Sexton rejects Australian claims that Lions blocked Samu playing

Assistant coach Jonathan Sexton speaks to the media after a British & Irish Lions captain's run at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Johnny Sexton has rejected claims made in the Australian media that the British & Irish Lions blocks blocked Wallaby back-rower Pete Samu from the playing for the First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne next Tuesday.

The Sydney Morning Herald claimed on Friday that the Lions had prevented Samu from facing them on the grounds he had not played Super Rugby in 2025, as per the tour agreement for this final midweek game of the tour, between the first and seconds Tests. Samu helped Union Bordeaux Begles to their Champions Cup triumph in May before re-signing with Rugby Australia and returning home to join the Waratahs in 2026.

The powerhouse back-rower did play against the Lions last Saturday in Adelaide for an AUSNZ Invitational XV but that game, it appears, fell in the pre-Test stage of the tour.

First Nations & Pasifika head coach Toutai Kefu was quoted in the Herald as saying that both he and Samu were “absolutely gutted” with the player’s enforced withdrawal but that was news to Lions assistant coach Sexton, who spoke the media at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Friday afternoon local time ahead of Saturday’s first Test with the Wallabies.

“The Lions have blocked him?” Sexton queried when asked about the Samu situation. “I don't know if the Lions have blocked him. I think it's more the rules and regulations of what was agreed before the tour.

“I don't think that's accurate. But look, we're concentrating on tomorrow. I think Tuesday will look after itself. The most important thing for us as a group is concentrating on tomorrow and trying to get a good performance out there.” 

A follow-up question asked if Sexton had any personal issue with Samu taking the field, to which the former Ireland and Lions fly-half said: “Well, I'm not a player anymore. You'd have to ask the players who've played against Pete already on this tour.

“But look, it's not for me to talk about really. I'm here to talk about the game tomorrow and look, as a playing group, as a coaching group, I don't think we're that fussed either way to be honest.” 

Former Wallaby Kefu, however, was certainly fussed when quoted by the Herald.

“I’m absolutely gutted. I still can’t believe that they would do it, complain about it. I suppose it is what it is, but it’s extra motivation for our boys,” Kefu said.

“We’re a team that’s just been put together. We’re facing a massive challenge as it is, so he would have definitely strengthened us, there’s no doubt about that.

“They must have been worried we were going to win. I don’t know why they would do it.” 

If the Lions hierarchy did block Samu from playing next Tuesday, it would be in contrast to a row which blew up between the tourists and Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt during Andy Farrell’s squad’s first week on Australian soil.

The Lions had insisted then that they wanted Wallabies to be released back to their Super Rugby clubs to face them in tour matches, with Schmidt hitting back by saying his refusal to do so save for exceptional circumstances after the opening game against Western Force on June 28 was in accordance with the tour agreement.

Tuesday’s opposition for the Lions at Marvel Stadium was organised when the Melbourne Rebels went to the wall last year and because it falls in the Test window is subject to a different part of the tour agreement.

Sources inside the Lions suggested they were happy with any player who meets the selection criteria as per the tour agreement and the touring side had not pointed out Samu’s ineligibility.

Rugby Australia issued a brief statement on Friday which suggested the issue was not of their making.

“We are pleased with First Nations & Pasifika XV’s preparation for their inaugural match against the Lions at Marvel Stadium on Tuesday,” an RA spokesperson said.

“Pete Samu is a valued member of the Waratahs and has added greatly to the First Nations & Pasifika squad since entering camp. We had naturally hoped he would be playing in this fixture.”