Bond trial a different formula

BOND University’s campaign to turn around their Queensland Premier Rugby fortunes will begin with a pre-season trial against Easts.

After a horror year in which they took the wooden spoon, Bond have been vocal about their aspirations to be playing finals footy in 2018.

They will get their first chance to see their flock of recruits in full flight on February 24 against the Tigers.

That outing will be followed by a two-day camp on March 3-4 at Lake Ainsworth in Lennox Head before further trials.

Among the teams they will face in the lead-up to Round 1 (against Wests on March 24) is Tokai Uni from Japan and Sydenham from New Zealand.

Bond have a new head coach this season in Grant Anderson and have welcomed a series of new players.

Meanwhile, the Robina club fielded three representatives – Tai Ford, Angus Blyth and Hamish Stewart – in the Queensland Reds side that made it to the semi-finals of the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens on Saturday.

The Blues pipped fellow New Zealand franchise the Hurricanes 10-7 in the final to win the second-year tournament.