Bond University Queensland Country side named for Round 1 clash against Canberra Vikings
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading...Bond University Queensland Country head coach Brad Thorn has named his side for their Round 1 National Rugby Championship clash against the Canberra Vikings this Saturday, 2 September, at Viking Park.
The side features 11 capped St.George Queensland Reds, including captain Duncan Paia’aua, 17 returning Queensland Country representatives, as well as seven players with ties to regional Queensland.
In the front row, Reds players Sef Fa’agase and Alex Mafi will start alongside GPS prop Fred Burke, who has been rewarded for his Queensland Premier Rugby form throughout 2017.
Recent Wallaby debutant and vice-captain Izack Rodda will start at lock with former Bowen Mudcrab’s junior Harry Hockings, who will make his NRC and Queensland Country debut.
Reds Number 8 Caleb Timu will also make his NRC and Queensland Country debut, joined by Australian U20s representatives Liam Wright and Angus Scott-Young in the back row.
James Tuttle will start at scrumhalf as he enters his fourth season with Queensland Country, while Toowoomba product Hamish Stewart will feature at flyhalf in his NRC and Queensland Country debut.
Paia’aua and Chris Feauai-Sautia will start in the centers, while Reds wingers Eto Nabuli and Izaia Perese, alongside Brothers’ fullback Patrick James, will form the back three.
In the reserves, Alex Casey, Richie Asiata and Taniela Tupou will provide cover for the front row. Gold Coast lock Angus Blyth is in line for his potential NRC and Queensland Country debut, while Brothers stalwart Ted Postal will provide cover for the back row.
Souths duo Scott Malolua and Teti Tela will cover the inside backs, while Norths’ Veresa Mataitini is also in line for his potential NRC and Queensland Country debut.
Head coach Brad Thorn said: “We’ve been working hard over the last month since coming together as a squad, and we’ve put together a team for this first match with a mix of experience and talented players from both the 20s program and club Rugby.
“We have 17 players in the match-day 23 who’ve represented Country before, looking for improvement this year.
“Round 1 is a tough first game with the Vikings away, it will be a solid test against a side with a lot of Brumbies squad members.
“We’re keen to represent Queensland Country, taking a team-first mentality into everything we do from training to game day.”
The match between Queensland Country and the Canberra Vikings will kick-off at 3:00 pm, and will be LIVE streamed via www.foxsports.com.au.
The live stream can be accessed by any Fox Sports or News Limited subscriber, or digital memberships can be purchased via www.foxsports.com.au/fox-sports-subscription.
Queensland Country side to face Canberra Vikings:
- Sef Fa’agase – University of Queensland, Beaudesert
- Alex Mafi – Bond University, Mt. Isa
- Fred Burke – GPS
- Izack Rodda (VC) – Easts
- Harry Hockings* – University of Queensland, Bowen
- Angus Scott-Young – University of Queensland
- Liam Wright – Easts
- Caleb Timu* – Souths
- James Tuttle – GPS
- Hamish Stewart* – Bond University, Toowoomba
- Eto Nabuli – GPS
- Duncan Paia’aua (C) – Norths, Rockhampton
- Chris Feauai-Sautia – Souths
- Izaia Perese – Easts
- Patrick James*** – Brothers
Reserves
- Alex Casey – Souths
- Richie Asiata – Easts
- Taniela Tupou – Brothers
- Angus Blyth** – Bond University, Gold Coast
- Ted Postal – Brothers, Townsville
- Scott Malolua – Souths
- Teti Tela – Souths
- Veresa Mataitini** – Norths
*Denotes NRC and Queensland Country debut
**Denotes potential NRC and Queensland Country debut
***Denotes Queensland Country debut
Canberra Vikings verse Queensland Country; Viking Park, Canberra, 3:00 PM local time
Fans can LIVE stream this game via www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/nrc/live-stream or download the FOX SPORTS App.
FOX SPORTS digital subscription can be purchased via www.foxsports.com.au/fox-sports-subscription
It costs $1 for the first month then $4.99 every month and includes:
NRC LIVE AND UNINTERRUPTED: Watch two NRC matches live each round, exclusive to your subscription
FULL REPLAYS OF EVERY GAME: Relive every NRC match, available only 12 hours after the final whistle
Related Posts
« Rob Simmons signs with Australian Rugby and NSW Waratahs McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City side to play Fijian Drua »
