Combined Country is an Australian rugby union team that was formed for the 2013 British & 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.

The match was the fourth game of the tour and was played in Newcastle on 11 June 2013 at Hunter Stadium.2013 Tour Fixtures Referee Steve Walsh was in charge of the game.Referees named for Lions series

The Combined Country team was coached by former Wallaby prop, Cameron Blades.Blades to coach Combined Country against Lions

Squad

On 10 June a 23-man squad was announced to play the British & Irish Lions. Included were nine players from Super Rugby, 10 Country players (seven QLD, three NSW) and four players from 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' teammate, 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.Combined Country squad to play Lions

Head coach: Cameron Blades

Forwards PlayerPositionClubRegionTom KearneyHookerNoosa DolphinsQLD CountryJoshua Mann-ReaHookerBrumbiesSuper RugbyRikki AbrahamPropTeachers WestQLD CountryDylan EvansPropWanderers R.U.C.NSW CountryHaydn HirsimakiPropS.C. StingraysQLD CountryTim MetcherPropS. DistrictsPremier RugbyPhoenix BattyeLockForceSuper RugbyBlake EneverLockRedsSuper RugbyRory ArnoldLockG.C. BreakersQLD CountryRichard StanfordFlankerE. SuburbsPremier RugbyJarrad ButlerFlankerRedsSuper RugbyTrent DyerFlankerRebelsSuper RugbyTim Davidson (c)Number 8RebelsSuper Rugby

Backs PlayerPositionClubRegionAdam McCormackScrum-halfHastings ValleyNSW CountryMichael SnowdenScrum-halfForceSuper RugbyAngus RobertsFly-halfRebelsSuper RugbyShaun McCarthyFly-halfBurdekin R.U.C.QLD CountryLewie CattCentreWanderers R.U.C.NSW CountryTereta-Junior SiakisiniCentreG.C. BreakersQLD CountryDale Ah-WongWingBarron-Trinity BullsQLD CountryTom CoxWingBrumbiesSuper RugbyAlex GibbonWingS. DistrictsPremier RugbyNathan TristFullbackSydney UniversityPremier Rugby

Result The Lions beat Combined Country by ten tries, seven of which converted (64 points) to nil.Match report on Lions' official site

See also Australia national rugby union team Australian Rugby Union Queensland Country (NRC team) New South Wales Country Eagles

References