Decorated Wallaroo Ivania Wong and rising backrower Jemma Bemrose have been named co-captains of the Queensland Reds for the 2025 Super Rugby Women’s season.
The honour recognises two players new to captaincy at this level but with the ample attributes to lead with their actions and urging.
Winger Wong, 27, is at the very heart of everything the Reds stand for having featured in all 37 Super Rugby Women’s matches played by Queensland since the competition’s birth in 2018.
At 22, Bemrose is part of the new breed.She will become the youngest-ever Reds women’s captain since Queensland played its first game in 1996 when the team runs out on March 8 against Fijiana Drua in Lautoka.
The Reds Rookie of the Year from 2024 will pip, by several months, the record that has been held by Queensland Rugby Union Hall of Fame inductee Selena Worsley, who led the state at 22 in 1997.
“It’s a huge honour,” the Gold Coast-based Bemrose said.
“Wearing this Queensland jersey is a privilege at any time but to captain with Vani, with her status in the game, makes it more special.”
Bemrose and Wong shared the captaincy duties for the first time in last Saturday’s upbeat 47-15 trial win over the ACT Brumbies.
The duo will be back in the same roles on Saturday when the Reds face their 2024 captain Cecilia Smith and the Western Force at Ballymore Stadium from 12:30pm (Qld time) in a further trial.
Bemrose was a late starter in the game in her teens after being inspired to switch from touch by the rugby sevens at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
“I was in Year 10 at the time and one of the girls teed up a bunch of touch girls to give rugby sevens a try in school comps when I was at Elanora State High,” Bemrose said.
“I was always more of a physical touch player so it definitely suited me.
”Playing for the Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators and premiership-winning Bond University have followed in her progression to the Reds.
Wong’s return from a lower leg fracture gave her additional reason to smile against the Brumbies last weekend.
“I have a lot of love for this Queensland jersey and what we are trying to do as a group,” Wong said.
“I feel honoured and excited by being asked to be captain. It’s another layer to add to my footy to grow as a person and as a player.”
Wong will tap limited experience captaining her club Sunnybank and in sevens.
There was an obvious smile on her face when diving for the tryline against the Brumbies last weekend.
“It was kind of that full-circle moment taking the field six months after the injury and two surgeries so, yeah, I was smiling,” Wong said with a laugh.
Reds head coach Andrew Fraser is confident in the captaincy calls while also knowing how many senior players will be contributing to team leadership.
“Vani is Queensland’s most capped player. She knows all the ups and downs of this program,” Fraser said.
“She encapsulates what the Reds program is about and she is also one of the most vocal on the field.
“Jemma has been exceptional from the get-go at training last October. She is mature, has great poise when she speaks and she’s a very clever footballer. I hope she can grow into a leader for years to come.”
A Three-Game Membership to the Reds' matches at Ballymore this season is being offered for just $20.
