Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss has named a 26-strong squad, including 10 potential debutants, for Friday’s clash against Tonga in Nuku’alofa.
The squad is an exciting mix of seasoned Super Rugby players, standout Australian Under-20s players and high-performing club players from the StoreLocal Hospital Cup.
The squad includes six uncapped players who featured for the Junior Wallabies at the recent World Rugby U20s Championships in Italy…halfback James Martens, prop Trevor King, centre Xavier Rubens, fullback-winger Nick Conway, backrower Tom Robinson and lock-flanker Charlie Brosnan.
Reds squad winger-fullback Will McCulloch has won selection after a strong burst of club form. Brothers hooker Theo Fourie, Norths prop Ollie Harris and University of Queensland hooker Zac Hough are the other uncapped selections.
Friday’s match at Teufaiva Sports Stadium will be a test of the growing depth in Queensland rugby with Tonga certain to field a quality side in final preparations for Rugby World Cup qualifiers later this month.
“This is exactly the type of game we are after. It will be a challenge for sure against a very physical, powerful side as per usual,” Kiss said.
“We’ll front up and also rely on our nous. This is part of growing the opportunities for our players on top of the tour to the United Kingdom to start the year and our partnerships with Benetton Rugby in Italy and Japan’s Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights.
"This match against Tonga is a wonderful opportunity for our younger players and our seasoned players. Working together they make each other better.
“A lot of thanks go to PacificAus Sports for their support of the tour through the Australian Government.”
Lock Josh Canham, in camp with the Wallabies during the British and Irish Lions series, prop Sef Fa'agase and backrower Seru Uru will be the experienced forwards travelling while fullback Jock Campbell, winger Lachie Anderson and halfback Kalani Thomas will be the core of the backline.
An additional initiative through the Reds professional rugby department is to advance an up-and-coming coach. Norths coach Dan Ritchie is joining the squad for the visit to Tonga, immersing himself with the Reds staff as a professional development opportunity.
The tour is part of the ongoing support of Tongan rugby by the Australian Government, Rugby Australia, and the Reds through the PacificAus Sports-funded Australia-Pacific Rugby Union Partnership (APRUP).
Queensland Rugby Union Chief Executive David Hanham said regular interactions with the Pacific’s rugby nations were of mutual benefit.
“Deepening the ties with our friends in Tonga is important on and off the field,” Hanham said.
“As part of the Reds tour last year, there was a wonderful moment when Wallaby great George Smith returned to his old school at Tupou College for a rugby clinic. You could see what it meant to the kids and to George.
"Playing Tonga is an important part of the International Program we are building at the Reds and we would like to thank everyone, including our Queensland Premier Rugby clubs, who have contributed to the staging of this game."
George Blake (Bond University)
Nick Bloomfield (Easts)
Joe Brial (University of Queensland)
Charlie Brosnan* (Brothers)
Josh Canham (Bond University)
Sef Fa’agase (Sunnybank)
Theo Fourie* (Brothers)
Ollie Harris* (Norths)
Kohan Herbert (Souths)
Zac Hough* (University of Queensland)
Trevor King* (Souths)
Hamish Muller (Brothers)
Tom Robinson* (University of Queensland)
Seru Uru (Souths)
Connor Vest (Souths)
Lachie Anderson (University of Queensland)
Jock Campbell (University of Queensland)
Nick Conway* (Wests)
Isaac Henry (Wests)
James Martens* (GPS)
Will McCulloch* (Norths)
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Wests)
Dre Pakeho (Brothers)
Xavier Rubens* (Souths)
Tim Ryan (Brothers)
Kalani Thomas (University of Queensland)
*Potential Queensland Reds debut
PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative creating opportunities for Pacific athletes, conuaches, officials and administrators to access high performance training and elite competition.
The program partners with Australian national sports organisations to support a range of sports, including rugby league, rugby union, netball, football, AFL, cricket, tennis, basketball, and Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth sports.
PacificAus Sports also partners with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) to promote Pacific sport through ABC Television’s ‘That Pacific Sports Show’ and ABC Radio’s ‘Fresh Off the Field’. The high performance outcomes of PacificAus Sports are complemented by the Australian Government’s Team Up program, which focuses on sport for development in the Pacific.
For more information about PacificAus Sports and its activities, visit www.pacificaussports.gov.au and follow PacificAus Sports on Facebook.
