Experienced tighthead prop Sef Fa’agase and Wallaroos lock Annabelle Codey have been named captain of the respective men’s and women’s Reds Development XV teams who will face off against the Challenger XV sides at Ballymore this weekend.
Fa’agase is one of six contracted Reds players selected to start in Sunday’s series opener alongside George Blake, Mac Grealy, Lawson Creighton, Connor Anderson and Josh Flook.
New Reds recruit Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and fellow frontrower Josh Nasser, who is set to play his first game of 2023 since recovering from injury, have both been named as finishers and will start from the bench.
A strong Queensland Super W contingent has been named in the Reds Women’s Development XV with 12 players set to start including eight Wallaroos squad members.
Souths skipper Kohan Herbert will captain the Challenger XV in his familiar number seven jersey while Easts flyhalf Loretta Lealiifano has been named the captain of the Women’s Challenger XV side.
Reds Development captain Fa’agase said: “It’s a huge honour. It’s the highest level that I have ever captained at and I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“I know we’ve been preparing hard, and I can only talk about what I’ve seen from my bunch of boys, and it’s been unreal.
“I know the Challenger XV team would have been training just as hard and it’s sure to be an interesting game this weekend.”
The women’s fixture kicks off at 1:15pm AEST followed by the men’s match at 3:05pm this Sunday September 17 at Ballymore Stadium with free entry for spectators.
The match will also be live-streamed via the Queensland Reds Facebook and YouTube pages.
2023 Queensland Rugby Challenger Series – Game 1
Development XV v Development XV (women) at 1:15pm AEST - Ballymore Stadium, Sunday 17 September
Reds Development XV
1. Bree-Anna Cheatham | Wests
2. Cristo Tofa | Easts
3. Eva Karpani | Bond University
4. Ashlee Knight | Wests
5. Annabelle Codey | Easts (Captain)
6. Joanna Rabaka | Sunnybank
7. Hanna Lane | GPS
8. Michelle Dreu | Easts
9. Sarah Lewis | GPS
10. Carys Dallinger | Easts
11. Ivania Wong | Sunnybank
12. Renae Nona | Sunnybank
13. Mel Wilks | Bond University
14. Alana Elisaia | Wests
15. Ellie Draper | Souths
16. Madi Schuck | Easts
17. Alapeta Nqaumo | Wests
18. Theresa Soloai | Easts
19. Aleena Greenhagh | Wests
20. Ema Masi | UQ
21. Ana Afuie | Sunnybank
22. Shannon Symon | Easts
23. Georgia Wilson | Souths
Challenger XV
1. Roni Setu | UQ
2. Brooke Savelio | UQ
3. Nina Poletti | Brothers
4. Nena Williamson | UQ
5. Leonia Tualangi | Sunnybank
6. Emiliya Byrne | GPS
7. Maggie Mcconnachie | Uni-Norths Owls
8. Vei Koloamatangi | Souths
9. Maggie Glassock | Easts
10. Loretta Lealiifano | Easts (Captain)
11. Michelle Curry | Wests
12. Rebecca Davidson | Brothers
13. Kalisi Logopoa | Sunnybank
14. Gemma Lawrence | Wests
15. Piper Flynn | Easts
16. Tina Brown | Easts
17. Marya Tuaana | Souths
18. Asi Mafi | Souths
19. Rosie Ebbage | Easts
20. Shannon Symon | Easts
21. Taleah Ackland | Toowoomba Bears
22. Georgia Wilson | Souths
23. Leka Tuanna | Souths
Queensland Reds Development XV v Queensland Premier Rugby Development XV (men) at 3:05pm AEST – Ballymore Stadium, Sunday 17 September.
Reds Development XV
1. George Blake | Bond Universty
2. Max Craig | Easts
3. Sef Fa’agase | Sunnybank (Captain)
4. Will Sankey | Easts
5. Chris Minimbi | UQ
6. Lachlan Connors | Bond University
7. Connor Anderson | Wests
8. John Bryant | Souths
9. Louis Werchon | Wests
10. Harry Mcglaughlin-Phillips | Souths
11. Mac Grealy | UQ
12. Lawson Creighton | Brothers
13. Josh Flook | Brothers (Vice-Captain)
14. Tim Ryan | Brothers
15. Meli Dreu | Easts
16. Josh Nasser | UQ
17. Baguio Johnson-Tiumalu | Wests
18. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen | Norths
19. Tanna Wilson | Brothers
20. Matt Giquel | GPS
21. Spencer Jeans | Bond University
22. Matt Smit | Easts
23. Conor Chittenden | Norths
24. Rhys Sheriff | Bond University
25. Jake Kurbatoff | Souths
26. Shaun Anderson | GPS
Challenger XV
1. George Francis | Souths
2. Moli Sooaemalelagi | Bond University
3. Phransis Sula-Siaosi | Souths
4. Ollie Bartlett | GPS
5. Brad Kapa | Brothers
6. Adam Korcyzk | UQ
7. Kohan Herbert | Souths
8. Ratu Vio Batibasaga | GPS
9. Willem Johnstone | Souths
10. Jake Pappin | Easts
11. Veresa Mataitini | GPS
12. Chris Kuridrani | GPS
13. Pio Nakubuwai | Easts
14. Ben Navosailagi | Wests
15. Cooper Whiteside | Wests
16. Ben Murphy | Souths
17. Harrison Usher | Bond University
18. Jaiden Christian | Brothers
19. Noah Neilsen | Brothers
20. Sean Farrell | Souths
21. Cullin Cooper-Jones | Wests
22. Shane Kennedy | Easts
23. Tyler Campbell | Bond University
24. Jackson Clarke | Souths
25. Connor Higgins | Norths
26. Jack Brady | UQ
27. Tautalatasi Tasi | GPS
28. Fred Keil | UQ
