Category Archives: Super Rugby Pacific

Brisbanerugby, Reds Rugby, Super Rugby Pacific

Winners Are Grinners

April 12, 2026 CJ Leave a comment

After being blown out of the park in their last two outings, Les Kiss’ men finally showed the Suncorp faithful that they are genuine Super Rugby Pacific contenders. Having the Hurricanes put 50+ points on them at the Cake-tin, and then the Western Force a further 40+ at home, the Reds’ dressing room was a lot happier place to be last night after defeating last year’s premiers, the Crusaders 31-26, for the first time since 2012. In Filipo Daugunu’s 100 Super Rugby cap, he showed that he is a world-class winger, scoring a try of his own. Kiss said in the post-match conference that his versatility from 12 to 15 makes him a valuable asset.

Filipo Daugunu on his 100th Super Rugby cap. Photo Courtesy of David Kapernick @brisbanerugby

16,000+ were on hand to witness two great adversaries throw everything, bar the kitchen sink, at each other in the muggy conditions at the Cauldron. The men from Christchurch opened the scoring through Vice-Captain, Christian Lio-Willie, in the 5th minute after both teams had been playing expansive rugby from the kick-off. Lang Park has been a favourite hunting ground for the Crusaders since their loss in the Super Rugby final in 2011. However, the ghosts of that era were on hand to inspire the Reds, including Digby Ioane, Scott Higginbotham, Jake Schatz, and James Hansen, as the Reds beat the Crusaders twice that year. Reds Captain Courageous, Fraser McReight, drew on that energy, having been a young schoolboy in the crowd that night. Ioane was proudly watching his former team break a 19-all deadlock in the last 10 minutes with a Daugunu runaway try in the 73rd minute to lead 24-19. Memories of Will Genia running away with a break to 50 metres out to break a 13-all deadlock 15 years ago to win the Super Rugby title.

Will Genia match winning try 15 years ago in the Super 12 final in 2011. Photo courtesy of Reds Rugby

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18RCoxjQcY

Reds Rugby, Super Rugby Pacific

Back to the Drawing Board

April 8, 2026 CJ Leave a comment

12,248 faithful watched our beloved Reds get schooled by the men from the west at Suncorp last Saturday night. This can only be described as a total capitulation. The armwrestle from the beginning appeared that both sides were here to rumble; however, Fraser McReight’s men couldn’t produce the goods and bring home the Easter chocolates. Queensland teams of the past, such as the 2011 Super Rugby Champions, who are celebrating their 15-year anniversary at Suncorp Saturday night, have always prided themselves on defence. Simon Cron’s selection proved a point: Les Kiss must rally his troops, as it doesn’t get any easier hosting the Canterbury Crusaders this Saturday at Lang Park. Kick-off is 7.35pm (remember daylight saving has finished).

The Western Force were the first to cross the paint to lead 7-0 with Argentine rep, Viaolini Ekuasi, in the 11th minute. Soon after, the men in Red equalled the score with a well-executed move off a lineout by birthday boy Treyvon Pritchard, replacement, Tim Ryan, aka the Junkyard Dog. He went through untouched near the posts off a first-phase ball from a lineout. Carter Gordon tied the score at 7-all with the successful conversion. They added to their total due to the smarts of Kalani Thomas to put workhorse Joe Brial crossing the chalk in the 24th minute. The first half finished with ex-Red, Matt Grealy, receiving an offload from captain Nick Champion de Crespigny to score, with Ben Donaldson converting in the 39th minute to go to the break 21-12.

Ben Donaldson was the form five-eighth on the night, bettering his opposite, Carter Gordon. The return of Dylan Pietsch is great for the Wallabies, but he did some damage against the Reds ‘Wallaby-studded backline, running it up strongly. The Western Force just showed more passion to get their Super Rugby Pacific 2026 season back on track.

At half-time, down 12-21, it was anyone’s game, but the Western Force just showed more passion to get their Super Rugby Pacific 2026 season back on track. Led by Captain Nick Champion de Crespigny, the Force played a textbook match, schooling the Reds at their fortress, winning 42-19. Argentinian lock, Franco Molina, scored a double hat-trick.

New signing Nic Champion de Crespigny. Photo courtesy of the West Australian.

Brisbanerugby, Reds Rugby, Rugby Australia, rugby union, Super Rugby, Super Rugby Pacific

Reds Holdout Fijian Drua to Remain Undefeated

March 15, 2022 CJ Leave a comment

Heading in to Round 5 of Super Rugby Pacific, only the Brumbies and the Reds remain undefeated. They face off against each other this Friday in Canberra to see which team remains undefeated for the 2022 season. The matchup between Tom Banks and Jordan Petaia at fullback will be interesting ahead of Wallaby selection. Petaia played a great game there for the Reds in his first chance to run on with the 15 jersey. Both in attack and defence he imposed himself as a real contender for the Wallaby role there.

Petaia’s try saving tackle courtesy of Super Rugby Pacific

An injury ravaged Reds held out Fijian Drua at the weekend, ironically, it was a Fijian in Seru Uru that saved the Reds from an embarrassing result. Up four tries to nil with 15 minutes to go it looked like the Reds were heading for a bonus point victory until the visitors scored three unanswered tries in quick succession. With less than 10 minutes remaining on the clock the scores were locked at 28-all before Uru reached over from a maul to score a five-pointer taking the score to 33-28 to the Reds. That is not where the drama ended as Uru stole a lineout off the Fijians on the Queensland line at the fulltime mark to deny them drawing level or even winning.

Coach Brad Thorn said, “For our team, a game like that can be a challenge because there’s space and there’s opportunities but you’ve almost got to rein it in a little bit.

“Keep your patience, don’t overplay – that’s probably how I would assess that.”

Uru’s (pictured above) standout performance has made Thorn’s job a little bit harder this week with the expected return of captain Liam Wright in the position Uru was playing. It’s really a good headache to have knowing that the Reds have depth and that the guys will really put in for each other when their chance comes. That depth will be really tested on Friday when they come up against the Brumbies that are also in red hot form.

Super Rugby Pacific

Reds Are Ready to Rumble in 2022

January 27, 2022 CJ Leave a comment

The Queensland Reds begin their campaign against the Melbourne Rebels at their fortress, Suncorp Stadium, on February 19th. Winners of Super Rugby AU last season they will be looking to extend this form into the expanded inaugural Super Rugby Pacific competition. Due to ongoing restrictions with Covid 19 they will play all the Australian domestic matches, including newcomers Fijian Drua, in the first half of the draw with the Trans-Tasman matches in the second half. Similar to last year the New Zealand matches, including newcomers Moana Pasifika, will be at the back end and it’s here where the Queensland Reds want to improve on their solitary win against our Kiwi brothers.

Preseason training at Ballymore has been hot and humid over the summer which will have the boys rearing to go. They have two trial matches against the Western Force and NSW Waratahs, both of which will now be played in Queensland. Firstly, they will play a closed trial against the Western Force at Ballymore that will be live-streamed to Reds’ email subscribers on February 5th. A week later, on February 12th, the Roma Echidnas will host Queensland verse New South Wales as the centrepiece of the second annual Santos Festival of Rugby.

Due to his breakout year with the Wallabies last year, 23-year-old Tate McDermott (below), will assume co-captain duties with Liam Wright (above). Reds coach Brad Thorn said: “They both embody what it means to be a ‘Reds Man’ -they’re humble and hard-working who uphold the standards of the maroon jersey.”

McDermott said: “It is a tremendous honour to be announced as a co-captain of the Queensland Reds alongside Liam Wright.

“To be etched into the fabric of Queensland Rugby, in company with many former great captains of the game, is something my family and I will forever treasure. Upon reflection of my initial chat with Thorny, our job now turns to unleashing the untapped potential within our side.”

Brisbane Rugby.com