All Blacks legend Tana Umaga has been named as an assistant coach of the First Nations & Pasifika Invitational XV, who will face the British and Irish Lions in July.

First Nations & Pasifika were selected as a replacement for the now disbanded Melbourne Rebels and will take on Andy Farrell’s men on Tuesday, July 22.

Head coach Toutai Kefu will head up a backroom team which now comprises Umaga, Wallabies great Sekope Kepu, who earned 110 caps for the national team, and another ex-Australia international, Glen Ella.

Joined by respected ex-Fiji boss

They are joined by the highly respected Simon Raiwalui, who led Fiji to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals in 2023 despite only taking the role a few months earlier.

Raiwalui, like Umaga, Kepu and Ella, will act as Kefu’s assistants with First Nations & Pasifika now completing their coaching staff ahead of the Lions tour match.

“The First Nations Pasifika match against the Lions will be a truly special occasion for rugby as it inspires and unites communities across Australia and the Pacific as well as the UK and Ireland,” Rugby Australia director of high performance Peter Horne said.

“The rugby will be intense and competitive and the societal impact immense as First Nations and Pasifika cultures are celebrated on one of world sport’s grandest stages.

“Toutai, as always, will lead from the front as he proudly represents his Tongan and Australian heritage. And we are delighted to complete his coaching staff with leaders of the calibre of Tana Umaga, Sekope Kepu, Simon Raiwalui and Glen Ella.

“Together, they represent the best of rugby and the First Nations and Pasifika cultures. The game against the Lions at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium promises to be a spine-tingling occasion in a huge week for rugby in Melbourne, coming four days before the second Test between the Wallabies and Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.”

Umaga’s history with the Lions

Umaga first came up against the Lions in 2005 and it started in hugely controversial circumstances after he and Keven Mealamu combined to clear Brian O’Driscoll out of a ruck.

They tipped O’Driscoll, who was seen as the tourists’ biggest threat, beyond the horizontal and dumped him on the ground, resulting in a shoulder injury that took the centre out of the remaining Tests, which the visitors lost 3-0.

That infamous incident has become synonymous with the Lions and it was brought up again when the Blues faced Warren Gatland’s side in 2017.

The Auckland outfit were coached by Umaga and the All Blacks legend once again got the better of the famous touring outfit as they claimed a 22-16 triumph at Eden Park.