Five members of the Australian Defence Force will form part of the backbone to the Queensland Reds pack in Super Rugby Women’s this season.
No.8 Sarah Riordan, prop Bree-Anna Browne, lock Deni Ross, hooker Ella Hopper and prop Jordan Neal have all been signed for the 2026 season which kicks off in June.
In work hours as Corporal Riordan, Sergeant Browne, Lance Corporal Ross, Lieutenant Hopper and Private Neal, the five women display many of the same traits that make them such strong assets in rugby.
“Many of the values and traits you need as a soldier transfer easily to another part of our lives as rugby players,” Riordan said.
“Discipline, resilience, teamwork, working hard in a very physical job…you use those values in both roles.
“I do have a sense of pride seeing five Army women in the squad from the Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera.”
Riordan’s experience in such a young Reds squad is invaluable.
At 33, she’s been a Wallaroo and played for Queensland in the first Super W season in 2018.
Likewise, Browne is a seasoned Wallaroos prop who showed her resilience by returning to Reds action last season after major knee surgery.
The experienced Ross is back from a stint playing and advancing her rugby with Leicester Tigers in England.
Hopper and Neal are new faces to the Reds squad and will add strength to the front-row.
Browne has enormous passion for Queensland and to see the women’s program improve after last year’s strides to the grand final.
“The development of the players we have and to see the women’s program gaining momentum are things that excite me,” Browne said.
“Being a sergeant, there’s a leadership that comes with that and I feel I can be a voice at certain times for the girls.
“Pre-season has been really good. Knowing lots of players have been in training since October gives a great foundation going into a June-July season.
Browne read the Ode of Remembrance at the Anzac service before the Reds vs Blues game at Suncorp Stadium in Super Rugby Pacific in 2024. Riordan had the honour last year.
Riordan said the poignancy of Saturday’s Reds vs Blues match in Christchurch on Anzac Day at Super Round was strong.
“Personally, I feel the meaning of Anzac Day as a serving member and with my own family history. I had a great uncle in the 28th Maori Battalion, who died in the Battle of 42nd Street on Crete (in 1941),” Riordan said.
For Neal, the excitement of this Reds chance has been bubbling away since she first took the major step to uproot her life in Townsville to commit to challenging for a spot.
“It was a massive decision and a surreal moment to jump in the car in December for the drive to Brisbane knowing it was to have a full-on crack,” Neal said.
“I’m grateful to everyone who helped me get a posting in Brisbane.
“I got spotted playing for Queensland Country and had a taste of the training environment with the Reds for the match in Narrabri (at the Santos Festival of Rugby last September).
“It’s been insane really to make the decision to get out of my comfort zone and feel the satisfaction of the improvements that are coming in pre-season training.”
Reds Head Coach Andrew Fraser said the five women gave the Reds squad something more than the sum of their individual skills.
"First and foremost, how good to see young women serving our country," Fraser said.
"All five have unique skills but collectively they bring something extra with the standards for our program, the camaraderie, the discipline and selflessness.
"We identified Jordan in the country. Mobile, ball-carrying front-rowers are what every coach is looking for.
"Ella has experience with the Brumbies and has relocated back to Brisbane. She will be part of the very competitive hooking spot.
"Deni has returned from England with all she has learnt in the UK system and her stats for Leicester demonstrated the hard work she was putting in.
"Bree-Anna has been selected to our leadership group which says a lot. She has a real passion for Queensland.
"Sarah is tough and uncompromising and open about the level of physicality we need this year.
"These women will be a strong part of our forward depth."
