GPS First XV rugby
GPS First XV rugby: It is a case of family ties with the son of a gun captain of Terrace and a debut for a Nudgee First XV player whose name is familiar to First XV devotees.
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It is one of the most famous school rugby jerseys in the country and how appropriate Xavier Stiles will be at the head of the pack when he leads his team on wearing Terrace The Brave’s jumper tomorrow against BSHS.
After all Stiles epitomises what the Terrace rugby program is all about - he is an effort player, an honest toiler who never strays from the tough task ahead.
Head coach Michael Broad said Stiles was the ideal captain of a squad which also had Angus Munn and Archie Xavier as vice-captains.
“Xavier is a very honest and hard working player who is always supportive of his teammates,’’ Broad said.
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“He is a model of servant leadership. Xavier always puts others first and is always looking to help both players and coaching staff.
“He is also proactive if he believes something needs addressing within the squad or with his ideas.
“Xavier was appointed First XV captain due to his strong leadership skills; his rugby knowledge, ability and experience at that level; and the respect he has from his peers and team management.’’
As a player Stiles is also a chip off the old block.
His father Nick, a loose head prop, played 12 Tests and well over 100 matches for Queensland, including 68 in Super Rugby.
Like his dad, Stiles is no front row giant, but has a great technique, is effective in the pick and drive and fearless at the advantage line when carrying the ball or supporting a fallen teammate.
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Stiles’ Terrace will play BSHS in a round which will see unbeaten Churchie travel to The Southport School, another unbeaten side BGS play IGS, and Brisbane Boys College host Nudgee College.
The Nudgee clash will be an exciting time for several families, including Archie Condon who gets a start at No.10 in his debut.
Condon is a well known name around the halls of Nudgee College, because his father and uncles all played First XV in the early 90s.
Out of the disappointment of losing centre ace Rob Toia for the season (knee), a great opportunity has been presented to another Nudgee player, Tariq Tanner at outside centre.
By the look of how Tanner played as a second half replacement for Toia last week, the youngster just has to be himself to get the job done, because he did well considering the circumstances.
While Toia successfully attacked by cutting back on the inside before his unfortunate departure, Tanner twice attacked to the outside to deliver perfect passes that sent his winger away on long runs.
Brisbane Grammar School were also disrupted last week - but at least their disruptions came before kick off.
Following several changes prior to the game, flanker Samuel Mellick, halfback Will Shaw and fullback Angus Tolhurst made their debuts.
Tolhurst, who has retained his place for this Saturday’s clash, was a key figure in BGS’s First XV premiership run earlier in the season and last Sunday he returned to the scene of some of his finest moments in cricket - but this time to help BGS home in its First XV clash against BSHS.
He has his cricketing mate, fast bowler and rugby centre Will Sheedy, in the First XV.
Mellick and Will Shaw (No. 9) drop out of the side, having done a wonderful job to keep the show on the road for BGS.
It takes more than a First XV to be successful. and clerarly BGS have depth this season given the endeavours of Mellick and Shaw.
For BSHS, it will be special moment for two students and their families, prop Siale Mahina and winger Jonty Deans, with both on debut.
It will be a huge day for the home side, with State High Day being celebrated.
And for Churchie, flanker Archie Smith will make his run on debut after coming off the bench for the first three games.
THE TEAMS
BSHS v TERRACE
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. Joe Clifford, 12. Angus Kelly, 13. Nick Lawrence, 14. Maika Poese, 15. Nick Dunstan.
BSHS: 1, Charlie Tagicakibau, 2, Jakeb Horne, 3, Siale Mahina, 4, Jack Anderson, 5, Joesph Pona, 6, Dominic Punivalu, 7, Doug Kennar - Captain, 8, Jack Gordon, 9, Tobias Riley , 10, Tauava Leofa, 11, Jonty Deans, 12, Netani Lesimaikimatuku, 13, Hayden Miller, 14, Toshi Butlin, 15, Dredyn Takave. Res: 16, Joel Broderick, 17, Riion Baker, 18, Devon Taulepa, 19, Zachery Hope, 20, Timoti Mackey, 21, Siliva Leofa, 22, Seamus Boakes, 23, Jasper Benson
TSS v CHURCHIE
TSS: Declan Faulkner, 2. Blaze Moana, 3. Caleb Laifoo, 4. Harry Ward, 5. Fergus Gillan, 6. Amare Millard, 7. Billy Wellard, 8. Nick Hilton (vc), 9. Fraser Cowan, 10. Spencer Alock, 11. Mason King, 12. Jye Gray (c), 11. Blake Ruaporo, 15. Keahn Skipps.
Churchie: 1. Diamond Fifita, 2. Toby Kennedy, 3. Archie Smith, 4. Alex Kerr, 5. Ben Daniels, 6. Hugo Lumber, 7. Thomas Stoddart, 8. Charlie Brosnan, 9. Archie Wilson, 10. Charlie Johnstone, 11. Connor Simpson, 12. Dre Pakeho, 13. Frankie Goldsbrough, 14. Mac Kelley, 15. Will Herbert
IGS v BGS
IGS: 1. Benjamin Pula-Fatu, 2. Ayrton Holmes, 3. Jared Beazley, 4. Oscar Afflect, 5. Ned Kendall, 6. Lyncoln Cliffe, 7. Dian Minnie, 8. David Leota, 9. Nathan Fraser, 10. Jack Hocking, 11. Matt Barrow, 12. Stanley Huen, 13. Israel Leota, 14. Rhys Woods, 15. Kohen Briggs
BGS: 1. Jack Willson, 2. Nick Hatzipetrou, 3. Rowan Tong-Law, 4. Will Pascoe, 5. Charlie McCauley, 6. Thomas Doe, 7. Xavier Craig, 8. Liam McGregor, 9. Ned Madden, 10. Ryan Shaw (c), 11. Shannon Simpson, 12. Will Allen, 13. Will Sheedy, 14. Lewis Strachan, 15. Angus Tolhurst
BBC v NUDGEE
BBCS: 1. Jacob Job, 2 Cooper Hoare, 3. Regin Pratt, 4. Harrison Angel, 5. Monty Martin, 6. Toby Macpherson (C), Seta Jovic-Peu, 8. Taisia Leaupepe, 9. Jamie Alexander, 10. Oscar Shaw, 11. Ryder Ah Fook, 12. Xavier Rubens, 13. Delacruz Ripley, 14. Samson Tuqiri, 15
Daniel Malum.
Nudgee: TBC 1. Rory Beech, 2. Will Rogers, 3. Luke O’Sullivan, 4. Griffin Schostakowski, 5. Jack Harley, 6. Patrick Dallimore, 7. Cooper Cameron, 8. Liam Le Blanc, 9. Inigo Lawrence, 10. Archie Condon, 11. Kai Combarngo, 12. Maddox Maclean, 13. Tariq Tanner, 14. 15. Tory Bath
ROUND 4
BSHS v GT
TSS v Churchie
IGS v BGS
BBC v NUDGEE
TGS: Bye
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