World XV
A World XV is a rugby union team, typically composed of invited players from various countries. Various World XVs have been arranged from time to time, often to take part in celebration and testimonial games, usually against national teams; recent World XV games have generally not been considered test matches.
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[edit] History
There have been a number of incarnations of a World XV:
[edit] 1977 World XV in South Africa
- A World XV played against South Africa in 1977, losing 45-24.
[edit] 1980s World XV tours in Argentina
World XVs played two matches against Argentina in the 1980s, losing both: 36–22 in 1980, and 28–20 in 1983. At this time, before the inception of regular international competitions, both Argentina and apartheid-era South Africa struggled to organise matches against other major rugby countries.
[edit] 1980 World XV tour of Argentina - the match
The match was played at Ferrocaril Oeste, Buenos Aires.[1] Argentina went into half time ahead by 16 points to nil and despite an excellent display in the second half by the World XV Argentina were able to secure a 36-22 win.
| August 9, 1980 |
Argentina | 36 – 22 | World XV | Ferrocaril Oeste, Buenos Aires Referee: S Strydom (South Africa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Try: Campo Mastai 2 Sansot 2 Silva Ure Con:Porta 4 |
Try: Fenwick Fouroux Scott Slemen Con:O'Brien Slemen 2 |
Argentina: Martin Sansot; Marcelo Campo; Rafael Madero; Marcelo Loffreda; Adolfo Cappelletti; Hugo Porta (captain); Tomas Landajo; Fernando Morel; Alejandro Cubelli; Topo Rodriguez; Ernesto Ure; Alejandro Iachetti; Gabriel Travaglini; Hector Silva; Ricardo Mastai; Replacements: Used: Daniel Baetti; Not used:: Alejandro Cerioni; Javier Perez Cobo; Marcos Iachetti; Alfredo Soares Gache; Juan Pablo Piccardo
World XV: Kevin O'Brien (
Ireland); Mike Slemen (
England), Roland Bertranne (
France), Steve Fenwick (
Wales), Bruce Gemmell (
New Zealand); Bernard Vivies ( France), Jacques Fouroux ( France); Robert Paparemborde ( France), Jean-Louis Dupont ( France), John Doubleday ( England), Maurice Colclough ( England), Nicholas Martin ( England), Jean-Pierre Rives ( France), Alistair MacGregor Martin (
Chile), John Scott ( England); Replacements: Used: Barry Ninnes ( England)
[edit] 1986 IRB sanctioned teams
- In 1986, to celebrate the centenary of the International Rugby Board (IRB), two international XVs were put together:
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- a Rest of the World XV played the British Lions on 16 April 1986, winning 15-7 at Cardiff Arms Park.
- an Overseas Unions rugby union team played the Five Nations XV on Saturday, 19 April 1986, winning 32-13 at Twickenham Stadium.
[edit] 1989 World XV tour of South Africa
- In 1989 a World XV, sanctioned by the IRB and funded by South African Breweries, played two tests against South Africa in 1989 in celebration of the centenary of the South African Rugby Board (SARB). The Springboks won both, by 20-19 at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town and the second test 22-16 on September 2 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg .
[edit] 1992 World XV tour of New Zealand
- To mark the centenary of the New Zealand Rugby Union in 1992, New Zealand played 3 matches against a World XV, winning the series 2-1 after losing the opening game.[2]
[edit] 2006 Steinhoff Holdings World XVs
- In May and June 2006 a World XV, sponsored by South African company Steinhoff Holdings and coached by Bob Dwyer, played three games - against Saracens in London, then against South Africa at Ellis Park and Western Province XV at Newlands. The latter match was a testimonial for former South Africa captain Corné Krige, who led the Western Province side. In December 2006, again coached by Dwyer, a Steinhoff-backed World XV played a South Africa XV at Walkers Stadium in Leicester, losing 32-7. This game was to mark the centenary of South Africa's overseas tours.
[edit] 2008 Williams Testimonial World XV
- In May 2008 a 'Justin Marshall World XV' played a 'Shane Williams Grand Slam team', losing 65-57. This game was part of Williams' testimonial season.
[edit] 2008 IRB sanctioned World XV in Tonga
- In July 2008 an IRB-sanctioned World XV were beaten 60-26 by a Coronation Tongan XV in a game to celebrate the coronation of Tonga's King George Tupou V. The World XV was captained by former Wales captain Colin Charvis and included players from Australia, England, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa and Wales.[3]
[edit] Other
- An All-Stars team were a team included on the video game World Championship Rugby, this featured the best players on the game. This is probably in reference to the World XV.
