A combined Pacific Islands team will make their international debut against the Wallabies, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) announced yesterday.

The Pacific team, made up of players from Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, will play Australia at Adelaide Oval on July 3rd after being awarded test status by the International Rugby Board.

Australia coach Eddie Jones said the Wallabies were honoured to welcome the united Pacific team to the international fold.

"The Pacific Islanders will be a formidable challenge for the Wallabies. Like the British and Irish Lions, they are made up of the best players from top quality international teams," Jones said.

"The Islanders generally play with a lot of flair and natural talent.

"They like to throw the ball around and run it from anywhere, which usually makes for a fast, free-flowing match."

The Islanders also have internationals against New Zealand and South Africa in July with all the proceeds going to the Pacific nations.

Charlie Charters, the chief executive of the Pacific Islanders Rugby Alliance (PIRA), said the three internationals were crucial for the development of rugby in the region.

"This will be an historic match not just for the people of the Pacific, but the first time that a new and competitive test team has debuted in the world of rugby," Charters said.

"The great strength of Pacific Island rugby is that it is visually exciting and full of passion and open play so I am confident we will put on a real spectacle."

The Fiji coach Wayne Pivac has been selected to coach the composite side while former Wallaby Willie Ofahengaue and former All Black Michael Jones, now coach of Samoa, will assist him.

PIRA, which is in charge of the new team, said the squad will be selected after matches between the nations in June.

The IRB agreed last year to allow a combined team to play internationals from 2004 after rejecting the idea two years earlier.

The three countries will still play as individual nations in regular internationals and at the World Cup.