Warringah Rats centurion, Sam Thomson, has been named to lead British & Irish Expats Rugby in their first ever fixture as the club revealed their inaugural squad on Friday. 

The former NSW Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh lock is among a host of Shute Shield regulars named in the group to take on the Pacific Warriors in September, featuring players with a mix of professional and semi-professional experience from around the world.

The Scotsman will be joined in the forward pack by the likes of 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.

The squad’s backline stock includes leading Shute Shield try scorers Benjy Joseland and Ollie Dawkins, Ireland 7s Olympian Andrew Smith, ex-Munster men Liam Coombes and John Poland, and stand-out Hospital Cup performer Ethan Morgan.

Skipper Thomson said this new side offers a special opportunity for players to test themselves at a higher level.

“It’s a real honour to be named captain and get the chance to lead this side in its inaugural fixture,” Thomson said.

“As a passionate Scotsman myself, this concept really means a lot to me. Giving lads the opportunity to represent their roots and their heritage, even from the other side of the world, is something pretty special.  

“And as you can see from our squad, there’s some serious talent in there that could all do a job at that next level.

“Giving the lads a platform to showcase that is exciting. Hopefully some clubs and coaches back in Europe, and further afield, are watching.” 

While overseas born players make up a large portion of the squad, there’s also plenty of homegrown talent set to represent their family heritage. Several former Australian u20 representatives including English-qualified Joe Dillion, Billy Dickens, and Liam Usher, and Irish-qualified Declan Moore have all been named, demonstrating the club’s commitment to identifying British and Irish talent outside of the traditional systems.  

The exciting new representative program was recently formed to fill the gap that exists between club and professional rugby in this part of the world, giving British and Irish qualified players a development pathway by exposing them to elite exhibition fixtures.

And it’s not just for players looking to land their first professional contact. The club offers those who may have fallen out of the system or find themselves in-between contracts the chance to put their name out there in a unique way, potentially acting as a springboard to their next gig.

But most importantly, British & Irish Expats Rugby unites those players under one jersey, creating an opportunity to represent their famiy, culture and heritage in a way that isn’t otherwise possible when playing outside of the home nations.

With all players qualified for England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales – either through birth or family heritage – the group boasts a range of experiences and backgrounds, creating a formidable opponent for the newly formed Pacific Warriors.

Head coach Harry Fehily said the calibre of the squad demonstrates exactly why the club exists and shows that Expats Rugby is more than just another exhibition team.

“I think something like this has been missing from Australian rugby for a long time,” Fehily said.

“There are so many players and families here with strong British and Irish roots, but there hasn’t always been a team that brings that community together or provides a genuine representative pathway for players to aspire to.

“We’ve tried to reflect that in the balance of the squad, bringing together youth and experience, established Shute Shield players and emerging talent. It’s important that this isn’t viewed as just a one-off team, but as something that can grow and create opportunities for future generations.

“On a personal level, it means a great deal to me. I now have children of my own who will grow up Australian, but their British and Irish heritage will always be an important part of who they are. I want them – and others like them – to feel connected to that heritage while also being proud Australians. 

“This is about building something meaningful that celebrates where we’ve come from, where we are now and the pathway we can create for those coming next.” 

British & Irish Expats Rugby will bring their squad together at the end of the club season, as they prepare to take on the Pacific Warriors in the Heritage Cup on September 27.

The game will be the first of its kind at the semi-professional level and will act as a unique chance for this group of players to showcase their talent while representing their heritage from the other side of the world.

British & Irish Expats Rugby – 2026/27 Squad

Forwards

Ben Gleeson (Manly) – England

Bryn Davies (Eastern Suburbs) – Ireland

Charlie McKill (Warringah) – Scotland

Declan Moore (Sydney University) – Ireland

Ethan Fulton (Manly) – England

George Thornton (Northern Suburbs) – Scotland, England

Henry Pearson (Norths Eagles) – England

Iain Carmichael (Eastwood) – Scotland, England

Jack Regan (Sydney University) – Ireland

Joe Howard (Randwick) – England

Liam Usher (Gordon) – England

Marcus Tiffen (Manly) – England

Michael Scott (Northern Suburbs) – Scotland

Michael Melia (Randwick) – Ireland

Nathaniel Panozzo (Sydney University) – England

Ronan Kelly (Gordon) – England, Ireland

Sam Thomson © (Warringah) – Scotland

Backs

Alan Bennie (Sydney University) – Ireland, Scotland

Andrew Smith (Eastern Suburbs) – Ireland

Ben Kafer (Manly) – England

Benjy Joseland (Sydney University) – England

Billy Dickens (Manly) – England

Brad Roderick-Evans (Eastwood) – Wales, England

Chris Bell (Eastern Suburbs) – England

Ethan Morgan (Bond University) – Wales, England

Jacob Flynn (Northern Suburbs) – Wales

John Poland (Southern Districts) – Ireland

Joe Dillon (Manly) – England, Ireland

Liam Coombes (Warringah) – Ireland

Ollie Dawkins (Eastern Suburbs) – England

Will Kaye (Manly) – England

Staff

Dan Elsom (DOR) – England

Harry Fehily (Head Coach) – Ireland

Dan Parks (Assistant Coach) – Scotland

Ben Herring (Assistant Coach)

Ash Friel (Head of S&C) – England

Brent Kelly (Head Physio) – England 

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 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.

For anyone keen to join us on our journey, Founding Memberships are now available. Sign up for exclusive member-only updates, the chance to win a signed Expats Rugby jersey, and to be part of our historic first season. Visit expatsrugby.com/membership to join. 

Visit: expatsrugby.com or @britishandirishexpatsrugby on Instagram