Wallabies Matt Faessler and Josh Flook have been drafted into the Queensland Reds team for the Santos Festival of Rugby in Narrabri to gain valuable game time on Saturday.
Both will be employed off the bench against the NSW Waratahs (5:45pm AEST) in this feature Round Two match in Super Rugby AUS.
For hooker Faessler, it's the ideal chance to find game rhythm after a two-month lay-off mending a calf injury. This will be his first outing since he played just over half a game in the first Test against the British and Lions in Brisbane in mid-July.
"A big thank you to the medical and rehab team. I'm really happy to be back earlier than expected," Faessler said.
"I've had some disappointment this season with back-to-back injuries so I'm really looking forward to some minutes with the Reds boys. It's always fun going out to a country centre to play and I'm ready to get amongst it."
Centre Flook has been a regular in and around Wallabies squads this season.
The opportunity to play for the Reds will keep him sharp should he be needed in any redrafting of the Wallabies squad for the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Perth on October 4.
His appearance for Queensland against the Lions and an 80-minute grand final effort for his club Brothers in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup were also timely hitouts of quality post-Super Rugby Pacific.
Reds Head Coach Les Kiss said the pair would be used off the bench.
"We are seeing another aspect of what Super Rugby AUS was created for - some quality rugby to aid Wallabies with game time when needed," Kiss said.
"They will add to the occasion in Narrabri where we've already felt the country welcome for the Santos Festival of Rugby."
Hooker Theo Fourie and centre cover Xavier Rubens will drop off the Reds bench as a result.
Both Faessler and Flook trained with the Reds at Narrabri's Dangar Park in 26 degree heat this morning as a final tune-up before the match with the Waratahs which is a highlight of the two-day weekend of rugby.
The Reds' clearcut 32-7 win at last year's Santos Festival of Rugby in Roma reversed three earlier defeats to the Waratahs in this event.
As one of the biggest annual football and community events in regional Australia, the fifth Santos Festival of Rugby will drive millions of dollars in economic benefit for Narrabri.
It is also a festive highlight since the the district dealt with flooding along the Namoi River in August.
QUEENSLAND REDS vs NSW WARATAHS
Dangar Park, Narrabri
5.45pm Saturday, September 20
Live on Stan Sport and rugby.com.au
Queensland Reds
1 Aidan Ross (vc) – Bond University
2 George Blake – Bond University
3 Massimo De Lutiis - Wests
4 Connor Vest - Souths
5 Seru Uru - Souths
6 Joe Brial – University of Queensland
7 Tom Robinson – University of Queensland
8 Vaiuta Latu - Brothers
9 Kalani Thomas – University of Queensland
10 Jock Campbell (c) – University of Queensland
11 Tim Ryan - Brothers
12 Dre Pakeho - Brothers
13 Isaac Henry – Wests
14 Lachie Anderson – University of Queensland
15 Heremaia Murray – Bond University
Reserves
16 Matt Faessler - Brothers
17 Sef Fa'agase – Sunnybank
18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen - Norths
19 Hamish Muller - Brothers
20 Kohan Herbert - Souths
21 James Martens - GPS
22 Will Cartwright - Brothers
23 Josh Flook – Brothers
2025 Santos Festival of Rugby … Full Schedule:
Saturday, September 20:
· Classic Wallabies Kids Clinic, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
· Queensland Reds vs. NSW Waratahs Women’s Rugby 7s 2:00pm
· Queensland Reds vs. NSW Waratahs Women, 2:30pm
· Queensland Reds vs. NSW Waratahs Women’s Rugby 7s, 4:30pm
· Queensland Reds vs. NSW Waratahs Super Rugby AUS, 5:45pm
Sunday September 21:
· Queensland Country vs. NSW Country, U18 Girls, 9:00am
· Queensland Reds vs. NSW Waratahs Women’s Rugby 7s, 10:20am
· Classic Wallabies vs. Narrabri Blue Boars Over-35s, 11:00am
· Queensland Reds vs. NSW Waratahs Women’s Rugby 7s, 12:00pm
· Queensland Reds vs. NSW Waratahs Super Rugby U19s, 1:00pm
