Playing against Japan's Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights today has special meaning for Queensland Reds backrower Hamish Muller.
The chance to play in his home town of Toowoomba is a rare occasion and reinforces why the match was brought to the Darling Downs in the first place.
Today's match (3pm AEST) at the Toowoomba Sports Ground will be the first time the Reds have played here in 12 years.
The regional centre is a rugby stronghold which Muller felt afresh when the ream bus drove into Toowoomba Grammar for Friday's final training session.
"It's pretty special. I grew up here and went to school here for 10 years," said the Toowoomba Grammar First XV captain of 2020.
"Being back here and on the field I played on is pretty cool."
Of the school's 1200 students close to 550 play rugby. The percentage is even higher amongst the school's boarders with 290 of the 300 playing the game. On Friday after the final school bell, an eager throng of schoolboys gathered to watch training and stay for an autograph-signing session with the players.
Muller grew up on the family horse farm outside Clifton and the shift to TGS was a simple choice.
"I started playing rugby at school as soon as I could," Muller said.
For many younger schoolboy players, watching a First XV star is one of the first moments when dreams ignite.
"I remember being in Grade Seven and watching (future Reds and Wallabies hooker) Matt Faessler on this field," Muller recalled.
"He was someone to look up to and aspire to. You could see what you could do with hard work and playing well."
Muller made his Reds debut off the bench against the Wild Knights in Japan last year. It gave him a taste.
He's added 8kg to his frame since with hard work and more burrito bowls than he can count.
"That moment in Japan was pretty special and my mum and dad flew over to surprise me after the game," Muller said.
"To now be playing the Wild Knights in my home town is something I'll remember for a long time."
The Wild Knights will be a tough rival with former Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete included in today's line-up.
The Reds are blooding several exciting prospects from the victorious Australia Under-18 side with fullback Treyvon Pritchard, flyhalf Finn Mackay and bench forward Will Ross.
It was only in August that Pritchard was playing at inside centre for Churchie in a nailbiting 25-24 win over Toowoomba Grammar in a GPS First XV match.
"This match is exciting for the development of a lot of our players and where they are headed in the future," Reds assistant coach Zane Hilton said.
"We want to see them express themselves against what Panasonic are going to bring.
"I'm from the country myself out at Mitchell. I appreciate when the big show comes to town that the opportunity to come and watch is inspiring."
Having Australia's champion women's sevens team playing on the same day in a tri-series with New Zealand and the USA only adds to the appeal.
In Friday's final game, the Aussie were down 22-19 against the US with time up. The Aussies had a tap penalty as their last roll of the dice.
Powerhouse Heidi Dennis took the ball strongly on the left edge, got her hands free through contact and dished off a try-making pass to Ruby Nicholas for the matchwinner.
DOWNS INTERNATIONAL RUGBY WEEKEND + MORT & CO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S RUGBY SEVENS TOURNAMENT
Saturday, October 18
9:30am: Australia vs USA (7s)
Local Sevens
11:30am: NZ vs USA (7s)
Local Sevens
1:45: Australia vs NZ (7s)
3pm: Queensland Reds vs Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights (Japan)
5:15pm: Australia vs NZ (7s)
