Fijiana inks deal with Reds

AUSTRALIAN-BORN Rooster Chicken Fijiana 15s prop Siteri Rasolea and Ema Masi has been named in the 41-woman squad for the Queensland Reds for the 2023 Buildcorp Super W season.

The team has a mix of experienced campaigners and new faces, featuring 26 previously capped Reds, ten capped Wallaroos including returning 2022 captain Shannon Parry.

Also included in the squad is former Fiji secondary schools sprint champion Heleina Young and another Fijian Ana Rabaka.

According to the club website, coach Simon Craig, has identified a number of players who have emerged from Queensland Premier Rugby, as well as two players — Nambour Toads backrower Megan Prinsloo and Roma Echidnas fullback Meg Jakins — who have been selected off the back of their performances for the Queensland Country Orchids.

“I believe we’ve put together a really strong Academy squad leading into the 2023 season,” he said.

“We have a strong contingent of the 2022 cohort returning, whilst we’ve also identified new talent from the Queensland Premier Rugby competition and Country pathways.

“We’ve also worked closely alongside the Queensland Academy of Sport Women’s Sevens program and we will see a few players transition across to XVs which will be exciting.

“From this group we will select our final Reds squad for the Super W campaign.”

The 2023 Buildcorp Super W draw will be announced later this year and will again see the Queensland Reds play a home-andaway schedule of matches against the other Australian Super Rugby franchises as well as the Fijiana.