Reds side to play Sunwolves at Suncorp Stadium

May 19 • General News, Super Rugby • 1349 Views • Comments Off on Reds side to play Sunwolves at Suncorp Stadium

The St.George Queensland Reds have made a single change to the starting side for their historic clash against the Sunwolves at Suncorp Stadium this weekend.

Lock Cadeyrn Neville returns to the starting side for this weekend’s match, with Ben Matwijow shifting to the bench as a result.

The starting side also features Japanese Test players Hendrik Tui and Ayumu Goromaru, who will play on the same field as some of their international teammates for the first time since last year’s Rugby World Cup.

Reds co-interim head coach Matt O’Connor said: “We’ve managed to keep a fairly consistent side throughout the season and this weekend is no different.

“Ben has been doing a fantastic job in his starting role for a number of weeks, but we have the benefit of being able to bring in a guy like Cadeyrn, who is a talented footballer and gets an opportunity this weekend.

“The Sunwolves are a quality outfit who were unlucky not to beat the Stormers last week and had a great win over the Jaguares recently in Tokyo. We are excited to be back home at Suncorp Stadium in front of our home fans after two away games in New Zealand. We need to learn the lessons from the Crusaders and Hurricanes games and ensure we put out a season’s best 80-minute performance.”

The Reds host the Sunwolves at Suncorp Stadium this Saturday afternoon at 3:05pm in what is the Japanese side’s first clash on Australian soil since joining Asteron Life Super Rugby for the 2016 season.

Reds fans will be invited onto the field following the match, to help celebrate lock Rob Simmons’ milestone achievement of 100 caps for Queensland, which he reached last weekend against the Hurricanes in New Zealand. Tickets to the match are available at www.redsrugby.com.au.

St.George Queensland Reds side to play Sunwolves
3:05pm, Saturday 21 May, Suncorp Stadium

1. James Slipper (C)
2. Andrew Ready
3. Greg Holmes
4. Cadeyrn Neville
5. Rob Simmons
6. Hendrik Tui
7. Liam Gill
8. Curtis Browning
9. Nick Frisby
10. Jake McIntyre
11. Eto Nabuli
12. Anthony Fainga’a
13. Campbell Magnay
14. Chris Feauai-Sautia
15. Ayumu Goromaru

16. Matt Mafi
17. Sef Fa’agase
18. Sam Talakai
19. Ben Matwijow
20. Michael Gunn
21. James Tuttle
22. Duncan Paia’aua
23. Junior Laloifi

This season sees the return of charitable initiative ‘Be Great, Do Good’, with Reds teammates Cadeyrn Neville and Ben Matwijow wearing unique headgear each week to support different charities by raising funds and awareness for their cause.

The initiative was founded by Reds prop Ben Daley, who will continue to support the charities despite missing four months due to injury.

This week the players will wear headgear in support of the St.George Foundation, which has announced it will donate $5,000 to the Salvation Army, to support its ongoing relief efforts in the Kumamoto region of Japan, which suffered a series of earthquakes in April this year.