The Queensland Reds have announced their Super Rugby Pacific, Super W and AON Next Gen Sevens squads for this weekend’s third annual Santos Festival of Rugby in Narrabri.
All three teams will be in action at Narrabri Rugby Club, with the men’s and women’s XVs sides taking on the New South Wales Waratahs in pre-season trials and the Sevens outfit featuring in Round 2 of the Next Gen Sevens Series.
For the men, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor and Suliasi Vunivalu will feature in their first match of 2023, as Queensland strive to defeat the Waratahs for the first time in the Festival of Rugby’s history.
Head coach Brad Thorn said: “It’s great to be back in Narrabri this week. We enjoyed our time there in 2021.
“We had a tough hit-out against the Force last weekend. There’s plenty to work on which is what trials are about.
“The Waratahs have beaten us in this game the past two years. They’re going to bring a strong challenge on Saturday and we’re looking forward to it.”
Super W head coach Simon Craig has named a 24-woman squad for his side’s first trial of 2023.
Nine players who are uncapped at Super W level will feature, while Wallaroos Bree-Anna Cheatham, Madi Schuck, Tiarna Molloy, Cecilia Smith and Ivania Wong will play in what is the Super W side’s first outing at the Santos Festival of Rugby.
Simon Craig said: “We’ve named a strong squad for this weekend’s trial match against NSW.
“We’re looking forward to taking part in the Festirval of Rugby and playing a tough opponent in the Waratahs, this match will help us get a good indication of where we’re at as a squad after a long pre-season.
“We have a lot of returning players heading in 2023, but we also have a few new faces who have emerged from Queensland Country Rugby and Queensland Premier Rugby, as well as some girls who have joined us for New Zealand. It will be great to see them all in action for the first time this weekend.
“After coming together in November, we’ve been working hard on the field and in the gym over the last few months and I’m confident that our squad are well prepared for a big season ahead, but trial game minutes will be valuable for both coaches and players as we look to establish combinations and cohesion within the group.
“It will be a great celebration of Rugby in Narrabri, with the Reds men and Reds Women, both XVs and 7s, all together at the one location.”
After starting their campaign with three wins and a draw at Bond University last month, the Queensland Next Gen Sevens side have been bolstered by a number of Aussie Sevens stars for the second leg of the tournament.
Olympic, Commonwealth Games, World Cup and World Series winner Charlotte Caslick is set to pull on the Reds jersey, while her national teammates Teagan Levi, Lily Dick, Isabella Nasser and Faythe Manera will also feature.
Head coach Reg Tayler said: “As a squad we’re lucky to bring back some experienced players and Queensland Academy of Sport graduates who have been performing on the World stage for Australia.
“This weekend our aspiring players will be able to line-up alongside the likes of Charlotte Caslick, Lily Dick and Teagan Levi, which will be invaluable for them as they continue to develop individually as well as in a team environment.
“We had a great tournament in Round 1 of the Next Gen Sevens, and we want to continue to build upon our performances heading into Round 2.
“Now that our Sevens program is officially under the Reds banner, this is a great opportunity on the weekend for all Reds teams, men and women, to play at the same venue and come together.”
Both the Super Rugby Pacific and Super W clashes will be broadcast live on Stan Sport, while the Next Gen Sevens competition will be live-streamed via Rugby Xplorer.
The Santos Festival of Rugby will feature a huge amount of Rugby content, as well as live entertainment from country music stars Brad Cox and Casey Barnes. Tickets available via https://bit.ly/3DHmYWq.
- Connor Anderson – Wests – Brisbane State High School – Everton Park Roosters
- Richie Asiata – Easts – Anglican Church Grammar School
- John Bryant – Souths – St Laurence’s College – Souths
- Sef Fa’agase – Sunnybank – Shailer Park State High School – Beaudesert Warriors
- Matt Faessler – Brothers – Toowoomba Grammar School – USQ Saints
- Lopeti Faifua – Wests – Saint Kentigern College, Auckland
- Luke Jones – Wests – St Pius X College – St Ives Rugby Club
- Fraser McReight – Brothers – Brisbane Grammar School – Albany Creek Brumbies
- Zane Nonggorr – Bond University – The Southport School – Gold Coast Eagles
- Peni Ravai – Easts – Ratu Kadavulevu School, Fiji
- Ryan Smith – Brothers – St Patrick’s College Shorncliffe – Caboolture Snakes
- Phransis Sula-Siaosi – Souths – St Joseph’s Nudgee College
- Seru Uru – Wests – Ratu Kadavulevu School, Fiji – Namoli Rugby Club, Fiji
- Harry Wilson – Brothers – St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace – Gunnedah Red Devils
- Liam Wright – Easts – Anglican Church Grammar School – Easts
- Dane Zander – University of Queensland – St Joseph’s Nudgee College – Albany Creek Brumbies
- Floyd Aubrey – GPS – Marist College Ashgrove
- Lawson Creighton – Brothers – Padua College
- Filipo Daugunu – Wests – Dogotuki District School, Fjii
- Josh Flook – Brothers – St Joseph’s Nudgee College – Brothers
- Isaac Henry – Wests – Brisbane Boys College – Kenmore Bears
- Tom Lynagh – University of Queensland – Epsom College – Richmond Rugby Club
- Tate McDermott – University of Queensland – Sunshine Coast Grammar School – Flinders Rugby Club
- James O’Connor – Brothers – St Joseph’s Nudgee College – Brothers
- Hunter Paisami – Wests – Mangere College, Auckland
- Jordan Petaia – Wests – Brisbane State High School
- Kalani Thomas – University of Queensland – Ipswich Grammar School – Souths
- Suliasi Vunivalu – Wests – Saint Kentigern College, Auckland
Watch live via Stan Sport
- Alapeta Ngauamo – GPS – St James College Brisbane
- Bree-Anna Cheatham – Wests – St Augustine’s College
- Deni Ross – Wests – Oak Hill College
- Haidee Head – Easts – Lourdes Hill College
- Hana Lane – Wests – West Island School, Hong Kong
- Joana Rabaka – Sunnybank – Nadi College, Fiji
- Madi Schuck – Easts – Alexandra Hills State High School
- Megan Prinsloo – Nambour Toads – Coolum Beach State High School
- Miki Trbojevic – GPS – Freshwater Senior Campus, Sydney
- Tazmin Sheppard – Bond University - Budehaven Community School, Cornwall UK
- Theresa Soloai – Easts – Holland Park State High School
- Tiarna Molloy – Easts – Warialda High School, NSW
- Tina Campbell – GPS – St Hilda’s School, Gold Coast
- Brianna Dascombe – Wests – Fairholme College, Toowoomba
- Caitlin Urwin – University of Queensland – St Patrick's College, Gympie
- Cecilia Smith – Sunnybank – Leeton State High School, NSW
- Ellie Draper – Souths – Carmel College
- Heleina Young – GPS – St Joseph’s Secondary School, Suva, Fiji
- Ivania Wong – Sunnybank – Balmoral State High School
- Meg Jakins – Roma – Fairholme College, Toowoomba
- Melanie Wilks – Bond University – Beerwah State High Schools
- Renae Nona – Sunnybank – Cavendish Road State High School
- Sam Curtis – College Rifles – Waimea College, New Zealand
- Sarah Lewis – GPS – Xavier Catholic College, Hervey Bay
- Terri-Anne Egan – Sunnybank – Marymount College, Gold Coast
Watch live via Stan Sport
- Lily Dick – Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators – Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School
- Sidney Taylor – University of Queensland – Murrumba State Secondary College
- Isabella Nasser – University of Queensland – Brisbane State High School
- Faythe Manera – Bond University – Helensvale State High School
- Charlotte Caslick – Wests – Brisbane State High School
- Teagan Levi – Bond University – Miami State High School
- Kaitlin Shave – University of Queensland – Clairvaux MacKillop College
- Ivana Lolesio – Easts – Aquinas College
- Piper Flynn – Easts – Kings Christian College
- Amahli Hala – Bond University – Kings Christian College
- Fleur Ginn – Stretton State College
- Nat Wright – University of Queensland – St Peter’s Lutheran College
- 12:20pm – Queensland v New South Wales
- 2:00pm – Queensland v AON Rising Stars
- 2:25 pm – Queensland v AON Rising Stars
- 3:45pm – Queensland v New South Wales
Watch live via Rugby Xplorer
- 1:20pm – AON Next Gen 7s kick-off
- 1:45pm – Vintage Barbarians vs Narrabri Pickled Porkies – 15 min halves
- 2:25pm – Narrabri Boars v Roma Echidnas Women’s 10s
- 3:30pm – Narrabri Boars v Roma Echidnas Men’s
- 5:00pm – New South Wales Country v Queensland Country Women’s
- 7:30pm - NSW Country v QLD Country Men’s
- 8:50pm – Brad Cox performance
- 2:05pm – AON Next Gen 7s kick-off
- 5:15pm – Super W – New South Wales Waratahs v Queensland Reds
- 7:45pm – Super Rugby Pacific – New South Wales Waratahs v Queensland Reds
- 9:30pm – Casey Barnes performance
