GPS First XV Rugby 2022: Players to Watch, teams, season draw
Who are GPS First XV Rugby 2022 Players to Watch? WE REVEAL 21 OF THE MOST PROMISING ROOKIES, along with round 1 teams ahead of today’s season openers.
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The time-honoured, powerhouse GPS First XV season will swing into action today, Saturday.
It is a stronghold of Australian rugby, a wonderful breeding ground and the bedrock of Queensland teams past, present and future.
There is also an early season blockbuster, with Nudgee College hosting The Southport School, but all grounds will be abuzz with the colour, excitement and atmosphere that only a First XV clash can bring.
Terrace have a huge match against Churchie in what will be an emotional return to Tennyson after flood damage, country cousins TGS take on neighbours IGS and BBC host BSHS.
The www.couriermail.com.au will report on the season each Saturday early evening.
THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL
Jye Gray:
The dynamic attacking player is coming off some red hot form having captained the Queensland Rugby League Schoolboys team to the ASSRL Championship.
Gray’s next mission is to led TSS to the GPS title.
He will play fullback in defence to counter attack, and inside centre when TSS attack.
Nick Hilton:
Hilton is a seasoned third-year player who will lead TSS from the front. The No.8 is an inspiring leader both on and off the field.
BRISBANE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Ryan Shaw:
This is Shaw’s second season in the First XV. He will play fly half and lead his team as captain.
Shaw has come through the BGS pathway, first playing the our school in the under 12 A’s.
He is a brave defender who can also threaten the defence with the ball in hand. His father Will is a former Queensland Reds hooker.
Liam McGregor:
McGregor can play in all three positions in the back row and has a high work rate in both attack and defence.
He has also come through the BGS pathway, first playing for in the under 11’s as a year five boy.
Charlie McCauley:
McCauley is a second-year member of the First XV. He played for the Queensland under 18’s side who took on Melbourne and New South Wales in June.
He’s a strong ball carrier and an improver on defence.
ST JOSEPH’S GREGORY TERRACE
Xavier Stiles:
Stiles, son of ex-Wallaby prop Nick Stiles, will captain the GT First XV this year. His scrummaging and damaging pick-and-drive play will be a force.
Stiles was on the bench as a Grade 10 in 2021, and returns stronger as a second year selected player this season.
Angus Munn:
No.8 Angus Munn will play his third year of First XV rugby this season.
He is a good ball carrier and is busy around the ground.
Archie Xavier:
Second year First XV halfback Archie Xavier reads the game brilliantly.
He will direct his troops and deliver great service from the ruck.
ST JOSEPH’S NUDGEE COLLEGE
Robert Toia #13
With a strong fend, the ability to step off both feet, and an athletic frame, Toia is an absolute handful when carrying the ball.
Toia, a Queensland U19 State of Origin representative, will be one of the most exciting stars this season as he straps the boots up for his third year in the First XV.
Luke O’Sullivan #3
O’Sullivan has gone from strength to strength through the pre-season trials and has emerged as a genuine tight head scrummager who has and will cause opposition front rows plenty problems.
He played in the Queensland Reds U18 Academy White side in June.
Tory Bath #15
Bath is electric with ball in hand. He goes from 0-100 in the blink of an eye and also has the ability to distribute when required.
The rugby league young gun played in the under 18 National championships, scoring two tries in the final for Queensland.
Liam Le Blanc #8
Le Blanc is a work horse who is tough and very effective on both sides of the ball.
He hits hard in defence and can also break the line with his well timed ball carries.
The rugby league talent was recently selected in the Australian Schoolboys side off the back of a strong showing for Queensland at the under 18 national championships.
Brisbane Boys’ college
Toby MacPherson:
MacPherson has been honoured with the captaincy of Brisbane Boys College, the 2020 GPS champions. He is returning for his second year of First XV rugby.
Xavier Rubens:
The Year 11 is returning for his second year of First XV rugby. He was selected in the Queensland under 18 White team which played in June.
Toowoomba Grammar School:
Wihan Kruger: Also a member of the TGS First XI, Kruger is a second season First XV rugby player coming off playing for the Queensland under 18 White team. He is a very skilled playmaker with an educated boot and ball carrying ability.
Xander Jacobs: Another second year 1st XV player who has been impressive in the pre-season. Xander is a backrower with the ability to carry the ball effectively using his physicality and footwork and is also effective on the defensive side of the ball, forcing multiple turnovers in the pre-season.
Anglican Church Grammar School:
Thomas Stoddart:
Position: Open side flanker
This season, Thomas Stoddart will continue a strong family rugby playing tradition as captain of rugby and captain of the First XV.
He will bring to bear his leadership and playing skills to the Churchie team after a year in the Firsts and an under 16 Qld Reds selection under his belt last year.
Stoddart is highly regarded as being a leader through action. On the field he possesses the ability to win moments or create big opportunities through a strong carry or his breakdown work.
Ipswich Grammar School:
Jack Hocking. The 2022 vice-captain, Hocking will be playing his second year of 1st XV for IGS. He will lead from the middle and be the glue of the IGS team.
Benjamin Pula-Fatu: Pula-Fatu is fresh off a run with the under 18 Queensland Reds and he will be a force through the middle. Also in his second year of First XV, his size and strength will help him dominate over teams.
ROUND 1 TEAMS
Churchie: 1. Diamond Fifita, 2. Toby Kennedy, 3. Emil Willie-Jawai, 4. Alexander Kerr, 5. Ben Daniels, 6. Joseph Stoddart, 7 Thomas Stoddart (captain), 8. Hugo Lumber, 9. Archie Wilson (vice-captain), 10. Charlie Johnstone, 11. Connor Simpson, 12. Dre Pakeho, 13. Frankie Goldsbrough, 14. Mac Kelley, 15, Will Herbert
Terrace: 1. Xavier Stiles, 2. Toby Weston, 3. Addison Pfaender, 4. Xavier Grambower, 5.Tom Robinson, 6. Noah Clifford, 7. Charlie Cooke, 8. Angus Munn, 9. Archie Xavier, 10. Will Balke, 11. Harry Lane, 12. Angus Kelly, 13. Nick Lawrence, 14. Maika Poese, 15. Nick Dunstan
TSS: 1. Dechlan Faulkner, 2. Blaze Moana, 3. Caleb Laifoo, 4. Harry Ward, 5. Fergus Gillan, 6. Amare Milford, 7. Billy Wellard, 8. Nick Hilton (v-c), 9. Fraser Cowan, 10. Spencer Adlock, 11. Cooper Nelson, 12. Jye Gray (captain), 13. Blake Ruaporo, 14. Blake Raymond, 15. Keahn Skipps
Nudgee: 1. Rory Beech, 2. Will Rogers, 3. Luke O’Sullivan, 4. Griffin Schostakowski, 5Jack Harley, 6. Patrick Dallimore, 7. Cooper Cameron, 8. Liam Le Blanc, 9. Inigo Lawrence, 10. Jake House, 11. Kai Combarngo, 12. Maddox Maclean, 13. Robert Toia, 14, Rocco Gollings, 15. Tory Bath
Brisbane Grammar School: 1. Jack Willson 2. Nick Hatzipetrou 3. Rowan Tong-Law 4. Will Pascoe 5. Charlie McCauley 6. Liam McGregor 7. Xavier Craig 8. Lachlan Mackay 9. Ned Madden 10. Ryan Shaw (captain) 11. Lewis Strachan 12. Will Allen 13.Will Sheedy 14. Harry Dutton 15. Ben Mooney
Brisbane Boys College squad: Jacob Job, Cooper Hoare, Regin Pratt, Harrison Angel, Monty Martin, Toby Macpherson (captain), Seta Jovic-Peu, Nathan O’Neil, Jamie Alexander, Oscar Shaw, Ryder Ah Fook, Xavier Rubens, Lahbron Tamanika, Samson Tuqiri, Daniel Malum, Jack Packer, Will Meads, Avery Thomson, Tyler Mayberry, Cooper Eagle, Tom Loray, Stanley Keats, Andrew Godden
Ipswich Grammar School: 1. Ben Pula-Fatu, 2 William Parmenter, 3.Jared Beazley, 4.Ned Kendall (Captain), 5. Raife McKenzie, 6. Ayrton Holmes, 7.Dian Minnie, 8.Oscar Affleck, 9. Nathan Fraser, 10. Jack Hocking (Vice Captain), 11. Matt Barrow, 12. Stanley Huen,
13. Malachi Vaigalu, 14. Jaidyn Cody, 15. Kohen Briggs
Toowoomba Grammar School:1. Henry Ford, 2. Ewald Kruger, 3. Matt Price, 4. Charlie Horn, 5. George Griffiths, 6. Xander Jacobs, 7. Joe Johnston, 8. Oliver Chaffey, 9. Zack Lane, 10. Wihan Kruger, 11. Will Holley, 12. Bud Smith, 13. Chace Oates, 14. Richard Dean, 15. Will Nason
Brisbane SHS: 1. Charlie Tagicakibau, 2. Jakob Horne, 3. Riion Baker, 4. Joesph Pona, 5. Zac Hope, 6. Dominic Punivalu, 7. Douglas kennar (captain), 8. Jack Gordon, 9. Tobias Riley, 10. Tuave Leofa, 11. Toshi Butlin, 12. Siliva Leofa, 13. Hayden Miller, 14. Jasper Benson, 15. Dredyn Takave
SEASON DRAW
ROUND 1
NC v TSS
BBC v BSHS
TGS v IGS
GT v ACGS
BGS bye
ROUND 2
BGS v BSHS
NC v TGS
GT v BBC
ACGS v IGS
TSS bye
ROUND 3
TSS v TGS
BGS v GT
ACGS v NC
IGS v BBC
BSHS bye
ROUND 4
BSHS v GT
TSS v ACGS
IGS v BGS
BBC v NC
TGS bye
ROUND 5
TGS v ACGS
BSHS v IGS
BBC v TSS
NC v BGS
GT bye
ROUND 6
GT v IGS
TGS v BBC
NC v BSHS
BGS v TSS
CGS bye
ROUND 7
ACGS v BBC
GT v NC
BGS v TGS
TSS v BSHS
IGS bye
ROUND 8
IGS v NC
ACGS v BGS
TSS v GT
BSHS v TGS
BBC bye
ROUND 9
BBC v BGS
IGS v TSS
BSHS v ACGS
TGS v GT
NC bye
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