All Blacks legend Tana Umaga joins Wallaby greats and Fijian maestro in First Nations Pasifika coaching team

It is one of the most formidable coaching teams ever assembled – and the mix of Wallabies and All Blacks all-time greats tasked with landing an early blow on the British and Irish Lions.

A cast of legends will assemble to take down the British & Irish Lions for the First Nations & Pasifika team to play the tourists in Melbourne.

All Blacks icon Tana Umaga, Wallabies legend Glen Ella, Australia’s most capped tighthead prop Sekope Kepu, and former Fijian boss Simon Raiwalui will join head coach Toutai Kefu in one of the most formidable line-ups seen in rugby.

Kefu was announced as head coach of the team last week, and now comes confirmation that the team will have input from all the cultures involved through Ella (First Nations), Umaga (Samoan), Raiwalui (Fijian) and Tongan duo Kefu and Kepu.

This invitational game was organised to make up for the originally scheduled Lions match against the Melbourne Rebels, before Rugby Australia made the decision last year to axe them from Super Rugby.

Legendary Wallaby Toutai Kefu is heading up a star-studded coaching group. Picture: Getty

Kefu and his coaching partners will look to choose some of the most exciting First Nations and Pasifika players available. Several Wallabies will be unavailable for the July 22 game at Marvel Stadium, because they’ll be playing against the Lions four days later at the MCG.

But those not selected in the Wallabies squad, or not being considered for the second Lions Test, will be free to play for the First Nations & Pasifika team, and could include the likes of Kurtley Beale and players from Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika.

Umaga, now head coach of Moana, brings infamous Lions history with him into this game.

All Blacks legend Tana Umaga is another big name on the coaching staff. Picture: Getty

The former All Blacks captain and his teammate Keven Mealamu were involved in a controversial tackle on Lions star Brian O’Driscoll in the 2005 series in New Zealand that ended the Irishman’s tour.

Lions fans were incensed that neither Umaga or Mealamu were sanctioned, and their anger only grew as the All Blacks went on to thrash the Lions to claim the series 3-0.

Ella, one of the most respected Indigenous figures in Australian rugby, was regularly used as a sounding board by former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones in 2023, and remains an astute manager.

Raiwalui was the architect of one of the Wallabies’ lowest moments, when he coached Fiji to beat Jones’ Wallabies in the 2023 World Cup, resulting in Australia being knocked out in the pool stage for the first time.

Umaga has an interesting history with the Lions and their fans. Picture: AFP

But he since returned to become head of high performance at NSW Waratahs, and then following a stroke and ensuing recovery, has assumed a new position at RA.

Kepu, who played against the Lions in the previous series in Australia in 2013, is now forwards coach of Japanese club Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks, and will be a valuable weapon for the team’s pack.

Kefu has fond memories of playing the Lions in the 2001 series, which he helped win.

“The biggest thing that stands out is probably how well the team was supported,” Kefu said.

“I’ve never seen a crazy support like that. When I ran out onto the Gabba and that’s where I grew up, I went to a little primary school next door, the Gabba was 90 per cent full of all British & Irish Lions supporters and it was fantastic.

Sekope Kepu played 110 Test for the Wallabies. Picture: Getty

“Even outside, there would have been 5000 to 10,000 British and Irish supporters who couldn’t get into the game. So that’s the first thing that struck me, just how this team is just so well loved and adored and the supporters are willing to travel anywhere. Probably the next thing is bloody how hard the footy was.

“Three games of footy, we probably got outplayed for most of those minutes. There were some critical moments where we got pretty lucky where we turned the whole series on its head.”

More than 40,000 British and Irish fans will travel to Australia for the series starting in late June.

Originally published as All Blacks legend Tana Umaga joins Wallaby greats and Fijian maestro in First Nations Pasifika coaching team