The Queensland Reds women’s team will audition a new flyhalf on Sunday when Akira Kelly plays against the ACT Brumbies in a trial in Canberra.
Kelly, 25, has a versatile background in rugby and rugby league and will bring those instincts and skills to the action on Sunday.
The trial will give Reds Head Coach Andrew Fraser an invaluable look at his blend of experienced, developing and new talent ahead of next month’s kick-off to the Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s season.
The Reds can today announce winger Charlie Brigstocke, hooker Mary Tuaana, centre Briana Dascombe and Samoan World Cup back Harmony Vatau as signings to complete their 32-strong roster for the season.
All will have roles to play in Canberra. Flyer Brigstocke will start on the wing with Vatau at outside centre. Tuaana and Dascombe will be used off the extended bench.
Just as she guided the Ipswich Jets league team with aplomb from halfback last year, Kelly has already shown her organising traits from No.10 in pre-season training at the Reds.
In rugby, Kelly played two games of Super Rugby Women’s for the Brumbies in 2023 after teenage exposure to sevens for both Sydney club Randwick and the NSW squad.
Kelly revealed it was the urging of Wallaroos prop Eva Karpani that persuaded her to have a crack at Super Rugby Women’s this season.
“Eva gave me a push. It’s really exciting to get started with the Reds. We definitely have strike players out wide so part of my job is to get the ball to them,” Kelly said.
“The more sessions we have, the more I’m getting used to the calls and patterns we are running.”
The Reds backline for the trial has a new look built around experienced Wallaroos fullback Lori Cramer and former Wallaroos halfback Sarah Dougherty.
Recent Wallaroos debutant Ava Wereta has been paired with Vatau in the centres. The pacy Piper Flynn and flyer Brigstocke will start on the wing.
Young talents Kaelyn Passi, Charity Wightman-Beaven and Aroha Spillane plus the experienced Dascombe will get opportunities off the bench.
This Reds announced the signing of two powerhouse props this week.
Karpani, the 2025 Shannon Parry Medal-winner, will start on Sunday. Fellow tighthead Tanya Kalounivale, the 29-Test Black Fern, will enter the game from the bench.
The starting Reds pack has plenty of Super Rugby Women’s experience with Wallaroos Karpani and Bree-Anna Browne as props for hooker Roni Setu.
Deni Ross, fresh from a stint with English club Leicester, and strong-running Vineta Teutau are the locks. In the backrow, skipper Jemma Bemrose, Zoe Hanna and Tiarna Molloy will start.
Recent Wallaroos debutant Dillyn Blackburn will be high impact from the bench at lock or in the backrow.
“We are all keen to get started. We’ve been quietly preparing for a long time because our last hitout was in Narrabri at the Santos Festival of Rugby last September,” Fraser said.
“To now have our Wallaroos and sevens players fully involved, Sunday gives us a good chance to see how our prep has gone.
“Zoe, Tiarna and Jemma are all returning to the backrow from long-term injuries so we are looking forward to unleashing their powers and assessing where they are at.”
The Reds have a second trial against the Fijian Drua at Ballymore Stadium on May 31 before opening the regular season against the Brumbies at Ballymore on Sunday, June 7.
Sunday, May 17
Venue: University of Canberra, 1:05pm
1 Bree-Anna Browne - Brothers
2 Zophronia Setu - University of Queensland
3 Eva Karpani - Bond University
4 Deni Ross - Brothers
5 Vineta Teutau - Brothers
6 Jemma Bemrose (c) - Bond University
7 Zoe Hanna - Bond University
8 Tiarna Molloy - Brothers
9 Sarah Dougherty - GPS
10 Akira Kelly - Bond University
11 Charlie Brigstocke - GPS
12 Ava Wereta - Bond University
13 Harmony Vatau - Sunnybank
14 Piper Flynn - Easts
15 Lori Cramer - University of Queensland
16 Mary Tuaana - Wests
17 Jordan Neal - Brothers
18 Tanya Kalounivale - GPS
19 Hayley Glass - University of Queensland
20 Lucy Thorpe - Bond University
21 Dillyn Blackburn - Wests
22 Sarah Riordan - Brothers
23 Evie Sampson - Bond University
24 Charity Wightman-Beaven - University of Queensland
25 Aroha Spillane - University of Queensland
26 Briana Dascombe - Easts
27 Kaelyn Passi - Bond University
