Kerevi Leads Reds in Tens

Brisbane: Samu Kerevi will captain the Queensland Reds at the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens next month when exciting new faces Liam Wright, Tate McDermott and Filipo Daugunu will trial for Super Rugby time.

The 26-man Reds squad named yesterday reflects the transitional nature of Queensland rugby with a youthful squad named around Wallabies Kerevi, one-Test prop Taniela Tupou, James Slipper and Kane Douglas. Toweriing lock Izack Rodda, advancing well after last season’s shoulder reconstruction, and Scott Higginbotham, the favourite to be Queensland’s Super Rugby skipper after an off-season nursing a neck nerve issue back to health, are missing from the Tens line-up. The day-night tournament on February 9-10 at Suncorp Stadium will be a perfect vehicle to assess the options that new coach Brad Thorn has to work with for the Super Rugby season.

“The Tens provides a good opportunity for the players to put into action what they’ve worked on throughout the preseason,” Thorn said.

“We’ve got three pre-season fixtures this year, we felt it was important to give everyone an opportunity to showcase their skills. It’s a good reward for their hard work.

“Last year’s tournament was fast and physical and provided a good challenge a couple of weeks out from the season. No doubt the guys are looking forward to getting out there in front of our home fans.”

Centre Kerevi is excited about the potential of fellow Fijian product Daugunu, a star on the wing in last year’s National Rugby Championship with his speed and footwork.

Wright is the young openside flanker whose potential prompted Wallabies coach Michael Cheika to take him on the tour of Japan and Europe last year as a development player.

The pint-sized McDermott is a former sevens player with plenty of spark at halfback.

The Reds have been drawn in Pool A, alongside Australian-conference rivals the Melbourne Rebels, the Blues from Auckland and Top League finalists the Panasonic Wild Knights from Japan. The Reds’ kick off against the Blues at 2:43pm on February 9 followed by the Rebels at 6:27pm. Their final pool match is against the Wild Knights at 1:15pm on February 10.

This year’s tournament will also feature four women’s teams.

Reds squad for Tens: James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Sef Fa’agase, JP Smith, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Blyth, Harry Hockings, Kane Douglas, Angus Scott-Young, Michael Gunn, Liam Wright, Tai Ford, Reece Hewat, James Tuttle, Moses Sorovi, Tate McDermott, Hamish Stewart, Nick Jooste, Teti Tela, Tony Hunt, Samu Kerevi (C), Filipo Daugunu, Jayden Ngamanu, Izaia Perese, Lachlan Maranta.

Centre Kerevi is excited about the potential of fellow Fijian product Daugunu.