British and Irish representative side set for Pacific test

British & Irish Expats Rugby was created to give talented players an opportunity to compete in representative fixtures where previously there was no clear pathway, while also celebrating the heritage of British and Irish players based overseas.

The idea was founded by Dan Elsom, who previously played for Bishop's Stortford RFC in England's third tier before moving to Australia, where he was raised and has continued his involvement in the game.

"The whole concept came out of the idea that rugby here doesn't have as much in terms of bridging the gap between semi-professional and professional rugby," said Elsom.

"There's so many British and Irish qualified players that are in these markets, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong/Asian markets, but they're all scattered so we wanted to give a team that united that community and gives players an opportunity to represent their heritage and give themselves a platform to showcase their talent."

The British and Irish Expats will play their first ever fixture against the Pacific Warriors on 27 September at Pittwater Park, also known as Rat Park, home of Warringah Rugby Club in Sydney.

The fixture will form part of a major day of rugby following a Waratahs Super AU match, with the newly formed side hoping to make a statement in their first outing.

Warringah centurion Sam Thomson has been named captain, with the former NSW Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh lock among a host of Shute Shield regulars selected.

Thomson will be joined in the forward pack by former Ulster and Highlanders second row Jack Regan, NSW Waratahs capped props George Thornton and Michael Scott, and 2025 Shute Shield premiership winner Charlie McKill.

There is also plenty of experience behind the scrum, with leading Shute Shield try scorers Benjy Joseland and Ollie Dawkins joined by Ireland 7s Olympian Andrew Smith, former Munster players Liam Coombes and John Poland, and stand-out Hospital Cup performer Ethan Morgan.

The Pacific Warriors will provide a serious test for the new side, with the representative team boasting big-name ambassadors including Keven Mealamu, Scott Sio, Seilala Mapusua and Nemani Nadolo, as well as plenty of talented players on the pitch.

The Warriors will also wear the old Pacific Islander kit from the 2004 Pacific Island team, adding further significance to a fixture that will be played for the Heritage Cup.

The intention is for the match to become an annual fixture, with the concept built around celebrating the different cultures and heritages that make up the rugby landscape in the region.

"It's celebrating the heritages and cultures in rugby that are in this part of the world but aren't necessarily from Australia. If you take out those eight countries, Australian rugby would struggle," Elsom explained.

"They're the cultures and heritages that really make rugby great and the game is about celebrating that and giving players an opportunity to represent all of that whilst also hopefully being in the spotlight."

The British and Irish Expats have also assembled a strong group of ambassadors, including Manu Vunipola, Fergus-Lee Warner and Michael Bent.

For Elsom, however, the project is about more than simply putting together a team for one match. The long-term aim is to create a genuine community for British and Irish players living and playing overseas.

"We wanted to create a team that people could really connect with. It's not just one team, it's a whole community and we've got so many Brits and Irish scattered all a round but playing in competitions against each other. It gives guys an opportunity to connect and build that network out here."

With Australia hosting the Rugby World Cup next year, Elsom also believes the British and Irish Expats could have a role to play in helping Tier 2 nations prepare for the tournament.

"We'd give Hong Kong China and Zimbabwe a good run, I think we'd probably give a few of the European teams a good game with the talent that we've got. We're really keen to try and do that."

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The ambition does not stop there, with the club already looking beyond the inaugural fixture and hoping to take the concept overseas.

"Rugby needs this kind of thing and particularly with the World Cup coming up next year, we want as many opportunities that have these unique fixtures and eventually we'd like to tour."

The club is entirely self-funded and is looking to continue growing its membership, with various perks and rewards available to those who join.

For now, attention is firmly on 27 September and the first chapter in what the British and Irish Expats hope can become a long-term representative rugby project, connecting players from across the globe while giving them the opportunity to represent their heritage on the field.

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