A blockbuster schedule of Queensland Reds Pathways Rugby will fill the next five weeks when the best teen talents in the State show their skills.
It all kicks off on Saturday with the Reds Under-16s and Under-19s in action at Canberra’s Viking Park in their respective Super Rugby Men’s competitions.
On the same day, the Queensland Reds Sevens side will take the field for Round One of the Next Gen Sevens Series at Forshaw Rugby Park on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Queensland Reds U19s
The Reds U19s have been hard at work training since the Queensland Premier Rugby season finished in early September.
Returning for a second season in the program, the likes of Trevor King, Charlie Brosnan and Callum Reidy will look to put their stamp on the competition in 2024.
They will have to do it without flyhalf Will Nason who sustained a series-ending injury at training last week. The Reds take on the reigning champions, the ACT Brumbies, in their first hit-out.
Queensland Reds U16s
The Reds U16s are looking to go one better in 2024 after finishing runners-up in last year’s competition. Spearheaded by Buildcorp Emerging Reds Cup Players of the Tournament Dylan Terblanche (backs) and Agapetos Lote-Felo (forwards), the U16s are ready to hit the ground running.
Most players have three recent ERC games under the belt plus a warm-up fixture against Queensland Fiji, where outside back Isaac Fidock excelled with three tries.
Both the U16s and U19s had to wait to kickstart their seasons after a bye in Round One. The full schedule is listed below.
Queensland Reds U15s
While not part of the Super Rugby competition, the Reds U15s representative side will take part in a two-match series against the NSW Waratahs. The first match at Ballymore Stadium on Saturday will be followed by a return bout in Sydney on Saturday, October 12.
Queensland Reds U14s Academy: Gold v Navy
For the first time ever, an U14 Reds Academy representative match will take place, with two sides selected following the culmination of the Buildcorp Emerging Reds Cup, when U14s was featured for the first time.
The Gold v Navy match will play as a curtain-raiser to the U15s Reds vs Waratahs game at Ballymore Stadium on Saturday.
This is an exciting fixture and is currently the highest representative level at which any 14-year-old rugby player can aspire to play with no other state currently offering anything similar.
Queensland Reds Sevens
The Queensland Reds Sevens girls will be tearing up the field in Sydney, Toowoomba and picturesque Byron Bay when the best women’s talent from Queensland and NSW clash. There will be three rounds of four matches, played across three consecutive weekends in October.
The standouts will earn an opportunity with Australia A in 2024-25 and enter conversations around Australia’s champion sevens squad.
Australia U18s
While not a Reds representative side, 12 of our brightest U18 prospects are in New Zealand for a two-match tour.
Wednesday’s 57-47 victory over the NZ Barbarians included some exciting highlights, including the two-try power of prop Kingsley Uys.
A far tougher match awaits against NZ Schools in Hamilton on Sunday.
Among the representatives are Reds Super Rugby Pacific squad member Frankie Goldsborough, vice-captain of the side, and Reds U19s representatives John Grenfell and Josh Takai.
HOW TO WATCH UPCOMING QUEENSLAND REDS PATHWAYS MATCHES
All Reds U16s and U19s fixtures can be streamed live and ad free on Stan Sport, while all Queensland Reds Sevens fixtures will be streamed for free on rugby.com.au or Rugby Xplorer.
The Australian U18s match in Hamilton will be streamed via the NZ Rugby YouTube channel.
Further streaming details for Reds U15s and the U14s Academy Gold v Navy match are to be confirmed.
QUEENSLAND REDS UPCOMING PATHWAYS SCHEDULE
Saturday October 5
Next Gen Sevens Series – Forshaw Rugby Park, Sydney
Rd 2 Super Rugby U16s & U19s
Reds v ACT Brumbies – Viking Park, Canberra
U16s – 11:05am
U19s – 1:05pm
Sunday October 6
Reds Academy U14s Gold v Navy – Ballymore Stadium
Kick-off 11:45am
Reds U15s v NSW Waratahs U15s – Ballymore Stadium
Kick-off 1pm
Australia U18s vs NZ Schools – FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off 1pm AEST
Saturday October 12
Next Gen Sevens – Toowoomba Sports Ground, Toowoomba
Reds U15s v NSW Waratahs U15s – Southern Districts Rugby Club, Sydney
Kick-off 12:30pm AEST
Sunday October 13
Rd 3 Super Rugby U16s & U19s
Reds v NSW Waratahs – Brisbane (Venue TBC)
U16s – 12:05pm
U19s – 2:05pm
Sunday October 20
Next Gen Sevens Series – Byron Bay Rugby Union Club, Byron Bay
Rd 4 Super Rugby U16s & U19s
Reds v Western Force – Revo Fitness Stadium, Perth
U16s – 11:05am
U19s – 1:05pm
Saturday October 26
Rd 5 Super Rugby U16s & U19s
Reds vs Melbourne Rebels – Ballymore Stadium
U16s – 12:35pm
U19s – 2:35pm
Saturday November 3
Super Rugby U16s & U19s Grand Finals – Ballymore Stadium
U16s – Kick-off TBC
U19s – Kick-off TBC
