Four Goulburn Men and two Goulburn Women have been selected in Brumbies Country teams that will play Brumbies City teams for selection in the ACT & Southern NSW Griffins and Kestrels teams.
The 2023 Brumbies Country men’s and women’s squads have been selected following the Brumbies Provincial Championships at Poidevin Oval on 10 June.
Despite Monaro winning the Brumbies Provincial Championships, SIRU edged out Monaro for most selections (10) with Monaro players taking nine spots and South Coast one.
In the women’s team, 13 Southern Inland players were selected and eight from South Coast-Monaro.
ACT Brumbies Representative Program Manager, Tony Abel said that, following an exciting weekend at the Brumbies Provincial Championships, ACT Brumbies were pleased to unveil their Brumbies Country Squads.
“Coaches have watched on closely this season and spent time rewatching footage from last weekend, and two strong teams have been selected,” Mr Abel said.
“City vs Country is a vital part of our Representative Program, with the best of the region competing for places in the ACT and SNSW Griffins (Men’s) and Kestrels (Women’s), so we can’t wait to see our regional talent unleashed against Brumbies City later this year.”
The Griffins and Kestrels will compete against for the Australian Rugby Shield against representative teams including NSW Country Cockatoos, Queensland Country Heelers, FNQ Outback Barbarians, Tasmanian Jack Jumpers, South Australia Black Falcons, Victorian Axemen and Perth Gold. The Griffins won the 2022 Shield with a 34-31 win over NSW Country Cockatoos.
With over 10 weeks until the City-Country matches, players from outside of the selected members have the opportunity to move into the squad in the event of injury or unavailability. 4-5 shadow players will be added to each squad as cover.
The teams named so far are as follows:
ACT BRUMBIES COUNTRY (MEN)
Oscar Cunningham – Monaro (Goulburn)
Aaron Kearns – Monaro (ADFA)
Thomas Blanch – Southern Inland (Wagga City)
Will Mooney – Monaro (Goulburn)
Jacob Nielsen – Southern Inland (Wagga City)
Matthew Spratley – Monaro (Goulburn)
Liam Pepper – Monaro (Jindabyne)
Christian Apoua Mata’afa – Southern Inland (Tumut)
Jack Ketteringham – Southern Inland (Tumut)
Ethan Muller – Monaro (ADFA)
Vincent Wise – Southern Inland (Tumut)
Alec Palmer – Monaro (Goulburn)
Timoci Meya – Southern Inland (Tumut)
Matthew Caldwell – Monaro (Jindabyne)
Lachie Day – Southern Inland (Wagga Waratahs)
Joel Salusalumas – Southern Inland (Tumut)
Alex Meades – Southern Inland (Wagga Ag College)
Tomasi Vaulacua Nabuliwaqa – Southern Inland (Wagga City)
Riley Turner – South Coast (Braidwood)
Dylan Johnson – Monaro (Jindabyne)
Head Coach: Nick McCarthy
ACT BRUMBIES COUNTRY (WOMEN)
Brooke Melavirta – South Coast-Monaro (Bungendore)
Cornelia Tanielu – Southern Inland (Griffith)
Emma Hickey – Southern Inland (Reddies)
Lauren Harris – Southern Inland (Wagga Waratahs)
Jessica Simpson – Southern Inland (Wagga City)
Yolanda Forsyth – Southern Inland (Wagga Waratahs)
Rhianna Burke – Southern Inland (Wagga Waratahs)
Ngakahikatea Hills-Amory – Southern Inland (Wagga Waratahs)
Tessa Good – Southern Inland (Wagga Ag College)
Milly Lucas – Southern Inland (Wagga Waratahs)
Biola Dawa – Southern Inland (Reddies)
Georgie Lindsay – Southern Inland (Wagga Waratahs)
Georgia Chalmers – South Coast-Monaro (ADFA)
Amy Fowler – Southern Inland (Wagga Waratahs)
Josephine O’Brien – South Coast-Monaro (Goulburn)
Rebecca Harris – South Coast-Monaro (Bungendore)
Ulamila Kuboutawa – Southern Inland (Wagga Waratahs)
Jaimee Patton – South Coast-Monaro (Bungendore)
Jordan Brooker – South Coast-Monaro (Goulburn)
Lana Bobbine – South Coast-Monaro (Bungendore)
Taylah Frost – South Coast-Monaro (Yass)
Head Coach: Richard Skellern
