BLUES AND REDS UNVEIL SELLARS DIXON MEDAL

This Friday’s Anzac Weekend Round clash between the Blues and Queensland Reds in Brisbane will see the two teams unite to commemorate the sacrifices of the past, with the introduction of the Sellars Dixon Medal to be awarded to the Player of the Match.

In a tribute to Anzac Day and the shared wartime history between Australia and New Zealand, the medal honours two fallen soldiers who also proudly represented their rugby provinces - Auckland’s George Sellars and Queensland’s Billy Dixon.

George Sellars was a tough and respected hooker who played club rugby for Ponsonby. He represented New Zealand 15 times, including two Tests for the All Blacks before enlisting in the 1st Battalion of the Auckland Infantry Regiment. 

Lieutenant Billy Dixon, a talented five-eighth, was a key figure for Queensland rugby. 

Both men were tragically killed in action on the same day during the Battle of Messines in June 1917. Their graves, like many of their fellow soldiers now “known only to God.”

The Sellars Dixon Medal is a replica of the 1919 Victory Medal - originally issued to all Allied servicemen of World War I.

Kick-off for the Anzac Weekend Round match between the Blues and Reads is scheduled for 9:35pm (NZT) at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.