Plans are underway for an historic representative fixture to follow the 2026 season, celebrating heritage and the abundance of cultural talent in Australia’s club rugby scene.

 The inaugural Heritage Cup will take place in Sydney in September, where two teams will unite players from more than eight countries in a fixture designed to provide a new representative opportunity for those outside of the traditional pathways.

Newly formed British & Irish Expats Rugby will take on Pacific Warriors, with a large contingent of players from the Shute Shield set to feature on both sides in a game that will be the first of its kind at the semi-professional level.

The fixture will act as a chance for players who may fall outside of the radar of Super Rugby clubs or who haven’t come up through the traditional systems to showcase their talent, along with giving them the ability to represent their cultural roots while plying their trade in a different part of the world.

British & Irish Expats Rugby will select players with English, Irish, Scottish or Welsh heritage from premier club rugby competitions in the Southern Hemisphere to come together for the first time ever.

And they’ll be led by a highly talented group, with former Shute Shield Coach of the Year, Harry Fehily, named as The Expats’ inaugural head coach. Fehily will be working alongside seasoned professionals Dan Parks and Ben Herring, who together bring almost 50 years of top-flight and international experience to the program.   

The Pacific Warriors boast an equally impressive backing, with former internationals Sailosi Tagicakibau, Mark Gerrard and Campese Maafu, and retired professionals Sam Wykes and Fotu Auelua making up their coaching group. Similarly, Pacific Warriors will select club players with Pasifika heritage and unite the iconic rugby nations of Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and New Zealand.

British & Irish Expats Rugby Founder and Director, Dan Elsom, said this fixture provides a unique chance to unite several rugby cultures and provide new opportunities for players to have their talent recognised.

“The concept of British & Irish Expats Rugby was born out of a desire to provide talented rugby players the chance to compete in representative fixtures where no such opportunity existed previously, and to unite the vast number of British and Irish expatriates within rugby communities all over the Southern Hemisphere and Asia,” Elsom said.

“Increasingly, we are seeing British and Irish players at the semi-professional level relocating to unions within the Southern Hemisphere and Asia. We exist to provide those players, along with those with British and Irish heritage already living outside the home nations, with an opportunity to proudly represent their roots while living abroad, the chance to join a network of players with similar ambitions and backgrounds, and a pathway through which to develop their game.

“This fixture against Pacific Warriors is exactly the kind of opportunity we were hoping to provide, and we’re thrilled to link up with such impressive opponents who share very similar values to our program. This game marks the start of our journey as a new representative side for the travelling rugby player and we’re excited to join forces with Pacific Warriors to celebrate cultures which make up such an important part of our global rugby community.”

Founder and CEO of the Pacific Warriors, Randy Basra, said this fixture is about pride, culture and opportunity; giving players the chance to represent their heritage at a high-performance level while placing them in a genuine shop window for higher honours, including Super Rugby and professional opportunities abroad.

“Pacific Warriors was created to provide genuine representative opportunities and professional exposure for Pasifika players who too often sit outside traditional pathways, despite the enormous impact our people continue to have on the global game,” Basra said.

“Pacific Warriors exists to unite many cultures under one banner, bringing together Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand and the wider Pacific community to celebrate identity, talent and belonging. Importantly, this concept also brings the original Pacific Warriors back to life, with former Warriors involved as coaches and ambassadors to guide the next generation.

“Aligning with British & Irish Expats Rugby for the inaugural Heritage Cup is powerful — two representative programs built on similar values, creating a meaningful platform that showcases talent, strengthens pathways, and reinforces the importance of culture and community within the modern game.”

While further details are set to be confirmed in the coming months, this historic fixture is shaping up to be one club rugby fans won’t want to miss.

And it may even stand to generate the spark our game is so eagerly craving in this part of the world. 

About British & Irish Expats Rugby

Founded in Sydney, Australia in 2025, British & Irish Expats Rugby is an invitational, representative rugby club providing a community and development pathway for British and Irish qualified players living in the Southern Hemisphere and Asia.

We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation, aiming to give players the opportunity to test themselves in elite exhibition fixtures, link up with other ambitious players from similar backgrounds, and represent their heritage despite living on the other side of the world.

We give British and Irish players the opportunity to have their talent recognised and provide an additional avenue for them to hone their skills. For qualified players born outside the UK and Ireland, British & Irish Expats Rugby gives them the chance to reconnect with, explore and honour their roots where no such opportunity existed previously. We also give players the chance to develop a network within the global rugby community, and potentially explore further opportunities in the home nations and abroad.

Visit: expatsrugby.com or @britishandirishexpatsrugby on Instagram

About Pacific Warriors

The Pacific Warriors unite Pasifika talent from across Australia, New Zealand and beyond to showcase the power, culture and pride of our islands. We’re building something special, a team that represents our people, our heritage and our warrior strength.

Born from unity, pride and the spirit of the islands, the Pacific Warriors represent the strength, resilience, and brotherhood of our Pasifika nations.

Our journey begins now as we prepare to bring together the best Pasifika talent from across the region, building something truly powerful, both on and off the field.

Visit: @pacific_warriors on Instagram