The future of Queensland Rugby appears bright after the St.George Queensland Reds awarded six young players with developing squad contracts.
Backrower Tom Kibble, centre Isaac Lucas, hooker Sean Farrell, prop Josh Nasser, lock Michael Wood and flyhalf Carter Gordon will all be at Ballymore through 2019.
Five of the players - Kibble, Lucas, Farrell, Nasser and Wood, were all a part of either Bond University Queensland Country or McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City squads in the 2018 National Rugby Championship (NRC), while Australian Schoolboys playmaker, Gordon, graduated from Brisbane Boys College (BBC) last week.
Reds Head Coach Brad Thorn said: “It’s good to see the future of Queensland Rugby talent coming through our Pathway.
“Having all played Schoolboys and U20s for Queensland or Australia, or in the NRC with either Brisbane City or Queensland Country, it shows the importance of the Queensland Pathway.
“They’ve all been handed an opportunity with the Reds to take their Rugby careers to the next level and we are looking forward to seeing their development and progression here at Ballymore,” Thorn added.
Kibble, Lucas, Farrell, Nasser and Wood are all products of the Queensland Pathway having represented Queensland and/or Australia at Schoolboy and U20s level.
After forming part of GPS’ Queensland Premier Rugby championship side, Kibble made his NRC debut in Round 3 this season and started at open-side flanker for Queensland Country in last month’s grand final against the Fijian Drua, while Wood made his Country debut in Round 2 against the Melbourne Rising in Townsville.
Nasser and Farrell also featured in the NRC for Brisbane City in 2018.
Farrell made his debut in Round 4, while Nasser took the field for City in Round 2 this year.
Nasser is also the son of former Queensland and Wallabies backrower Brendan Nasser, who was part of Australia’s 1991 World Cup side.
Lucas guided the Brisbane City U19s to the maiden U19s National Rugby Championship (URC) title in Canberra, defeating the Queensland Country U19s 40-7 in the final, whilst being named player of the tournament.
Carter, who departs for the Australian Schoolboys tour of Ireland and Scotland today, is regarded as one of the state’s premier schoolboy talents.
After growing up on the Sunshine Coast, the teenager moved to Brisbane at 14 and attended BBC as a boarder where his young Rugby career has since flourished, selected in both Queensland and Australian Schoolboys sides.
Sean Farrell
Position: Hooker
Height: 187cm
Weight: 106kg
Born: 02/06/1998
Place of birth: Brisbane
Senior Club: University of Queensland
Junior Club: Maroochydore Swans
School: Brisbane Boys College
Representative Honours: Queensland Schoolboys (2015,2016), Australian Schoolboys (2016), Queensland U20s (2017), Queensland Country NRC (2017), Brisbane City NRC (2018)
Carter Gordon
Position: Flyhalf
Height: 189cm
Weight: 81kg
Born: 29/01/2001
Place of birth: Nambour
Junior Club: Noosa/Wests
School: Brisbane Boys College
Representative Honours: Queensland U16s (2017), Queensland Schoolboys (2017,2018), Australian Schoolboys (2018), Australia U20s (2018)
Tom Kibble
Position: Backrow
Height: 184cm
Weight: 99kg
Born: 03/06/2000
Place of birth: Brisbane
Senior Club: GPS
Junior Club: GPS
School: Brisbane Boys College
Representative Honours: Queensland Schoolboys (2017), Australian Schoolboys (2017), Queensland Country NRC (2018)
Isaac Lucas
Position: Centre
Height: 179cm
Weight: 84kg
Born: 11/02/1999
Place of birth: Brisbane
Senior Club: Sunnybank
Junior Club: Sunnybank
School: St. Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace
Representative Honours: Queensland Schoolboys (2016), Australian Schoolboys (2016), Queensland U20s (2017), Australian U20s (2018)
Josh Nasser
Position: Prop
Height: 188cm
Weight: 114kg
Born: 23/06/1999
Place of birth: Brisbane
Senior Club: University of Queensland Junior Club: Easts
School: St. Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace
Representative Honours: Queensland Schoolboys (2016), Queensland U20s (2017), Australia U20s (2018), Brisbane City NRC (2018)
Michael Wood
Position: Lock
Height: 192cm
Weight: 108kg
Born: 18/02/1999
Place of birth: Mornington, Victoria
Senior Club: Brothers
Junior Club: Brothers
School: Padua College
Representative Honours: Queensland Schoolboys (2015), Australian U20s (2018), Queensland Country NRC (2018)
