Laumape joins Havili, Stevenson in AUNZ squad

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Two more New Zealanders have been added to the AUNZ Invitational XV that will face the British & Irish Lions in Adelaide in 10 days' time.

After Crusaders captain David Havili was among four players to be called up on Monday, Rugby Australia then revealed both Ngani Laumape and Joshua Fusitu'a had also agreed to join the Les Kiss-coached side.

Laumape has only recently returned to New Zealand rugby to take up a contract with Moana Pasifika next year. He also has previous experience against the Lions, having faced the tourists with the All Blacks in 2017.

The 32-year-old also previously played in the NRL with the Warriors, before making a successful switch to rugby that took him from the Hurricanes to Stade Francais and onto Japan.

Fusitu'a, meanwhile, is one of New Zealand's rising front-rowers and recently was named the Blues' Super Rugby Pacific player of the year.

Havili, who, led the Crusaders to the Super Rugby title last month, was unveiled alongside Shannon Frizell, Folau Fakatava and Shaun Stevenson as the first confirmed additions to the squad, which will form the first combined Australia-New Zealand team since 1989.

"There is plenty of excitement about this fixture, and that's been demonstrated by the number of quality international players eager to be involved," Rugby Australia high performance director Peter Horne said.

"We are delighted with the quality of the New Zealand contingent announced today and look forward to naming more players as the squad comes together.

"We want this team to entertain the big Adelaide crowd and provide the Lions with a tough contest as they head into their three-Test series with the Wallabies.

"The last time the Lions played a combined Australia-New Zealand side, it went right down to the wire -- and we're hoping to deliver another competitive contest."