The British and Irish Lions tour is one of the crown jewels in Australian rugby’s calendar.
It is something so unique to our game that it draws an unparalleled excitement for the fans and players alike with even former players like Will Genia describing it as above a World Cup during a 2021 interview.
However, since the demise of the Melbourne Rebels, there has been a hole in one of the code’s most important events.
On Tuesday July 22nd 2025, there is a vacant space to be filled at Marvel Stadium as the British and Irish Lions are currently without an opposition.
Here are some of the options that could be considered for the Tuesday evening fixture.
Reports have suggested the most likely outcome for this will be a Pacific Island XV made up of players from Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.
This would be a great fixture for Melbourne who have a significant Polynesian presence among the Rugby community and would love the opportunity to see and interact with some of their heroes.
This team does have some history with the Pacific Island Rugby Alliance being formed in 2002, with the first touring team in 2004 playing against the Tri-Nations teams, before touring the northern hemisphere in 2006 and 2008 before the official alliance ended in 2009.
The likes of ‘the Samoan chiropractor’ Brian Lima, speedster Rupeni Caucaunibuca, and the destructive Alesana Tuilagi have all worn the jersey in the past and the idea of reviving this team would have many fans excited.
While this team has been labelled a Pacific Island XV, I genuinely hope the very best talent from the Pacific Nations is brought along to create an All-Star team and not a collection of Super Rugby mercenaries with limited Test experience.
Imagine putting Josua Tuisova, Lima Sopoaga and Charles Piutau on the field together and do I dare suggest that Israel Folau could make a return to Australian shores to face the team he debuted against 11 years ago.
Josua Tuisova of Fiji. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
This is a fixture that could captivate any crowd and give something back to our Pacific neighbours who give so much to this sport worldwide.
While in Australia we have had our own financial troubles, we have a few key events on our horizon which can help keep us afloat.
However, with Samoa pulling out of the end-of-year tour due to financial issues and Tonga also feeling the strain, it is fair to say the Pacific is facing some more significant and immediate financial challenges.
Sponsors, merchandise and raising funds for the Australian Sports Outreach Program who have close ties to Rugby programs all throughout the Pacific could help bring some financial stability to the region.
This provides a unique opportunity to raise funds for these unions while providing us with the fixture of a lifetime and there is not a Rugby fan in the world that would not want to see this fixture.
I just hope with a limited amount of time to put it all together that if this is the team to run out on July 22nd that enough is done for this team to succeed not just on the field but off as well.
This option I see as the least likely for a variety of reasons, mainly in that fact I don’t think Rugby Australia are likely to try and revive the corpse of any professional Melbourne team even for a Michael Jordan last dance scenario.
But indulge me because it could be fun, and as a grieving Rebels fan, I’m allowed to dream.
While Melbourne isn’t the rugby stronghold that New South Wales or Queensland are, we supply a lot of talent to the sport.
If you look at the Wallabies currently, players such as Rob Valetini, Hunter Paisami, Isaac Kailea and Rob Leota all have come through the Melbourne system and found their way to gold jerseys with Josh Canham not far behind.
As well as that looking overseas you can find Melbournians Monty Ioane, Pete Samu, Jordan Uelese, Trevor Hosea, Kemu Valetini all of who you could bring home for this fixture.
It also could bring forward an interesting option for Melbourne-raised and Scottish-capped Sione Tuipulotu and the makings of a great Rugby story.
Imagine if he was released to play for this side against the Lions for this mid-week match.
Alex Corbisiero, Owen Farrell and Geoff Parling hold the Tom Richards Cup. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
A player to play for and against a team sounds like something you’d only hear about before the 1950’s, but if you go around club rugby grounds all over the world players swap jerseys or turn them inside out and play for the opposition when they are struggling for numbers so why can’t we do this at a professional level.
If that is too ambitious, he could line up against his brothers, Mosese and Ottavio, who have both earned professional contracts.
This would also be the first time brothers have played against each other in a British and Irish Lions game.
While unlikely, this would be a great way to connect this fixture to the city of Melbourne and its rugby community.
Fiji presents us with two options in the Drua and the national team – and while the Pacific XV has had reports suggesting that is the most likely option, I think in reality it will most likely be the Drua.
Being in Super Rugby and having a squad in place given the relatively short turnaround to put this fixture together I think will be a factor that will get it over the line.
It will provide a fixture that will not throw off Lions’ administrators who may be wary of a game against a more formidable Test-level team between games against Australia on the 19th and 16th.
However, as a fan of the game, I would love to see the Fijian national team get their first crack at the Lions since 1977 when the Flying Fijians beat them 25-21 in one of the great, and I would argue most forgotten, upsets in our game’s history.
That’s right Fiji holds a 100 per cent win rate against the Lions, and I am sure they would like to continue the streak.
Fiji’s Semi Radradra (right) is tackled by Georgia’s Giorgi Kveseladze. (Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)
After seeing the Fijians’ performance at last year’s World Cup I have no doubt this could be a competitive fixture, especially if all their stars are released for a one-off Test.
The likes of Waisea Nayacalevu, Semi Radradra and Levani Botia would no doubt want to have the opportunity to create more history with this team after bringing them to the brink of a Rugby World Cup semi-final in 2023.
I doubt even the cruellest of French club owners wouldn’t stop the release for such a special and rare occasion.
While July 22nd may seem like a long way away, in reality, a decision needs to be made about this fixture sooner rather than later so the appropriate planning can be put in place.
While there may be other options available such as an Australia A side or a second fixture for the ANZAC team, I would suggest that these options provide the best options for rugby fans.
Mid-week games in recent times have tended to be more one-sided than people would like and while a 10-try performance can boost the morale of travelling Lions’ fans no one remembers those games in the long run.
Real and competitive fixtures are what people want to see and I hope when a decision is made this is kept in mind.
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