Super Rugby News
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Reds head coach Brad Thorn has announced his squad for the 2019 Super Rugby season.
In total, 27 players have been retained from Queensland’s 2018 squad, including Wallabies duo Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Scott Higginbotham, plus Bond University Queensland Country’s Harry Hoopert, Harry Hockings, Liam Wright, Tate McDermott and their captain Duncan Paia’aua.
17 players re-signed ahead of the 2019 season, including Wallabies representatives Taniela Tupou, Izack Rodda, Lukhan Tui, Caleb Timu and Samu Kerevi, in addition to Queensland Country stars Angus Blyth, Angus Scott-Young, James Tuttle, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Filipo Daugunu and Jordan Petaia.
Twins JP and Ruan Smith, plus their McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City team-mates Adam Korczyk and Moses Sorovi also re-signed in 2018, as well as Alex Mafi and Aidan Toua.
There’s also three new signings, all of whom have been selected from Queensland’s National Rugby Championship (NRC) teams, including 2018 Grand Finalist Queensland Country pairing Efi Ma’afu and Harry Wilson.
St.George Queensland Reds head coach Brad Thorn said: “We’ve managed to keep a fairly consistent squad for 2019. We’ve retained roughly 90 percent of the players we had last year, who have continually played with each other in both Super Rugby and in the NRC.
“A handful have been rewarded for their hunger and hard work during 2018. After coming through our Queensland Pathway we are pleased to see them get their opportunity and be a part of our Reds squad.
“The squad will be supported by an excellent coaching staff here at Ballymore and we’re excited for the challenge ahead in 2019,” said Thorn.
As announced earlier this month, Thorn will work alongside two new Assistant Coaches in 2019 following the return of Jim McKay as the Reds Attack Coach, plus the appointment of Peter Ryan as Defence Coach. While Tony McGahan will lead the Reds Academy as Head Coach, along with Paul Carozza in a newly created role as the Head of Talent Management to ensure the continued development of elite Rugby talent in Queensland.
Reds fans should also keep an eye out for further player announcements prior to the 2019 season, including a handful of Queensland Pathway products who will be handed Developing Squad contracts.
Reds 2019 Super Rugby squad:
Forwards: Harry Hoopert, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Taniela Tupou, Efi Ma’afu, Alex Mafi, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Blyth, Harry Hockings, Izack Rodda, Lukhan Tui, Scott Higginbotham, Adam Korczyk, Angus Scott-Young, Caleb Timu, Harry Wilson, Liam Wright
Backs: Tate McDermott, Moses Sorovi, James Tuttle, Hamish Stewart, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Samu Kerevi, Duncan Paia’aua, Filipo Daugunu, Will Eadie, Karmichael Hunt, Izaia Perese, Jordan Petaia, Aidan Toua
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@daffy-jaffy said in Super Rugby News:
Interesting to see Karmichael Hunt in there.
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@daffy-jaffy Another bad year for the Reds then. Can't say this team looks great, other than a few excpetions. Cheers for this though.
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@tim Just found this on Fox sports site re: Hunt -
KARMICHAEL Hunt has been named in the Reds squad for 2019 but Queensland Super Rugby fans shouldn’t get their hopes up of seeing the cross code star strut his stuff at Suncorp Stadium.The 31-year-old utility back remains contracted to the Reds and Rugby Australia next season but didn’t get on the park under zero tolerance coach Brad Thorn this year.
That looks set to continue next season despite the Reds listing the former Wallaby in a squad of 30 players on Wednesday.
Hunt’s inclusion appears to be purely a box ticking exercise and, tellingly, there was no mention of him in the Reds press release.
A Reds spokesman said “Karmichael Hunt is a Reds contracted player next season.”
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https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12149443
The Hurricanes look set to pounce on one of the Mitre 10 Cup's brightest stars for the 2019 Super Rugby season. The Herald understands the club is very interested in bringing Auckland winger Salesi Rayasi back home to Wellington. However, as much as they might want the young star in their system, the club were thought to only be offering Rayasi a spot in their wider squad, which means another team could swoop in on the young speedster and offer him a full contract by the time squads are announced on Wednesday. -
@kiwimurph We have too many big wing options. Rayasi can take Ben Lam's spot and he can go back to the Blues - his effort against Auckland in the semi final is someone that I wouldn't want anywhere near a team looking for a championship tilt.
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Can someone take Micheal Collins..?,after watching him in tonight’s game,I doubt he would in the top 10 fullbacks in Mitre 10 Cup rugby..
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@steven-harris Is he still signed to the Blues?
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If anyone hasn't heard already there is going to be a #SuperSigningDay on Wednesday.
Does anyone know how this is going to be played? Are they going to announce the full squads all at once or drip feed signing announcements during the day to try and create some excitement around the whole ordeal?
Crusaders fans are probably the only ones that won't need to listen in as their squad seems to pick itself. I think there will be a few surprises, more in omissions than in actual signings for the other squads. There will be plenty of pissed off players around the country that would have played well in Mitre 10 Cup but miss out due to squads already being filled before that comp started.
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@canes4life unfortunately like the coach he signed an extension for an extra year.
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@canes4life They teams will most likely announce their respective squads at once. Though each team at different times during the day. That's how it was last year anyway.
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@steven-harris A shame, as it will probably mean you guys will miss out on Manu & Rayasi, who could both follow similar paths in the mould of both Fekitoa & Naholo.
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@yeetyaah Makes sense, I remember back in the day when the announcements were a complete surprise. Biggest shock was when the Canes signed Ice at 19 years of age. Thought he would have been a lock in for the Blues at that stage.
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A guy like Matt Lansdowne could be a great signing. He looks like a classy Fullback that could go places if given the chance.
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Super Rugby Rumours: Highlanders first-five roundabout continues as Hurricanes nab Barrett backup
New Zealand's provincial season will come to a close on Saturday night and by the end of next week plenty of the competition's top performers will have found new homes at Super Rugby level.
Roe is expected to join the Chiefs while Jones – son of All Blacks great Michael – has reportedly been snapped up by the defending champion Crusaders. Rayasi, who was schooled at Wellington’s St. Patrick’s Siverstream, has been linked with a move home to join the Hurricanes.
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I'm not sure Roe is ready for SR yet but kind of ironic he gets poached by Tito and Taranaki and then makes the Chiefs (if true).
Iosefa-Scott has been a huge improver this year after me thinking he wasn't even NPC quality.
The Chiefs need to reward Tucker and McWhannell.
As to Reece, the AB7s could use him. He should be elligible next month.
