World XV

A World XV is a rugby union team organised on an unofficial, ad hoc basis and typically composed of invited players from various countries. Several World XVs have been arranged by various bodies, often to take part in celebration and testimonial games, usually against national teams, but these are not considered test matches by most nations.

World XV
Coach(es) Robbie Deans (March 2019)
Captain(s) Andrew Ellis (March 2019)
First match
 South Africa 45-24 World XV
(27 August 1977)
Largest test win
 Japan 20–45 World XV
(25 August 2015)
Largest defeat
 Coronation Tongan XV 60-24 World XV
(31 July 2008)
Largest test defeat
 South Africa 46–10 World XV
(11 July 2015)

In 1977, 1974 British Lions tour to South Africa captain Willie John McBride led a newly established World XV against Morne du Plessis's Springboks to commemorate the opening of the Loftus Versfeld stadium.[1]

History

South Africa

South Africa first played a World XV in Pretoria on 27 August 1977. The World side included Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams, Willie John McBride, and Sandy Carmichael. A crowd of 65,000 watched as Morné du Plessis' South Africans led by 22–14 at half-time to eventually defeat the World XV by 45–24. During the match Argentinian flyhalf Hugo Porta came on as a replacement. Flank Theuns Stofberg added two tries to one each by Gerrie Germishuys, Hermanus Potgieter,[2] Dawie Snyman, and Barry Wolmarans (on debut) for the Springboks.[3] Four days later, the World XV played Western Province at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town. This time Porta started alongside Williams, McBride, and Carmichael, with Alan Sutherland facing off against Du Plessis. At 3.30pm coloured player Errol Tobias, representing the South African Federation, was on the reserve bench for the World XV, as he had been for the 2pm match between a Presidents' XV and Western Province B.[4]

In 1989 a World XV, sanctioned by the IRB and funded by South African Breweries, played two tests against South Africa in celebration of the centenary of the South African Rugby Board (SARB). The Springboks won both, by 20–19 at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town and the second by 22–16 on 2 September at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

In May and June 2006 a World XV, sponsored by South African company Steinhoff Holdings and coached by Bob Dwyer, played three games – against Saracens in London, then against South Africa at Ellis Park and Western Province XV at Newlands. The latter match was a testimonial for former South Africa captain Corné Krige, who led the Western Province side. In December 2006, again coached by Dwyer, a Steinhoff-backed World XV played a South Africa XV at Walkers Stadium in Leicester, losing 32–7. This game was to mark the centenary of South Africa's overseas tours.

In 2014, a World XV captained by Matt Giteau and coached by Nick Mallett played a South Africa XV, who won 45–24.[5]

Argentina

In 1980 and 1983, Argentina, played a World XV twice. The first match was played at Ferrocarril Oeste Stadium, Buenos Aires.[6] Argentina went into half time ahead by 16 points to nil and despite an excellent display in the second half by the World XV Argentina were able to secure a 36–22 win. The second match was played in Atlanta Stadium, Buenos Aires, where Argentina secured a second victory 28–20.

New Zealand

In 1992, a World XV played three matches against the All Blacks in New Zealand. The first encounter between the two sides ended in a 24–14 win for the World XV, the first time a World XV won against a national team. However, New Zealand won the second match 54–26, and the third match 26–15. The tour was to mark the centenary of the New Zealand Rugby Union in 1992.

Wales

In 2008, a World XV played a Wales XV side, which acted as a testimonial match for Welsh player Shane Williams. In total there were 19 tries scored in the match, which was played at the Millennium Stadium, with Williams scoring the match-winning try as Wales won 65–57. Later in 2008, a World XV played a Coronation Tongan XV side, in a game to celebrate the coronation of Tonga's King, George Tupou V. Tonga won the match 60–26, beating the Colin Charvis-captained side that included players from Australia, England, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa and Wales.[7]

Australia

In March 2019, a World XV captained by Andrew Ellis and coached by Robbie Deans played Western Force, who won 26–16 as the opener of the 2019 Global Rapid Rugby season in HBF Park, Perth.[8]

Matches

Date Venue Opponent Score Result Head Coach Captain Event
27 August 1977 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria  South Africa 45–24 Lost Syd Millar Willie J. McBride
9 August 1980 Ferrocarril Oeste Stadium, Buenos Aires  Argentina 36–22 Lost Jean-Pierre Rives
25 June 1983 Atlanta Stadium, Buenos Aires  Argentina 28–20 Lost
15 May 1988 Concord Oval, Sydney  Australia 42–38 Lost Brian Lochore Hugo Porta
26 August 1989 Newlands, Cape Town  South Africa 20–19 Lost Bob Templeton Pierre Berbizier South African tour
(Centenary of SARB)
2 September 1989 Ellis Park, Johannesburg  South Africa 22–16 Lost
18 April 1992 Jade Stadium, Christchurch  New Zealand 14–28 Won Bob Templeton David Sole New Zealand tour
(Centenary of NZRU)
22 April 1992 Athletic Park, Wellington  New Zealand 54–26 Lost Nick Farr-Jones
25 April 1992 Eden Park, Auckland  New Zealand 26–15 Lost
14 April 1999 Atlanta Stadium, Buenos Aires  Argentina 49–31 Lost Bob Templeton
3 June 2006 Ellis Park, Johannesburg  South Africa 30–27 Lost Bob Dwyer Justin Marshall Testimonial match for
Corné Krige
3 December 2006 Walkers Stadium, Leicester  South Africa 32–7 Lost Bob Dwyer Lawrence Dallaglio Centenary of South Africa's
overseas tours
17 May 2008 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Shane Williams Wales XV 65–57 Lost Mike Ruddock Justin Marshall Shane Williams Testimony match
31 July 2008 Teufaiva Stadium, Nukuʻalofa  Coronation Tongan XV 60–26 Lost Colin Charvis Coronation of George Tupou V
7 June 2014 Newlands, Cape Town  South Africa 45–24 Lost Nick Mallett Matt Giteau [9]
11 July 2015 Newlands, Cape Town  South Africa 46–10 Lost Robbie Deans
Bernard Laporte
Bakkies Botha 2015 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches
15 August 2015 Chichibunomiya Stadium, Tokyo  Japan 20–45 Won Robbie Deans Bakkies Botha
28 October 2017 Level5 Stadium, Fukuoka  Japan 27–47 Won Robbie Deans Andrew Ellis
26 October 2018 Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka  Japan 28–31 Won Robbie Deans Andrew Ellis Commemoration of newly renovated Hanazono Rugby Stadium
23 March 2019 HBF Park, Perth Western Force 16–26 Lost Robbie Deans Andrew Ellis 2019 Global Rapid Rugby season opener[10]

Squad for Western Force match 2019

World XV squad for their match against Western Force on 22 March 2019.[11]

Note: Italics denotes uncapped player(s) – Bold denotes player(s) that have represented a World XV in previous matches Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Date of birth (age) Club/province Union
Corey Flynn Hooker (1981-01-05) 5 January 1981 Unattached New Zealand
Greg Pleasants-Tate Hooker (1991-05-12) 12 May 1991 Canterbury New Zealand
Wyatt Crockett Prop (1983-01-24) 24 January 1983 Tasman New Zealand
Shohei Hirano Prop (1993-08-30) 30 August 1993 Panasonic Wild Knights Japan
Chris King Prop (1981-04-30) 30 April 1981 Canterbury New Zealand
Tom Moloney Prop (1994-03-04) 4 March 1994 Panasonic Wild Knights Australia
Hamish Dalzell Lock (1996-01-16) 16 January 1996 Canterbury New Zealand
Michael Oakman-Hunt Lock (1993-03-05) 5 March 1993 Canberra Vikings Australia
Hugh Renton Flanker (1996-05-12) 12 May 1996 Canterbury New Zealand
Jack Cornelsen Flanker (1994-10-13) 13 October 1994 Panasonic Wild Knights Australia
Michael Curry Flanker Unknown Tasman New Zealand
Shota Fukui Flanker (1999-08-28) 28 August 1999 Panasonic Wild Knights Japan
Leonardo Senatore Number 8 (1984-05-13) 13 May 1984 Unattached Argentina
Andrew Ellis (c) Scrum-half (1984-02-21) 21 February 1984 Kobelco Steelers New Zealand
Leon Fukofuka Scrum-half (1994-08-09) 9 August 1994 Auckland Tonga
Kosei Ono Fly-half (1987-04-17) 17 April 1987 Suntory Sungoliath Japan
Inga Finau Centre (1994-08-24) 24 August 1994 Canterbury New Zealand
Dylan Riley Centre (1997-05-02) 2 May 1997 Panasonic Wild Knights Australia
Asaeli Tikoirotuma Centre (1986-06-24) 24 June 1986 Unattached Fiji
Nick Cummins Wing (1987-10-05) 5 October 1987 Unattached Australia
Yoshikazu Fujita Wing (1993-09-08) 8 September 1993 Panasonic Wild Knights Japan
Digby Ioane Wing (1985-07-14) 14 July 1985 Panasonic Wild Knights Australia
Gio Aplon Fullback (1982-06-10) 10 June 1982 Toyota Verblitz South Africa

Previous squads

1977 World XV

Head Coach: Syd Millar

References

  1. Alasdair Fraser (6 June 2014). "Five facts about the World XV rugby team". The South African. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  2. Hermanus Potgieter Scores During the Match Between a World XV and South Africa, 27 August 1977. Accessed: 31 December 2012. YouTube link..
  3. "World XV tour - Pretoria, 27 August 1977. South Africa (22) 45 - 24 (12) World XV (FT)". Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  4. "1977 Western Province V World XV Rugby Programme". Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  5. Springboks to open season against World XV - TVNZ, 8 April 2014
  6. Scrum.com match summary for 1980 World XV vs Argentina
  7. Tonga beat World XV
  8. Nick Taylor (23 March 2019). "Western Force too good for Honey Badger, World XV". The West Australian. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  9. Springboks to open season against World XV - TVNZ, 8 April 2014
  10. Nick Taylor (23 March 2019). "Western Force too good for Honey Badger, World XV". The West Australian. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  11. Reg Roberts (21 March 2019). "Rapid Rugby Showcase Preview: Western Force v a World XV". Green and Gold Rugby. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
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