Union Australian Rugby Union | Coach(es) Cameron Blades | |
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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.
Contents
The match was the fourth game of the tour and was played in Newcastle on 11 June 2013 at Hunter Stadium. Referee Steve Walsh in charge of the game.
The Combined Country team was coached by former Wallaby prop, Cameron Blades.
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.
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' temmate, Jarrad Butler. 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.
Melbourne Rebels player Tim Davidson was named as captain.
Head coach: Cameron Blades
Result
The Lions beat Combined Country by ten tries, seven of which converted (64 points) to nil.