GPS First XV rugby’s family ties: Sons, brothers of guns named, Round 3 team lists
It’s Family Ties time in GPS First XV rugby union, with sons and brothers of guns evident across the elite schoolboy competition. See who carries a famous surname from your old college here ahead of round 3.
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If you glance through the GPS First XV rugby teams from rounds one and two, the chances are you will come across a familiar surname.
The competition is littered with the sons or brothers of guns and highlighted here are some of the more notable last names ahead of a bumper round three that will see unbeaten teams Nudgee College and Ipswich Grammar School clash at Ross Oval.
In other matches, Toowoomba Grammar host Brisbane Grammar, Gregory Terrace play The Southport School and Brisbane State High host Brisbane Boys’ College on school grounds.
Playing on the school oval is an opportunity not lost on the BSHS boys because it very rarely happens. When it does, a spectacle ensues.
There are family ties aplenty in the BSHS outfit and one of the most notable is that of representative hooker Cyrus Suniula.
Suniula is a rare breed because he played Colts 1 club rugby for Sunnybank last year as a 16-year-old and he embodies the underdog mindset that typifies the BSHS program.
Suniula, who turns 18 later this year, is of Samoan and Maori heritage and the formidable front-rower is just trying to one day be better than his parents.
Suniula’s mother Hana Ngaha, 36, was an 11-Test Wallaroo prop who also attended BSHS. When Cyrus plays, Hana is often providing pointers during and after the game.
Cyrus’ father, Shalom Suniula, a flyhalf or centre, played for the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby (MLR), and for the United States national rugby sevens team. He also played 18 tests for the USA and featured in 41 sevens competitions.
Shalom, who lives in The States, is also the brother of Andrew Suniula and Roland Suniula, who both have played for the United States national teams.
If Cryus, who was born in New Zealand before moving to Australia aged four, is not picked up by a Super Rugby team he may just follow in his father’s footsteps and play rugby overseas.
NUDGEE COLLEGE VS IPSWICH GRAMMAR
NC: 1. Tito Hamala, 2. Isaac Rauluni, 3. Levi Slater (captain), 4. Bennett Armistead, 5. Declan McGuire, 6. Ben Di Donna, 7. Harry Bate, 8. Teina Graham, 9. Will Reardon, 10. Archie Mesritz, 11. Barry Taukolo, 12. Bond Bradley, 13. Billy Spicer, 14. Oliver Patterson, 15. Noah Fien.
IGS: 1. Tyler Riddell, 2. Caleb West, 3. Lance Po-Ching, 4. Ranel Filipine, 5. Mostyn Bowen, 6. Tom Smith, 7. Lane Edmonds, 8. Tannar Baker, 9. Jack Garnier, 10. Tyson Walker, 11. Hemi Rakuita, 12. Brock Coombes, 13. Finn Kendall, 14. Leo Briggs, 15. Marlon Frost (C).
Nudgee College return to action looking to prevent an IGS party on Ross Oval.
They are loaded with sons and brothers of guns.
Hooker Isaac Rauluni is the second oldest of four brothers to have plied their trade at the school.
Premiership-winning flanker Noah, the eldest who finished in 2023, has been running amok in Colts 1 for Easts.
Their younger brother Eli, a winger, is just dynamite. He is warming his engines on the bench for now and his time will come.
A fourth Rauluni, 14As flanker Joseph, will soon come to light as well.
Their Father Jacob, a Reds staple and Fijian international during the late 90s and early 2000s, ironically went to Brisbane State High and none of his sons have taken up the prized scrumhalf role.
At fullback, Noah Fien is on a path to stardom like his father once was.
His father Nathan is the current assistant coach of the Dolphins and has played a combined 277 NRL matches for the Cowboys, Warriors and Dragons.
Noah has a younger brother, Levi, who is also a young high achiever.
There are family ties aplenty on the bench.
Backline utility Chilli Smith, who made his debut in round 1, is the son of Brian Smith.
Smith, also a flyhalf, played six games for Australia and attended BSHS.
Lock-forward Jack Burton is the son of James Burton, a national rowing representative during the late 90s and early 2000s.
Nudgee College interchange forward Koby Washington is also the son of a gun. His father Will, nicknamed ‘Washo’, played professional rugby in Japan.
Squad member James Hannan is also the son of Josh Hannan who played First XV rugby at Nudgee College in 1994.
Ipswich Grammar also have a cast of their own with ties to high-achieving relatives.
The most well known is flyhalf Tyson Walker.
Walker is of course the son of Ben who played 138 NRL matches. His uncle Chris played for the Queensland Maroons and his other uncle Shane (178 games) was also an NRL veteran.
Chris had speed to burn as an outside back, Shane was a dummy half and Tyson’s father Ben was a goalkicking halfback, like Tyson is in rugby league.
Tyson’s grandfather Gary was also a 1980 BRL premiership winner with the Norths Devils and was reputedly on the cusp of State of Origin selection in 1981 before the selectors opted for another player.
Tyson’s older brother Sam was a star during the 2018 season for IGS and the Sydney Roosters halfback is making his way back from a thumb injury.
Ipswich Grammar’s scrumhalf, Jack Garnier, is also the son of a gun. His father Laurant played rugby league for the Catalans Dragons in France during the 1990s.
In the outside back division, thoroughbred No.13 Finn Kendall is the middle child of three Kendall’s who have progressed through the IGS rugby program.
Finn’s older brother Ned, the 2022 First XV captain, played as a lock or backrower at school and played Colts 1 rugby at Wests.
The youngest, second rower Tom, currently plays in the 16As.
Unfortunately Finn just missed being teammates with Ned and played his first season in 2023 while Tom will likely play Firsts next year but Finn will have graduated.
On the wing, young Leo Briggs is fast like his older brother Kohen.
Outside back Kohen played First XV footy earlier this decade and was a part of a star 2022 class that featured players like Israel Leota (Broncos), Stanley Huen (Storm), Jack Hocking (Scotland Under-20s) and Lyncoln Cliffe (Bulldogs).
TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR VS BRISBANE GRAMMAR
TGS: 1. Arch Campbell, 2. Ruben Kruger, 3. Harrison Humphreys, 4. Ben Walker, 5. Rupeni Baravilala (co-captain), 6. Craig Thaggard**, 7. Tom Hiscock**, 8. Rhymen, Tusi, 9. Jack Brown, 10. Cooper Brown, 11. Petelo Maka, 12. Luke Burrow (co-captain), 13. Adam Davis, 14. Matthew Johnston , 15. Myles Rosemond.
BGS: 1. Jed Siganto, 2. Noah Gaffney, 3. Owen Begley, 4. Arki Wackwitz, 5. Lewis Brinkworth, 6. Jevahnissi Vevesi, 7. Lincoln Dalton, 8. Dyer Akauola, 9. Ralph Labor, 10. Bas Stoneley, 11. Kalan Breen, 12. Harper Enasio, 13. Sas Chinula, 14. Henry Slatter, 15. Ned Horton.
Brisbane Grammar were ever so close to beating Churchie last week but their ill discipline opened the door for Angus Underwood (Churchie) to make them pay with three penalty goals.
They have a second chance on Saturday against TGS in what is shaping up to be a huge clash on Old Boys’ Oval.
The battle of the locks, fought between Lewis Brinkworth (BGS) and Rupeni Baravilala (TGS), will be entertaining given both were respective Melbourne Rebels and Queensland Reds Under-16s selections last year.
In the BGS team, loosehead prop Jed Siganto is the younger brother of 2024 team of the season selection Tom Siganto, a centre.
Winger Kalan Breen, a tough and tenacious Year 10 student, is also the younger brother of 2025 senior Elijah Breen.
Kalan, a very good Australian rules footballer, is bringing energy for both of the Breen’s while Elijah recovers from an ankle injury.
At fullback for BGS is Ned Horton. His older brother Flynn was a three-year First XV scrumhalf earlier this decade and their father, Matt, was the school’s First XV halfback back in the 1980s.
Off the bench, Hamish McKay will be looking to make an impact.
His brother Lachie, the 2021 BGS Sportsman of the Year awardee, did that playing both rugby and cricket during his time at the school.
Hamish, a backrower morphing into a prop, is the barrel-chested skipper of the mighty 16As who is only just getting started.
TGS have their fair share of sons of guns.
Toowoomba Grammar blindside flanker Ethan Ramsay is the younger brother of Olympian swimmer Ella Ramsay and the son of Heath Ramsay, a butterfly specialist from Ipswich who competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Ella, a breaststroke prodigy from St Peters Springfield, competed in an array of events at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
TGS hooker Ruben Kruger is continuing a fine family tradition by playing multiple years in the First XV.
The Grade 11’s older brother Ewald played hooker for the First XV in 2022 and 2023 and is now in the Brumbies Academy.
The eldest, flyhalf Wihan, finished in 2022 and previously represented the Waratahs under-18s. He now lives in Western Sydney and is studying while playing club rugby.
TGS second rower and captain Rupeni Baravilala is the younger brother of class flyhalf Illy, a bit of an x-factor type who played in the 2023 and 2024 Firsts teams before this year making the Fijian Under-20s side.
This year’s flyhalf, Cooper Brown, is the son of Brett Brown.
Brett was drafted in the MLB for the then Montreal Expos. The franchise has since moved to Washington D.C and become the Washington Nationals.
GREGORY TERRACE V THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL
GT: 1. Jerry Harbottle, 2. Charlie Hollyman, 3. Nick Weir, 4. Rupert McGrath, 5. William Devine, 6. Rohan Clancy**, 7. Archer Ilott, 8. Oliver Nasser (captain), 9. George Hales (vice-captain), 10. Tom Weir, 11. Ioane Fe’aunati, 12. Franck Iraguha, 13. Tom Merrett, 14. Frank Illot, 15. William Dennis.
TSS: 1. Kingsley Uys (captain), 2. Ryder Tee, 3. Hunter Pyke, 4. Oscar Dunn, 5. Lachie Crain, 6. Viliami Fifita, 7. Ky Morris, 8. Elijah Galloway, 9. Jason Campese, 10. Dallas Ingram, 11. Lewis McDermid, 12. Kilarney Lavender, 13. Ashton McDermid, 14. Dylan Terblanche, 15. James Smith.
Both Terrace and TSS are abound with famous old names, with The Southport School harbouring one of the most famous family rugby names of all.
Campese.
Halfback Jason Campese is the son of David Campese, a 101-Test veteran whose flamboyant play thrilled fans, and teammates, all over the world.
Jason, a halfback with a different body shape to his father, is a very different player to David, the great Wallaby winger.
Jason does not have as much speed but he has the game sense. It should be said he is also an elite cricket batsman who has been key in TSS’s run to the last two GPS First XI premierships.
TSS also has flanker Viliami Fifita in its side. Viliami’s older brother Jojo thrilled First XV crowds earlier this decade before being signed to play NRL for the Gold Coast Titans.
And speaking of family associations, TSS has a set of twins playing in the outside backs: Ashton and Lewis McDermid.
Terrace also has the son of a Wallaby gun in its team, Ollie Nasser.
Ollie’s father Brendan was one of the most respected provincial players of his era in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Brendan “Bobby’’ Nasser played eight Tests and was a member of the 1991 World-Cup winning squad.
Ollie’s brother Josh (Reds, capped Wallaby) and sister Bella (Australian rugby sevens) go all right too.
There is also a famous name link to Terrace lock Will Devine and Hugh Devine, a reserve inside back.
The brothers are the grandson of John McCoy, a famous, now retired radio and television broadcaster.
Indeed McCoy, a proud Terrace old boy and 1966 First XV representative, was regarded as the voice of Queensland sport for decades.
The Weir name is also carried on with pride and distinction by prop Nick and flyhalf Tom.
The twin’s father, the late Patrick “Paddy’’ Weir, was a decorated Queensland Country and Sunshine Coast player who also coached junior teams in Brisbane - including at Terrace in 2019.
There is another set of brothers involved in the Gregory Terrace’s First XV campaign - Archie and Frank Illot (flanker and winger respectively).
Also in the Terrace side is winger Ioane Fe’aunati, whose father Dominic Fe’aunati was a decorated Samoan rugby union international.
Ioane’s brother Pale, a Broncos-contracted prop, is currently playing a key role in Keebra Park State High’s 6-0 unbeaten start to this year’s Langer Trophy schoolboy rugby league competition.
BRISBANE STATE HIGH V BRISBANE BOYS’ COLLEGE
BBC: BBC: 1. Oscar Donovan, 2. Luke Nilsson, 3. Harry Asi, 4. Jack Randall, 5. Tavita Loughland, 6. Charlie Wehl, 7. Kiama Jione, 8. Gray O’Neill (captain), 9. Harry Munro, 10. Toby Kennedy, 11. Ryder Koia, 12. Cooper Goodman, 13. Taione Taka (vice-captain), 14. Cooper Murray, 15. Jonah Wilde.
BSHS: 1. Tristan Auela, 2. Cyrus Suniula, 3. Darnel Taki, 4. Luke Thornton, 5. Manasa Vunibola, 6. Robert Piutau, Henry Willis, 8. Jesse Maugatai (co-captain), 9. Lincoln Hicks**, 10. Richie Taulagi, 11. Flynn Corbett, 12. Jeremiah Patea, 13. Taoso Taoso, 14. Jack Phinney, 15. Angus Tagicakibau (co-captain).
Scrumhalf Lincoln Hicks will make his debut for a BSHS team stacked with brothers and sons of guns.
Livewire fullback Angus Tagicakibau is the son of George, a Nudgee College old boy who was a Queensland Schoolboys representative and went on to represent the Fijian rugby sevens side with distinction.
George is passing down plenty of valuable knowledge to Angus, including how to make an impact away from the ball with a high work rate and communication.
Outside centre Taoso Taoso is a great water polo talent and his sister Kali-Yah Taafili Taoso, a BSHS graduate (2023), was an Australian Under-20s player now giving back at the school.
The proud Kali-Yah Taafili is a teacher aid (Indigneous Engagement) and an ambassador in the Australian Institute of Sport’s Share a Yarn program. The initiative connects First Nations athletes from various sports, pairing them with mentors who help them navigate life.
The BSHS flyhalf, Richie Taulagi, is the younger brother of Maroons and Cowboys winger Murray.
Murray was a part of the 2016 team that won the GPS competition.
This year’s captain, Jesse Maugati (No.8), is also the younger brother of 2022 old boy and former First XV backrower Matthias. He is now playing club rugby at GPS.
Flanker Henry Willis, a revelation through the first two rounds, is not the first Willis to play at this level.
His older brother Ethan was a former school and was involved in rugby, cricket, volleyball and cross country.
Henry’s partner in the flanks, Robert Piutau, is the son of BSHS old boy and former First XV No.8 Robert, or ‘Bobby’, as current coach Steve Kefu used to call him in battle.
Bobby was a weapon and played in the Queensland Schoolboys side like young Piutau did this year on the Sunshine Coast.
BBC’s most notable son of a gun has been ruled out of the season.
Halfback Isaac Kefu is the son of champion, World-Cup winning No.8 and coach Toutai Kefu.
Kefu attended Coorparoo SHS back in his day before going on to be a Wallaby legend.
His son Isaac is focusing on a return for his senior year in 2026 after sustaining an ACL injury in the pre-season.
Front rowers Jeremiah Kite and Emosi Tuqiri have great rugby mentors as well.
Young loosehead Jeremiah, 15, is the son of GPS first grade coach Sio while Tuqiri hails from Fijian village Namatakula in Nadroga.
Tuqiri comes from a family of top-flight players, including Noa Nadruku, a legend in Fijian rugby league, and Tevita and Kirisi Kuridrani.
He is the son of the great Lote Tuqiri and younger brother of former First XV winger Samson, who is in the Brumbies Academy.
Christian Alexander and Xavier Hough, who have come off the bench, are following in the footsteps of their older brothers.
Christian, a high-class First XI cricketer from the University of Queensland club, is the younger brother of 2023 BBC school captain Jamie.
Jamie was a class act kicking goals and scoring tries as the school’s 2022 and 2023 flagship scrumhalf and is spearheading Wests’ pursuit of a second successive Colts 1 grand final appearance.
Meanwhile Hough’s older brother Zac, a hooker or flanker, was a part of BBC’s drought-breaking premiership team of 2020.
He currently plays in the Hospital Cup for University.
Churchie sit out this weekend with a bye and the school’s most notable First XV relative of a gun is No.12 Treyvon Pritchard.
The Reds Academy back is the younger brother of emerging Brumbies outside centre Kadin, 21.
Their younger sister Aiyana, 16, is in the Brisbane Lions Academy.
The 175cm half-forward is an exciting prospect currently in Year 11 at St Peters Lutheran College.
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