Bledisloe ceasefire set for centenary

Israel Folau would be a great chance to play fullback in a Anzac XV against the British Lions. Source: Mark Evans / News Limited

ASSEMBLING a star-studded Anzac XV to set Suncorp Stadium abuzz next year has trans-Tasman backing to commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign.

Queensland Sports Minister Steve Dickson and Martin Welsh, New Zealand's Consul-General to Australia, are both avid backers of turning this worthy idea into a rugby union showpiece to honour the birth of the proud Anzac tradition.

The mouth-watering concept of Will Genia, Israel Folau, Sonny Bill Williams and Dan Carter linking in the same backline behind a pack uniting Richie McCaw and James Horwill to play the British and Irish Lions is no longer in the too-hard basket.

"Let's make it happen. There is not one breathing Australian or New Zealander who wouldn't want to represent our forefathers and pay back that memory,'' Dickson said on Tuesday.

"It is the reason we are here today as nations.''

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Former Australian Rugby Union supremo John O'Neill last year called for a one-off blockbuster between an Anzac XV and the Lions at Twickenham next November, when all players could be brought together in London after the Rugby World Cup.

Welsh put the idea of a formidable Wallabies-All Blacks coalition to Dickson at a Parliamentary function in Brisbane last week when the epic reach of the concept was hypothetically broadened to Auckland, Brisbane and London.

"I couldn't be more excited,'' Dickson said. "What was a 100-1 dream quickly became a 66-1 shot and I now feel there is a great concept ready to go for rugby to pursue with our support.

"Australia and NZ are on side with it which is a big start.

Long-time foes Australia and New Zealand would become teammates in the proposed Anzac XV. Source: News Limited

"Martin said the idea was born in Queensland and that's where the Anzac XV should play. We'd fill Suncorp Stadium 10 times over.''

Dickson revealed he spoke late last week with ARU chief executive Bill Pulver and Queensland's Federal Sports Minister Peter Dutton.

"Bill Pulver thinks it is an excellent concept and Peter Dutton said he'd love to see it happen,'' Dickson said.

Pulver has already forecast a multi-million dollar loss for the ARU next year because of the truncated home Test program in a World Cup year.

A new June 2015 blockbuster makes great financial sense but the historic significance of the code honouring the fallen at Gallipoli is more compelling.

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Dave Gallaher, captain of the first NZ side to be known as the All Blacks in 1905, was among more than 100 rugby internationals who died during World War I while many, like Wallabies great Tom Richards, had their lives shortened by the lingering effects of poison gas and war wounds.

It is implausible that the Lions would assemble for an unscheduled one-game visit next year so a World XV replicating the top talent picked for a one-off match in Cape Town against South Africa on June 7 would be the option for Suncorp Stadium next year.

The Lions only play as a touring entity but assembling for a one-off game at Twickenham against the Anzacs after the World Cup would be a wonderful commemoration.

Suncorp Stadium last year cracked the 10 million patrons milestone since the redeveloped venue opened in 2003.

POSSIBLE ANZAC TEAM FOR 2015

Israel Folau (Aus), Julian Savea (NZ), Conrad Smith (NZ), Sonny Bill Williams (NZ), Ben Smith (NZ), Dan Carter (NZ), Will Genia (Aus), Kieran Read (NZ), Richie McCaw (c, NZ), Scott Higginbotham (Aus), James Horwill (Aus), Sam Whitelock (NZ), Tony Woodcock (NZ), Stephen Moore (Aus), Owen Franks (NZ).

Reserves: Keven Mealamu (NZ), James Slipper (Aus), Charlie Faumuina (NZ), Rob Simmons (Aus), Michael Hooper (Aus), Quade Cooper (Aus), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Aus), Aaron Smith (NZ).

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