The teams are starting to flow in for the opening round of the National Rugby Championship, and already there are some star-studded squads emerging.
The NSW derby kicks off proceedings on Saturday in a quadruple-header of NRC games that will all be live streamed right here on RUGBY.com.au.
The Vikings travel to Melbourne for their opener, before the two Queensland teams are involved in action in the last two games.
Brisbane City host the reigning champion Fijian Drua, while the impressive Western Force team host Queensland Country in Perth.
All games will be LIVE on RUGBY.com.au and Kayo sports, with NSW Country vs Sydney on Foxtel .
SCHEDULE
Saturday August 31. All times AEST
12pm - NSW Country vs Sydney, Apex Oval Dubbo, LIVE on RUGBY.com.au, Kayo and Foxtel
1:30pm - Melbourne Rising vs Canberra Vikings, Box Hill Rugby Club, Melbourne, LIVE on RUGBY.com.au and Kayo
3pm - Brisbane City vs Fijian Drua, GPS Rugby Club, Brisbane. LIVE on RUGBY.com.au and Kayo
5pm - Western Force vs Queensland Country, UWA Rugby Club, Perth, LIVE on RUGBY.com.au and Kayo
NSW COUNTRY vs SYDNEY
Junior Wallabies and the pick of Sydney club rugby have been called upon to join Waratahs players in the NSW derby in Dubbo on Saturday.
Skippered by Ned Hanigan, NSW Country will host the re-branded Sydney team - they're no longer run as the Rays - at Apex Oval.
Junior Wallabies Angus Bell, Will Harris, Joey Walton, Pat Tafa and Mark Nawaqaintawse are in the Country side, while Will Harrison and Ben Donaldson are in the Sydney team.
Champions Sydney Uni and runners-up Warringah are both well represented in the sides, too.
TEAMS
NSW Country to face Sydney
Angus Bell, David Vea, Matt Sandell, Nathan Den Houdt, Tom Staniforth, Ned Hanigan ©, Michael Icely, Will Harris, Jake Gordon ©, Mack Mason, James Kane, Joey Walton, Ben Woollett, James Turner, Tim Clements. Reserves: Aaron Blacklock, Cody Walker, Chris Talakai, Tom Nowlan, Pat Tafa, Jack Grant, Connor O'Shea, Mark Nawaqanitawase
SYDNEY
Rory O'Connor, Ed Craig, Sham Vui, Ryan McCauley, Tuitakau Kioa, Lachlan Swinton, Josh Kemeny, Jordan Goddard, Mitch Short, Will Harrison, Tyson Davis, Lalakai Foketi ©, Cam Clark, James Ramm, Ben Donaldson. Reserves: Declan Moore, Harry Rorke, Wayne Borsak, Jack Digby, Christian Poidevin, Jacob Abel, Trent Winterstein, Jaline Graham
Melbourne Rising vs Canberra Vikings
The Canberra Vikings have named a heavyweight backrow in a star-studded run-on XV for their opening NRC clash against Melbourne Rising.
Vikings coach Nick Scrivener has picked a starting XV that has twelve players with Super Rugby experience.
The backrow of Peter Samu, Rob Valetini and new Brumbies recruit Will Miller is particularly eye-catching.
In the backline, youngster Noah Lolesio will get the first chance to show he's got the goods to take over from Christian Lealiifano next year in the Brumbies no.10.
Meanwhile, Melbourne coach Pom Simona has leaned heavily on homegrown talent for the first Rising team.
Box Hill halves Delai Moto and Michael Maloney have been named to start, and club teammates Joseva Timani and Lolohea Loco will come off the bench
“It’ll be really interesting to see how Delai and Michael in particular step up from Dewar Shield rugby to the demands of NRC,” Pimona said.
🚨TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT
— Melbourne Rebels (@MelbourneRebels) August 29, 2019
Let's here it for our Round One Rising team!
Cheer them on this Saturday afternoon at RHL Sparks Reserve, Box Hill from 1:30pm.
Read more here: https://t.co/V2BIrIzwP7#NRC19 #RugbyVictoria pic.twitter.com/DPGrP5R8yp
“Their form this season at club level demanded our attention and it’s not until you test guys against the best that you’ll ever understand what they’re capable of."
Dewar Shield champions Melbourne Unicorns also feature four players in the matchday 23.
“Twelve of our guys played Dewar Shield this year, so many of these guys are already familiar with each other, either having played together as team mates or against each other," Simona said.
"They know each other’s games well."
TEAMS
Rising to face Vikings
Fereti Saaga, Anaru Rangi, Vaauli Faamausili, Ross Haylett Petty, Esei Hangana, Maciu Nabolakasi, Pat Morrey, Ikapote Tupai, Delai Moto, Michael Moloney, Ah-Mu Tuimalealiifano, Semisi Tupou, William Lewesi, Taylor Acheson, Justin Marsters. RES: Mahe Vailanu, Matt Gibbon, Tetera Faulkner, Will Clift, Joe Tamani, Reece Fuller, Rodney Iona, Lolohea Loco
Vikings to face Rising
Fred Kaihea, Connal Mcinerney, Jake Simeon, Darcy Swain (C), Blake Enever, Pete Samu, Will Miller, Rob Valetini, Ryan Lonergan, Noah Lolesio, Mack Hansen, Irae Simone, Tom Wright, Toni Pulu, Andy Muirhead. Reserves: Lachlan Lonergan, Bo Abra, Nick Dobson, Nick Frost, Angus Allen, Seamus Smith, Bayley Kuenzle, Andrew Robinson
Brisbane City v Fijian Drua
Brisbane City head coach Jim McKay has named an opening team blending youth and experience, and with a sprinkling of experienced youth, to take on Fiji.
Up to seven players will make their NRC debut, while another seven will run on for their first game in Brisbane City colours this weekend.
After leading the Junior Wallabies to a Grand Final appearance at the World Rugby U20s Championships in Argentina this year, flanker Fraser McReight has been named to captain the side.
Brisbane City head coach Jim McKay said: “There’s been a lot of work on and off the field from our staff and players in what has been a short preparation for this competition and we’re looking forward to our first opportunity to represent Brisbane City this Saturday.
“It’s going to be a really big day at GPS with the club’s junior breakup, so it should be a fantastic occasion with a really good crowd at Ashgrove.
“The NRC is a vehicle for players to showcase what they can do at the next level, and in our team, we’ve got a lot of outstanding club players who really deserve their opportunity.
“14 players out of our 23 can potentially make their Brisbane City debut, which shows that this competition is a way to reward players for their club form and it’s a really integral part of our development pathway.
Isaac Lucas will make his NRC debut at flyhalf for City after a successful rookie season with Queensland and the Junior Wallabies.
TEAMS
Brisbane City to face Drua
Ruan Smith, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Josh Nasser, Ryan Smith, Rob Puliuvea, Michael Wood, Fraser McReight (C) Seru Uru, Moses Sorovi, Isaac Lucas, Liam McNamara, Teti Tela, Hunter Paisami, Sefa Naivalu, Lawson Creighton. Reserves: Sean Farrell, Rhys van Nek, Dane Zander, Bradford Kapa, Adam Korczyk, Sam Wallis, Nick Chapman, Isaac Henry.
Fijian Drua to face Brisbane City
TBC
Western Force vs Queensland Country
Queensland Country head coach Rod Seib has named seven Reds, and former Australian Men’s Sevens representative Tom Lucas, in his side t9o take on the Force in Perth.
The Country team contain 13 players who have previously represented Queensland County in the NRC feature in the squad.
In the starting forward pack, fresh from an impressive Hospital Challenge Cup campaign, Easts prop Carter Ozanne will make his NRC and Queensland Country debut.
In the backs, Brothers flyhalf Rohan Saifoloi is the only player new to the Country fold, having previous NRC experience with NSW Country and the Sydney Rays.
“Heading into our first match against the Force it's great to have some consistency with our selections from previous years," Seib said.
“All bar one player within our starting XV have previous NRC experience and the majority of our team have all been core members of the Queensland Country squad over the past few seasons.
“We do have a contingent of players who are in line for their first taste of NRC Rugby and they’ve earned that opportunity through their performances in Queensland
“The Force will be a tough challenge to begin the season with. Obviously their squad has been together for some time playing in different tournaments and we’ll need to be prepared for hard clash at UWA on Saturday.”
The Force have named a very strong team, hardened by a series of Rapid Rugby exhibition matches this year and a clash against the Tongan Test team that saw the WA men only lose 19-15.
The quality of the Force side is seen by a bench containing experienced veterans Heath Tessman, Chris Alcock and Ian Prior. The Force back row of Fergus Lee Warner, Carlo Tizzano and Brynard Stander will be a dominant force.
TEAMS
Western Force to face Queensland Country
Cameron Orr, Andrew Ready, Chris Heiberg, Jeremy Thrush, Benjamin Grant, Fergus Lee Warner, Carlo Tizzano, Brynard Stander, Issak Fines Leleiwasa, Andrew Deegan, Jonah Placid, Nick Jooste, Byron Ralston, TBC, Jack McGregor. Reserves: Heath Tessmann, Harrison Lloyd, Dominic Hardman, Johan Bardoul, Chris Alcock, Tevin Ferris, Ian Prior, TBC
Queensland Country to face Western Force
George Francis, Efi Ma’afu, Carter Ozanne, Angus Blyth, Harry Hockings, Angus Scott-Young (c), Dillon Wihongi, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott, Rohan Saifoloi, Joey Fittock, Hamish Stewart, Patrick James, Filipo Dagunu, Jock Campbell. Reserves: Matt Faessler, Harry Hoopert, Bronson Fotuali’i-Tauakipulu, Jeremiah Lynch, Connor Pritchard, Reuben Wall, Carter Gordon, Tom Lucas.
