St.George Queensland Reds squad named for tour to South Africa and Argentina
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Loading...The St.George Queensland Reds have announced a 27-man squad for their two-week tour of South Africa and Argentina.
The squad departs from Brisbane tomorrow for the tour and will face the Lions in Johannesburg on Sunday 19 March at 1:15am (AEST) and the Jaguares in Buenos Aires on Sunday 26 March at 7:40am (AEST).
The squad features the 23 players from last night’s match against the Crusaders, along with prop Kirwan Sanday, lock Lukhan Tui, Number 8 Leroy Houston and centre Henry Taefu.
The uncapped Sanday, who trained with the Reds throughout pre-season, has been brought into the tour squad as an injury replacement for Sef Fa’agase, who was a late withdrawal from last night’s match due to a calf injury.
Lukhan Tui, Houston and Taefu are yet to get a run in the Reds’ match-day 23 this season and will be looking at the tour as an opportunity to push their claims for selection.
Reds head coach Nick Stiles said: “Last night was tough for everyone, but there was enough in our performance to be excited about what’s to come from this group. We’re not happy with being thereabouts.
“The next two weeks are an important time in the development of this side. We’ve faced some adversity in the first few weeks of the competition, but we’ve also shown some growth. It’s a great opportunity to get away together as a group and really challenge each other to get the best out of ourselves.
“The Reds have struggled on this tour in recent years, but there is a genuine hunger and desire within this group to return home with something to show for our hard work.”
Next weekend’s match against the Lions will be the Reds’ first since 2015, which they lost 18-17 at Suncorp Stadium. The two sides have met 19 times in the history of Super Rugby. The Reds have beaten the Lions 13 times and had one draw.
The Reds’ trip to Argentina will be the side’s first since Queensland Rugby Union took a development tour there in 2005. It will also be the first time the Reds have played the Jaguares, who entered the competition in 2015.
St.George Queensland Reds squad for two-week tour of South Africa and Argentina
Props
Kirwan Sanday (uncapped) – Easts
James Slipper (C) – Bond University
Sam Talakai – Brothers
Taniela Tupou – Brothers
Markus Vanzati – Souths
Hookers
Stephen Moore – University of Queensland
Andrew Ready – Easts
Locks
Kane Douglas – Norths
Izack Rodda – Easts
Rob Simmons – Sunnybank
Lukhan Tui – Souths
Loose forwards
Scott Higginbotham – Wests
Leroy Houston – Wests
Adam Korczyk – University of Queensland
George Smith
Hendrik Tui – Norths
Scrumhalves
Nick Frisby – GPS
James Tuttle – GPS
Flyhalves
Quade Cooper – Souths
Jake McIntyre – Sunnybank
Centres
Samu Kerevi – Souths
Duncan Paia’aua – Norths
Henry Taefu – Sunnybank
Outside backs
Karmichael Hunt – Norths
Chris Kuridrani – GPS
Eto Nabuli – GPS
Izaia Perese – Easts
*The QRU Media Unit will send regular audio feeds, VNRs and photos from South Africa and Argentina. Media schedule to follow
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