The proposed exhibition game has the backing of politicians and sporting officials from both sides of the Tasman Sea, having been originally mooted by Australian Rugby Union (ARU) chief executive John O’ Neill last year.

The suggestion is that the game would be staged to commemorate the Gallipoli Campaign of the First World War, in which over 10,000 Australian and New Zealand soldiers lost their lives.

Queensland sports minister Steve Dickson and New Zealand’s Consul-General to Australia Martin Welsh are two supporters of the venture.

“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. It is the reason we are here today as nations” Dickson is quoted by Fox Sports Australia as saying.

The Gallipoli Campaign of 1915 is credited with fostering a sense of national identity in both Australia and New Zealand where it is commemorated on Anzac [Australia and New Zealand Army Corps] Day - April 25 - each year.

Although Twickenham was initially mooted as a potential venue after next year’s Rugby World Cup, it is believed Queensland’s 52,500-seater Suncorp Stadium is the preferred venue.

“I couldn’t be more excited. What started as a 100-1 dream quickly became a 66-1 shot and I now feel there is a concept ready to go for rugby to pursue with our support. Australia and New Zealand are behind it which is a big start,” Dickson said.

“Martin [Welsh] said the idea was born in Queensland and that’s where the Anzac XV should play. We’d fill Suncorp Stadium 10 times over,” he added.

The prospect of the Lions reuniting for one game seems somewhat unlikely, especially in a non-tour year. Logistically, it may be more feasible that a selected World XV would provide the opposition, possibly under the banner of the Barbarians.

Regardless of the opposition, Dickson last week spoke with ARU chief executive Bill Pulver and Queensland’s federal sports minister Peter Dutton and indicated that both are on-board with the idea.

“Bill Pulver thinks it’s an excellent concept and Peter Dutton said he’d love to see it happen,” Dickson said.

Australian out-half Quade Cooper, who was born in New Zealand, has also given his support to the proposed once-off contest.

“The idea of that would be a great way to celebrate the Anzacs and what has been done for us as a nation and as a people being able to live the lives we do today,” Cooper said.

“Rugby is something that we love to do…if that concept was put forward I’m sure guys would find some time to play in a game like that. Just to give back to people who gave their lives for all of us.”

Should the awesome might of two of the southern hemisphere’s superpowers be combined, it would undoubtedly make for an incredible spectacle and a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives during World War I.

Among those to lose their life in the war was great All Black captain Dave Gallagher who died in October 1917 when a piece of shrapnel pierced his helmet.

Gallagher, born in Donegal and after whom Letterkenny RFC’s pitch is named, was the captain of the great New Zealand side known at “The Originals”. Led by Gallagher, the side were the first to play outside of Australasia when in 1905 they embarked on a mammoth tour of the Britain, Ireland, France and United States.

An Anzac side has played together once before when in 1989 when they suffered a narrow defeat to the touring Lions.

What better way to honour those who died during the Great War and the touring tradition espoused

by Gallagher’s “Originals” than seeing the likes of Dan Carter, Israel Folau, Richie McCaw and Julian Savea take to the pitch as one against a World XV?