Waugh has also confirmed he is pursuing New Zealand internationals who are playing their club rugby abroad, and are therefore ineligible for All Black selection, for a trans-Tasman ‘Anzac’ team, combining both Australian and Kiwi players, who play the Lions on 12 July.
While Waugh did not specify names, Richie Mo’unga and Shannon Frizell, who both started the 2023 Rugby World Cup final for New Zealand, are in Test exile as they ply their trade in Japan.
Scrum-half Aaron Smith, who retired from international rugby after the tournament, is also playing in the country’s Rugby League One.
“There are conversations beginning,” Waugh said. “We certainly want to get some high-profile Kiwi players, and given France are in New Zealand then, the sensible place to test some conversations would be the New Zealand players who are offshore. We are starting to engage with some clubs and players.”
