Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) today announced the Bond University Queensland Country squad ahead of the 2016 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC).
The 31-man squad features 18 players with country Queensland backgrounds, as well as 21 previous squad members.
A total of 16 players from BLK Queensland Premier Rugby have been selected, alongside 15 players with Super Rugby experience.
Wallabies captain Stephen Moore has been named, alongside fellow Wallabies James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Ben Daley and Saia Fainga’a, as well as former Fijian Sevens representative Apisai Naiyabo and former World Cup Winning All Black Brad Thorn.
Thorn will act as a player/coach for the team, having been named as assistant coach (forwards) last week.
Having played in all 16 NRC matches Queensland Country has contested since the inception of the competition, scrumhalf James Tuttle will again captain the side in 2016, having led the team during the 2015 season.
Tuttle also captained both the Queensland and Australian U20s earlier in 2016, and will be joined by six of his teammates from both squads.
Brad Thorn (Left), pictured with Queensland Country head coach Toutai Kefu and assistant coach Jason Gilmore, will be a player/coach for the Country side in 2016.
With training for the Country side beginning this week, head coach Toutai Kefu said he was excited to get underway with preparations for the 2016 season.
“We’ve put together a solid squad for 2016, with a great mix of youth and experience,” Kefu said.
“While we have a number of young players in the squad, many of them are heading into their second or third NRC season.
“With so many players returning this year, it will allow us to build upon the previous two seasons as we look to push for higher honors in 2016.
“We’ve seen the NRC help launch the careers of a number of players who are now vying for test selection, and players such as James Tuttle and Campbell Magnay have gone on to feature for the Reds after earning valuable game time in the NRC.
“The competition presents a great opportunity for these players and we’ll use that as motivation as we prepare for Round 1.”
For Tuttle, he is looking forward to engaging with the Queensland Country Rugby community again in 2016.
“It’s important for us to represent the Rugby community in country Queensland and we’re looking forward to once again playing games in regional areas,” Tuttle said.
“We’ve got players throughout the squad that attribute much of their development to their earliest involvements with the game in their home regions. Playing for Country in the NRC allows them to promote the pathway opportunities that exist in regional Queensland for the next generation.”
Queensland Country captain James Tuttle pictured with Brisbane City captain Sam Talakai.
In 2014 QRU announced it would field two teams in the NRC as an important piece in its talent identification, recruitment and development – as part of its pathway and high-performance strategy.
Now entering its third year, the NRC is a domestic Rugby competition featuring eight teams.
It has been designed to give players another link in their development pathway towards Super Rugby and ultimately Wallabies selection.
Queensland Country will play all three of its 2016 home games in regional areas of Queensland, taking on the University of Canberra Vikings and the Sydney Rays at Bond University, before hosting the NSW Country Eagles in Toowoomba.
Tickets are now on sale for all Queensland-based NRC matches at www.redsrugby.com.au.
Tickets start at just $5 for juniors, $10 for concession and $15 for adults when purchased online prior to the match.
2016 Bond University Queensland Country Squad
Player
Age
Club
Rep Honours
Country Background
Props
Sef Fa’agase*
24
UQ
ARU National Academy, Brisbane City NRC (2014), Queensland Country (2015), Reds, Reds A
Queensland Country U19 representative
Richie Asiata
20
Easts
Queensland Schoolboys (2013, 2014), Australian Schools (2014), Queensland U20s (2016), Australia U20s (2016)
Taniela Tupou*
20
Brothers
Tongan U14s, Pacific Barbarians (2014), Queensland Country (2015), Reds (2015-)
Ben Daley*
28
Bond
Australian U19s (2006), QAS Reds Academy (2007), Australian U20s (2008), Queensland Reds (2008-2016), Wallabies (2010, 2011)Gold Coast Junior
Kirwan Sanday*
25
Easts
Sydney Stars (2015)
James Slipper*
27
Bond
Reds (2010-), Australian Schoolboys (2007), Australian U20s (2009), Australia A (2010), Wallabies (2010-)Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast Rugby Junior, Bond University Premier Rugby (Gold Coast), The Southport School
Hookers
Feleti Kaitu’u
22
GPS
Queensland Schoolboys (2011), Australia Schoolboys (2011), Reds A (2014), Australian U20s (2014)
Alex Casey
25
Souths
Brisbane City NRC (2015)
Saia Fainga’a*
29
GPS
Australian Schoolboys (2003-2004), Australian Under 19s (2006), Brumbies (2007-2008), Reds (2009-), Wallabies (2010-), Queensland Country NRC (2014, 2015)
Stephen Moore
33
Easts (ACT)Reds (2003-2008) (2017-)
Brumbies (2009-2016), Wallabies (2005-)
Rockhampton Junior
Locks
Izack Rodda
19
Easts
Queensland Schoolboys (2014), Australian Schoolboys (2014), Australian U20s (2016)
Tyrell Barker*
28
Easts
Queensland Academy of Sport U19s (2007), Queensland Country (2015)
Brad Thorn
41
GPS
Brisbane Broncos, Queensland (State of Origin), Australian Kangaroos, Canterbury ITM, Tasman ITM, Crusaders, Sanix Blues, Leinster, Highlanders, Leicester, All Blacks
Phil Potgieter*
21
UQ
Queensland Schoolboys (2012) Australia A Schoolboys (2012) Queensland U20s (2014-2015), Queensland Country (2015), Australian Barbarians (2015, 2016)
Toowoomba Grammar School, Darling Downs Rugby junior
Rob Simmons*
27
Sunnybank
Reds (2009-), Queensland Schoolboys (2006), Australian Schoolboys (2006), Australian U19s (2007), Australian U20s (2008), Wallabies (2010-)Raised in Theodore, Central Queensland
Backrowers
Angus Scott-Young
19
UQ
Queensland U16s (2013), Queensland U20s (2015, 2016), Australian U20s (2016)
Jack Cornelsen*
21
UQ
Queensland Schoolboys (2011-2012), Australian Schoolboys (2012), Queensland Sevens (2015), Queensland Country (2015), Australian Sevens Development team (2015)Gold Coast Rugby junior
Connor Mitchell*
22
UQ
Queensland Schoolboys (2011), Queensland Country (2015), Australian Sevens (2016)Sunshine Coast Rugby junior
Maclean Jones*
20
UQ
Australian U20s (2015, 2016), Queensland Under-20s (2015, 2016), Australian Schoolboys (2013), Queensland Schoolboys (2013), Queensland Country (2015)Raised in St.George (Darling Downs)
Apisai Naiyabo
30
Norths
Fiji Sevens
Lolo Fakaosilea*
21
SunnybankR
eds (2015-), Australian U20s (2014-2015), Queensland U20s (2014-2015), Reds A (2014), Australian Schoolboys (2012-2013), Queensland Schoolboys (2012-2013), Queensland U16s (2011)Central Queensland Rugby (Emerald) junior, Represented Central Queensland at Junior State Championships (2011)
Scrumhalves
James Tuttle* (C)
19
GPS
Queensland U20s (2014, 2015, 2016), Australian U20s (2015, 2016), Queensland Schoolboys. Queensland Country (2014, 2015);
Scott Malolua*
23
Souths
Queensland Country (2015)
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa,
20
Sunnybank
Queensland Schoolboys (2013)Far North Queensland junior – Port Douglas Reef Raiders / Gold Coast – The Southport School
Flyhalves
Mack Mason*
20
Easts
Queensland U16s (2013),Melbourne Storm U20s (2015), Queensland Country (2015)
Born in Cairns / Raised on family property outside of Mitchell
Mitch Third
20
Bond
Queensland Schoolboys (2013), Australian Schoolboys (2013), Canberra Vikings (2015)Gold Coast Junior, Bond University Premier Rugby
Centres
Duncan Paia’aua*
21
Norths
Reds (2015-), Queensland U16s, Broncos U20s (2013-2014), Queensland U20s (2015), Australian U20s (2015), Queensland Country NRC (2014, 2015)Rockhampton Rugby Junior
Matt Gordon*
21
Easts
Queensland U15s, U16s, Combined Secondary Schools (2011), Queensland Country (2015)Darling Downs Rugby junior, Downlands College (Toowoomba)
Campbell Magnay*
19
GPS
Queensland Schoolboys (2013), Australian Schoolboys (2013), Queensland U20s (2015, 2016), Australian U20s (2015, 2016), Queensland Country (2014, 2015), Reds (2015-)
Josh Birch
21
UQ
Newcastle Nights U20s (2013-2015)Kingaroy/Bundaberg
Outside Backs
Izaia Perese*19
Easts
Reds Elite Development Squad (2015), Queensland U20s (2015), Australian Schoolboys (2014), Queensland Schoolboys (2014), Queensland U16s (2013), Queensland Country (2015)
Tom Banks*
22
UQ
Queensland U20s (2014), Queensland Schoolboys (2011-2012), Reds (2015, 2016), Queensland Country (2015)
Tyronne Lefau*
25
Wests
Western Force (2012, 2013), Counties Manukau ITM (2013) Queensland Country (2015)
Liam McNamara
19
Sunnybank
Queensland U20s (2016), Australian U20s (2016), Australian University Rugby Sevens (2016)
Eto Nabuli
27
GPS
Penrith Panthers (2014), St.George Dragons (2015), Fiji Rugby League (2014,2015), Reds (2016-)
Tom Pincus*
24
UQ
Queensland Country NRC (2014, 2015)Gold Coast Rugby junior
*Denotes returning player
2016 Queensland Country Staff
Head Coach: Toutai Kefu
Assistant Coach (Defence):Jason Gilmore
Assistant Coach (Forwards): Brad Thorn
Head of Physical Preparation: Dave Ballard
Team Manager: Nico Andrade
Team Analyst: Michael Todd
Team Doctor: Gary Mitchell
Head Physiotherapist: Gina Nelson
Media Manager: Brendan Hertel
