A dig into the rugby archives reveals the background of this much-anticipated 2025 series.
In 2013, North Sydney Oval was bursting at the seems with over 12,000 Wallabies and Lions packing in to watch the inaugural clash between Classic Wallabies and British & Irish Legends.
Similar to this year’s planned fixtures, the match was staged as a ‘friendly’ exhibition match, but that friendliness only extends so far, as noted by David Campese following the match in this article on Rugby News.
“There’s no such thing as a friendly game of rugby, as you could see when Charvis got me and dumped me right in the middle of the cricket pitch, but that’s what it’s about,”
Colin Charvis, the former Welsh captain and back-rower who led the Legends side echoed Campese’s sentiments.
“We’re all very competitive people, we wouldn’t have gotten this far in our careers if we hadn’t been, but the great thing about these matches is it’s tough when it needs to be tough, and fun when it needs to be fun,” the 2001 Lions tourist said.
“It was more about the spirit of the game – you only get to play once in a blue moon when you retire and to have the crowd we had, it was a great feeling.”
There is no doubt 2013 set a fantastic stage for this year’s series. Fans will enjoy seeing legends from both sides on and off the field, as they come together to raise money for a worthy cause.
This video from Total Rugby provides a great wrap of the 2013 match.
2013 Classic Wallabies Squad
1. Matt DUNNING
2. Jeremy PAUL
3. Bill YOUNG
4. Justin HARRISON
5. John LANGFORD
6. Matt COCKBURN
7. David CROFT
8. Sam SCOTT-YOUNG
9. Sam CORDINGLY
10.Scott BOWEN
11.David CAMPESE
12.Nathan GREY
13.Ryan CROSS
14.Scott STANIFORTH
15.Andrew WALKER
16.Nick GREGORSKI
17.Scott GOURLEY
18.Adam FREIER
19.Troy JAQUES
20.Richard HARRY
21.Nick REILY
22.Damian MURPHY
23.Tim WALLACE
24.Steve KEFU
Head Coach Damian SMITH
Forwards: Tim KELAHAR
Waterboy: Dan CROWLEY
2013 British and Irish Legends Squad
1. Marcus HORAN (IRE)
2. Frankie SHEAHAN (IRE)
3. Peter ROGERS (WAL)
4. Matthew SALTER (Bristol)
5. Roy WALTERS (ENG)
6. Colin CHARVIS (WAL)
7. Liam TOLAND (IRE)
8. Anthony FOLEY (IRE)
9. Shaun PERRY (ENG)
10.Jeremy STAUNTON (IRE)
11.Michael STEPHENSON (ENG)
12.Tom MAY (c) (ENG)
13.Jamie NOON (ENG)
14.Dan SCARBOROUGH (ENG)
15. Mark WOODROW (ENG)
16.Shane BYRNE (IRE)
17.Nathan THOMAS (WAL)
18.Ben STURNHAM (ENG)
19.Alan QUINLAN (IRE)
20.Hall CHARLTON (Newcastle)
21.Arwel THOMAS (WAL)
22.Robert HIGITT (Scarlets)
23.John O’NEIL (IRE A)
24.Cameron MURRAY (SCO)
25.Craig CHALMERS (SCO)
Head Coach: Steve BOYLE
Asst Coach: Ted HEDGES
Referee Steve DICKINSON
Touch Judges: Mike ROLLESTON, Warren ROBILLIARD