Combined Country squad to play Lions
  6. Match report on Lions' official site
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