Izaia Perese returns for Bond University Queensland Country ahead of Andy Purcell Cup clash

Oct 6 • General News, International • 1220 Views • Comments Off on Izaia Perese returns for Bond University Queensland Country ahead of Andy Purcell Cup clash

Bond University Queensland Country centre Izaia Perese will return to the Country line-up for the team’s final match of the 2016 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC) season against Brisbane City at Ballymore Stadium.

This Sunday’s match will see the two Queensland NRC sides go head-to-head for the Andy Purcell Cup, providing Queensland Country with the chance to finish the 2016 season with some silverware.

Country are yet to hold the Andy Purcell Cup, with Brisbane City claiming the spoils in the first two seasons of the competition.

“This Sunday’s match is a chance for the Country team to finish the season on a high,” said head coach Toutai Kefu.

“Contesting a trophy named after Andy Purcell, who was a stalwart of the game in Queensland and one of the founding fathers of the Queensland Country Rugby Union, our team will carry a lot of passion and pride into the match as we continue to represent the wider Queensland Country Rugby community.

“We secured a solid win over the ladder leaders NSW Country last weekend and we’ll look to carry that form into this weekend’s clash against Brisbane City.”

Perese’s inclusion in the starting XV has seen Wests captain Tyrone Lefau shift to the wing, and Darling Downs product Liam Jurd to the reserves. In the forwards, Tyrell Barker has been promoted to the starting line-up in place of Brad Thorn.

In the reserves, Easts prop Kirwan Sanday and former Port Douglas junior Issak Fines-Leleiwasa return to the match day 23 while former Barron Trinity Bulls junior Patrick Morrey has also been named and is in line for his NRC and Queensland Country debut.

“This Sunday is a great chance for the Queensland Rugby community to get out and see some of the best young talent in the state go head-to-head,” Kefu said.

“While results haven’t gone either sides way in 2016, some of the young Reds squad members including Duncan Paia’aua, Perese, Taniela Tupou and Izack Rodda have benefited greatly from their exposure to the higher level of competition and their experience will serve them well as they head into the 2017 season.”

Queensland Country play Brisbane City at 2:00pm (AEST) on Sunday. Tickets are available via www.redsrugby.com.au, and entry for children 15 years and under is free.

Bond University Queensland Country side to play Brisbane City, Ballymore Stadium, 2:00pm AEST, Sunday 9 October:

Ben Daley – Reds/Bond/Gold Coast
Alex Casey – Souths
Taniela Tupou – Reds/brothers
Izack Rodda – Queensland U20s/Easts
Tyrell Barker – Easts
Ted Postal – Brothers/Townsville
Maclean Jones – Queensland U20s/University of Queensland/St George
Angus Scott-Young – Queensland U20s/University of Queensland
James Tuttle (C) – Reds/GPS
Mack Mason – Queensland U20s/Easts/Mitchell
Liam McNamara – Queensland U20s/Sunnybank
Duncan Paia’aua – Reds/Norths/Rockhampton
Izaia Perese – Reds/Easts
Tyrone Lefau – Wests
Tom Banks – Reds/University of Queensland

Reserves

Feleti Kaitu’u – GPS
Sef Fa’agase – Reds/University of Queensland/Beaudesert
Kirwan Sanday – Easts
Patrick Morrey – University of Queensland/Cairns (Potential NRC and Queensland Country debut)
Liam Wright – Queensland U20s/Easts
Isaac Fines-Leleiwasa – Sunnybank/Port Douglas
Mitch Third – Bond University/Gold Coast
Liam Jurd – Queensland U20s/University of Queensland/Toowoomba