Bond University Queensland Country head coach Brad Thorn has named his side for their Round 2 National Rugby Championship clash against McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City this Saturday, 9 September, at Noosa Dolphins Rugby Club on the Sunshine Coast.
Thorn has made only one change to the starting XV that ran out against the Vikings in Round 1, with St.George Queensland Reds tighthead prop Taniela Tupou promoted to the starting frontrow, seeing GPS’ Fred Burke move to the reserves.
Wallabies squad members Izack Rodda and Izaia Perese have been released from camp in Perth to play for the Country side, and both will feature in the starting XV.
In the reserves, four players are in-line for their potential Queensland Country and NRC debuts, including local Sunshine Coast product Tate McDermott, a graduate of Sunshine Coast Grammar School in 2016.
Bond University forwards Angus Blyth and Tai Ford, as well as University of Queensland outside back Jock Campbell, are also in line for their potential debuts.
While the two teams will be competing for NRC competition points, they will also contest The Andy Purcell Cup, named after the late QRU Life Member who graced the game with more than 50 years of service - first as a player, then a referee, a coach and also as an administrator.
In a first for the NRC, players from both sides will be wearing their club socks for the match.
Players who began their Rugby journey in regional centres will have the opportunity to don the socks of their junior club or school, including McDermott who will wear his Sunshine Coast Grammar School socks.
Head coach Brad Thorn said: “The team have worked hard throughout the week ahead of our clash with City.
“We identified some key areas for improvement and the team have applied themselves throughout each session.
“We’re happy to welcome back Rodda and Perese from Wallabies camp, while it’s also exciting to have three players in the reserves in-line for their first taste of NRC Rugby for Country.
“An important part of the Queensland Country program is engaging with regional centres such as the Sunshine Coast, and the chance to host a game at Noosa is great for the local community.
“With free entry and some of the best young talent Queensland has to offer on show, Saturday’s game is shaping up as a great spectical for the Sunshine Coast.”
The clash between Country and City kicks off at 1:00pm AEST, with Rugby clinics to be held for juniors at the ground from 11:00am onwards.
Queensland Country side to face Brisbane City:
1. Sef Fa’agase - University of Queensland, Beaudesert
2. Alex Mafi - Bond University, Mt. Isa
3. Taniela Tupou - Brothers
4. Izack Rodda (VC) - Easts
5. Harry Hockings - University of Queensland, Bowen
6. Angus Scott-Young - University of Queensland
7. Liam Wright - Easts
8. Caleb Timu – Souths
9. James Tuttle - GPS
10. Hamish Stewart - Bond University, Toowoomba
11. Eto Nabuli - GPS
12. Duncan Paia’aua (C) - Norths, Rockhampton
13. Chris Feauai-Sautia - Souths
14. Izaia Perese - Easts
15. Patrick James – Brothers
Reserves
16. Alex Casey - Souths
17. Richie Asiata – Easts
18. Fred Burke - GPS
19. Angus Blyth* - Bond University, Gold Coast
20. Tai Ford* – Bond University, Gold Coast
21. Tate McDermott* – University of Queensland, Sunshine Coast
22. Teti Tela - Souths
23. Jock Campbell* – University of Queensland, Gold Coast
*Denotes potential NRC and Queensland Country debut
Broadcast information: Bond University Queensland Country v McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City; Noosa Dolphins RU Club, Sunshine Coast 1:05PM local time.
Fans can LIVE stream this game via www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/nrc/live-stream or download the FOX SPORTS App.
FOX SPORTS digital subscription can be purchased via www.foxsports.com.au/fox-sports-subscription It costs $1 for the first month then $4.99 every month and includes:
NRC LIVE AND UNINTERRUPTED: Watch two NRC matches live each round, exclusive to your subscription
FULL REPLAYS OF EVERY GAME: Relive every NRC match, available only 12 hours after the final whistle
About Andy Purcell: Andy Purcell first played Rugby at St. Mary’s College in Toowoomba, before moving to Brisbane to play for University of Queensland.
It was during his time with UQ that he earned four caps for Queensland. He finished his playing career on the Darling Downs playing for Millmerran.
He then shifted his focus to refereeing in the Darling Downs competition from 1963 to 1969 and was also instrumental in the establishment of the Toowoomba Rangers Rugby Club.
In 1971, Andy was chosen to be a Queensland Country selector. He went on to coach the representative side from 1974 to 1975.
He also coached Darling Downs for a season in 1972.
He was elected a Life Member of Queensland Rugby Union in 1986.
While serving as Vice-President of Queensland Rugby, Andy was also President of the Queensland Country Rugby Union in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
He retired from the role of Queensland Rugby Union Vice-President in 2006.
