The Reds Development XV have made three changes to their starting line-up ahead of this weekend’s second-and-final Queensland Rugby Challenger Series game against the Challenger XV at Ballymore Stadium.
After coming off the bench in last weekend’s 59-36 win, hooker Josh Nasser will make his first start of the 2023 calendar year alongside George Blake and Sef Fa’agase in the frontrow.
GPS flanker Matt Gicquel, who won the Gallopers’ Player of the Season Award this year – will also make his first start of the series after impressing off the bench last week.
Gicquel’s inclusion into the starting XV will see a reshuffle in the backrow, with Connor Anderson moved to blindside flanker and Bond University captain Lachlan Connors dropping to the bench.
The only other change sees Lawson Creighton set to start as a finisher with Easts stalwart Matt Smith named at inside centre.
New Reds signing Massimo De Lutiis is also in line for his first appearance for the Reds having been named on the bench.
The Challenger XV side have enacted significant changes to their XV with Brothers prop Jaiden Christian, UQ lock Jack Brady and Souths number eight Sean Farrell all starting on Sunday.
Changes to the back line include Cullin Cooper-Jones (Wests) starting at scrumhalf, UQ wing Lachlan Sperling and GPS centre Tautalatasi Tasi that see Phransis Sula-Siaosi (Souths), Ratu Vio Batibasaga (GPS) and Ollie Bartlett (GPS) shift to the bench.
Sweeping changes have been made in the women’s ranks to both the Reds Development XV and Challenger XV with nine girls called up to the Wallaroos squad for the test against New Zealand in a week’s time.
In their place, six players from last week’s Challenger XV have been shifted across to the Reds Development XV side including Rosie Ebbage (Easts), Rebecca Davidson (Brothers) and Brooke Savelio (UQ).
Wests lock Aleena Greenhalgh will captain the Reds Development XV while Sunnybank’s Ana Afuie – the 2023 Selena Worsley Medallist – is named to start at scrumhalf.
For the Challenger XV side, the changes see a host new faces in the squad with Debbie Burese (Souths), Lillian Kolb (UQ) and Sabay Lynam (UQ) all handed starts.
Named amongst the finishers includes Emiliya Byrne (GPS), Annelise Lole and Maddison Melish (Wests).
The matches will again be live streamed via the Queensland Reds Facebook and YouTube pages.
Reds Development XV v Challenger XV (men) at 1:15pm AEST - Ballymore Stadium, Sunday 24 September
1. George Blake | Bond University
2. Josh Nasser | UQ
3. Sef Fa’agase | Sunnybank (Captain)
4. Tanna Wilson | Easts
5. Chris Minimbi | UQ
6. Connor Anderson | Wests
7. Matt Gicquel | GPS
8. John Bryant | Souths
9. Louis Werchon | Wests
10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips | Souths
11. Mac Grealy | UQ
12. Matt Smith | Easts
13. Josh Flook | Brothers (Vice-Captain)
14. Tim Ryan | Brothers
15. Meli Dreu | Easts
16. Max Craig | Easts
17. Baguio Johnson-Tiumalu | Wests
18. Jeff Toomaga-Allen | Norths
19. Fred Fewtrell | Easts
20. Lachlan Connors | Bond University
21. Spencer Jeans | Bond University
22. Lawson Creighton | Brothers
23. Conor Chittenden | Norths
24. Massimo De Lutiis | Easts
25. Rhys Sheriff | Bond University
26. Jake Kurbatoff | Souths
27. Shaun Anderson | GPS
1. George Francis | Souths
2. Moli Sooaemalelagi | Bond University
24. Jaiden Christian | Brothers
4. Jack Brady | UQ
5. Brad Kapa | Brothers
6. Adam Korcyzk | UQ
7. Kohan Herbert | Souths (captain)
8. Sean Farrell | Souths
9. Cullin Cooper-Jones | Wests
10. Jake Pappin | Easts
11. Lachlan Sperling | UQ
12. Chris Kuridrani | GPS
13. Tautalatasi Tasi | GPS
14. Ben Navosailagi | Wests
15. Cooper Whiteside | Wests
16. Ben Murphy | Souths
17. Liam Usher | Wests
3. Phransis Sula-Siaosi | Souths
19. Noah Neilsen | Brothers
20. Ratu Vio Batibasaga | GPS
21. Isaac Tarabay | Brothers
22. Shane Kennedy | Easts
23. Tyler Campbell | Bond University
18. Jake Tierney | UQ
25. Connor Higgins | Norths
26. Oliver Bartlett | GPS
27. Pio Nakubuwai | Easts
28. Veresa Mataitini | GPS
Reds Development XV v Challenger XV (women) at 1:15pm AEST - Ballymore Stadium, Sunday 24 September
Reds Development XV
1. Madi Schuck | Easts
2. Tiarna Molloy | Easts
3. Alapeta Nqaumo | Wests
4. Rosie Ebbage | Easts
5. Aleena Greenhalgh | Wests (captain)
6. Joanna Rabaka | Sunnybank
7. Ema Masi | UQ
8. Kaipo Olsen Baker
9. Ana Afuie | Sunnybank
10. Renae Nona | Sunnybank
11. Georgia Wilson | Souths
12. Rebecca Davidson | Brothers
13. Alana Elisaia | Wests
14. Laura Burnett
15. Ellie Draper | Souths
16. Roni Setu | UQ
17. Brooke Savelio | UQ
18. Nina Poletti | Brothers
19. Ashley Knight | Wests
20. Eva Robertson | Brothers
21. Jess Craig | Wests
22. Georgia Flood | Nambour
23. Giverney Robinson | UQ
1. Allana Sikimeti | Wests
2. Mary Tuaana | Souths (captain)
3. Asi Mafi | Souths
4. Dillyn Blackburn | Wests
5. Nena Williamson | UQ
6. Megan Prinsloo | UQ
7. Amelia Brown | GPS
8. Luana Tongia | Sunnybank
9. Taleah Ackland | Toowoomba Bears
10. Leka Tuaana | Souths
11. Debbie Burese | Souths
12. Lillian Kolb | UQ
13. Kalisi Logopoa | Sunnybank
14. Gemma Lawrence | Wests
15. Sabay Lynam | UQ
16. Anelise Lole | UQ
17. Laiyah Sevealii | Souths
18. Tiarrie Fanuatanu | Wests
19. Shannon Symon | Easts
20. Emiliya Byrne | GPS
21. Vei Koloamatangi | Souths
22. Maggie Glassock | Easts
23. Maddison Melish | Wests
24. Wynonah Conway | Brothers
25. Evie Robertson | Brothers
26. Bree Shepherd | Brothers
