Ryan Reynolds, the famous Hollywood actor, playfully teased his longtime pal Hugh Jackman as he announced the inaugural pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand for his football club, Wrexham AFC.
Together with his business partner and fellow entertainment personality Rob McElhenney, Reynolds revealed details about the ‘Wrexham Down Under Tour’ set to take place in July. The tour will include matches in Melbourne, Sydney, and Wellington.
During the tour, the team, known as the Red Dragons, will compete against Melbourne Victory on July 11 at Marvel Stadium, face Sydney FC on July 15 at Allianz Stadium, and play against Wellington Phoenix on July 19 at Sky Stadium.
Reynolds delivered the news in typically tongue-in-cheek fashion, joking: ‘We are particularly proud that this announcement features neither a Men at Work or Hugh Jackman joke. The latter of which took maturity and tremendous restraint. We’re proud of Ryan.’
The dig is part of a long-running faux-feud between Reynolds and Jackman, dating back to their time on the set of X-Men Origins: Wolverine in 2009.
The two actors have traded playful barbs for over a decade, often poking fun at each other’s film roles, singing talents, and beverage brands – Aviation Gin and Laughing Man Coffee.
Wrexham co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds celebrate with the League One trophy
Reynolds, pictured as Deadpool in the movie Deadpool & Wolverine, has enjoyed a long-running rivalry with Australian Hugh Jackman
Now that Reynolds and McElhenney are bringing Wrexham to Australia, he couldn’t resist a cheeky swipe at his good mate Jackman
Despite their public jabs, the two remain close friends, having recently reunited onscreen for the blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine.
Now, Reynolds is blending his Hollywood star power with football fandom as Wrexham AFC continues its meteoric rise.
Since Reynolds and McElhenney bought the club in 2020, Wrexham has surged from the National League to the EFL Championship with three straight promotions.
The club’s story has reached millions through the Emmy-winning docuseries Welcome to Wrexham, which has helped build a passionate global fanbase.
Their financial growth has matched their on-pitch success, with the club turning over A$55.35million in 2024, despite posting a loss of A$5.6million.
The Australian tour follows two successful pre-season campaigns in the United States, where Wrexham played against Premier League sides Manchester United and Chelsea.
Now, they’re set to test themselves against some of the A-League’s biggest clubs.
‘Bringing Wrexham AFC to Australia and New Zealand for three exciting matches against top A-League sides is truly a one-of-a-kind event,’ said TEG Sport Managing Director Rachael Carroll.
The Red Dragons have earned promotion three times and will compete in The Championship next season
Reynolds and Jackman share a laugh on set after the US star finally convinced the Aussie to be in one of his movies
Melbourne Victory’s Caroline Carnegie said fans could expect a fantastic match between two proud, community-focused clubs.
Sydney FC CEO Mark Aubrey added: ‘We’re thrilled to welcome Wrexham AFC to Sydney. Their rise has captured the imagination of fans around the world.’
In Wellington, General Manager David Dome said he looked forward to sharing a pint with the Hollywood stars at The Welsh Dragon, the only Welsh pub in the southern hemisphere.
New South Wales Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said the tour would draw huge crowds and boost the local visitor economy.
Marvel Stadium boss Scott Fitzgerald echoed the excitement, saying: ‘Wrexham are a global phenomenon, and we can’t wait to host the team.’
