Argentina In 1980 and 1983,
Argentina played World XVs. The first match was played at
Ferrocarril Oeste Stadium,
Buenos Aires. 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. The second match was played in
Atlanta Stadium,
Buenos Aires, where Argentina secured a second victory 28–20.
Australia In 1988 Australia played a World XV to celebrate the
bicentenary of Australia. Australia won 42-38. In March 2019, a World XV captained by
Andrew Ellis and coached by
Robbie Deans played the
Western Force, who won 26–16 as the opener of the
2019 Global Rapid Rugby season in
HBF Park,
Perth.
France In March 2024 it was announced, that for the first time,
France would played a World XV side in
Bilbao at the
San Mamés Stadium in June 2024. The game was scheduled to be played in June 2024 with
Ian Foster appointed as head coach, and players such as
Owen Farrell,
Camille Lopez,
Maxime Machenaud,
Semi Radradra,
Billy Vunipola and
Mako Vunipola all confirmed as players. However, by May 2024, the game was cancelled due to logistical challenges in organising the game.
New Zealand In 1992, the
New Zealand national team, the All Blacks, played three matches against a World XV in New Zealand, to mark the centenary of the
New Zealand Rugby Union. The first encounter ended in a 24–14 win for the World XV. New Zealand won the second match 54–26, and the third match 26–15.
South Africa South Africa played against a World XV in
Pretoria on 27 August 1977, to celebrate the opening of the
Loftus Versfeld stadium. The World side included
Gareth Edwards,
J. P. R. Williams,
Willie John McBride, and
Sandy Carmichael. A crowd of 65,000 watched as
Morné du Plessis'
South Africans led by 22–14 at half-time to eventually defeat the World XV by 45–24. During the match Argentinian flyhalf
Hugo Porta came on as a replacement. Flank
Theuns Stofberg added two tries to one each by
Gerrie Germishuys,
Hermanus Potgieter,
Dawie Snyman, and
Barry Wolmarans (on debut) for the
Springboks. Four days later, the World XV played
Western Province at
Newlands Stadium in
Cape Town. This time Porta started alongside Williams, McBride, and Carmichael, with
Alan Sutherland facing off against Du Plessis. At 3.30pm
coloured player
Errol Tobias, representing the
South African Federation, was on the reserve bench for the World XV, as he had been for the 2pm match between a Presidents' XV and Western Province B. In 1989 a World XV, sanctioned by the IRB and funded by
South African Breweries, played two tests against South Africa 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 by 22–16 on 2 September at Ellis Park in
Johannesburg. 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. In 2014, a World XV captained by
Matt Giteau and coached by
Nick Mallett played a South Africa XV, who won 45–24.
Tonga In 2008, a World XV played a
Coronation Tongan XV side, in a game to celebrate the coronation of
Tonga's King, [Kev O’Neill]. Tonga won the match 60–26, beating the
Colin Charvis-captained side that included players from Australia, England, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa and Wales.
Wales In 2008, a
Wales XV side played a World XV, as a testimonial match for Welsh player
Shane Williams. There were 19 tries scored in the match, which was played at the
Millennium Stadium, with Williams scoring the match-winning try as Wales won 65–57. ==Team details==