Hospital Cup club rugby: Team of the week named as Norths duo afforded fresh opportunity

First grade club rugby scoop: The Hospital Cup round 4 team of the week featured a terrific trio from GPS, a livewire Uni scrumhalf, a Sunnybank teen top gun and a Brothers maestro.

Nick Tucker

4 min read

April 30, 2025 - 4:00PM

News Sport Network

Callum Reidy taps quickly for Norths.

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Representative rugby opportunities afforded to a dynamic duo from Norths Eagles has typified the club’s fine start to the StoreLocal Hospital Cup season which has them sitting fourth after four rounds.

A 34-22 near miss against reigning premiers Brothers has coach Dan Ritchie’s men fired up for a clash against Sunnybank on Saturday but the disappointing loss was made easier due to recent recognition of two of the club’s finest emerging talents.

The deeds of loosehad prop Ollie Harris, 22, and scrumhalf Callum Reidy, 20, over the past 12-18 months have caught the eye of Reds and Scotland national selectors.

Ollie Harris. Norths V Sunnybank in Hospital Cup action. Picture: Anthony Wingard/QRU Media.

Harris has been handed an injury-replacement contract with Queensland and will travel with the side to Suva as backup outside the match 23 for their round 12 Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Fijian Drua.

Reidy, a tough as nails scrumhalf, will have a spell from captaining his beloved Colts 1 team over the foreseeable future after he received an opportunity to try his hand in the Scotland Under-20s set-up.

Reidy (pictured bowling during the 2022 AIC First XI season) was an outstanding cricketer during his time at St Laurence’s. Picture, John Gass

Coach Kenny Murray has included Reidy — who was born in Aberdeen, a city in Northern Scotland — into his Under-20s squad, which is preparing for the World Rugby Championships in Italy from June 29 to July 19.

Both Reidy (St Laurence’s College, 2022) and Harris (Villanova College, 2020) were two of the finest products of the AIC rugby competition this decade. The 2025 season kicks off this Saturday.

Some of the AIC competition's finest products, including John Bryant (St Laurence's), Ryan Smith (St Patrick's), Will McCulloch (Padua), Vaiuta Latu (St Peters) and Tom Howard (Ashgrove). Picture: Erick Lucero/QRU Media.

If Reidy rips in like he has been for the Eagles over the past three Colts seasons then an academy contract may follow with Scottish Premiership team the Glasgow Warriors.

“We’re excited for them and so proud,” said Norths first grade coach Dan Ritchie.

Harris will not make his debut in Suva, with Sef Fa’agase, Zane Nonggorr, Alex Hodgman and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen named in the matchday 23 — but he is closer to a debut than it may seem due to George Blake being injured.

Easts Tiger Max Craig is set to make his Reds debut with the 21-year-old hooker name on the bench.

Just two weeks ago Craig carved up in the Tigers’ 22-20 defeat of Bond University in a wet weather skirmish down the coast. He will be blooded in front of a roaring HFC Bank Stadium crowd at 12.05pm this Saturday.

Former Junior Wallaby Max Craig will make his Queensland debut on Saturday. Picture courtesy of Brendan Hertel.

While Craig’s Tiger teammates sat out with a bye in round 4, there were plenty of moves across the competition, with University bringing up their second successive win.

Souths were also able to edge out Wests 31-27 and GPS jumped at their chance to bounce back by beating Sunnybank 38-19.

See who made the StoreLocal Hospital Cup team of the week below.

RARAVULA, BIERTON GO BANG

Ryley Bierton runs the ball for the ball for the Reds under-19s in 2023. Picture: Karen Watson

Three tries to hooker Quentin Raravula and a first-rate kicking game from fullback Ryley Bierton went a long way in deciding GPS’ 19-point win over Sunnybank.

Big Raravula did what all good hookers do, making the most of his chances in the 22m and mauling over for 15 points.

Bierton, in a classy display at the back, kicked Sunnybank deep into their half and kept them there. The cheeky chap from Brisbane State High was the Dragons’ Public Enemy No. 1 after a polished performance in behind for the Gallopers.

YOUNG BUCK RISES TO PLATE

Mattias Agent brings down lineout ball during the 2023 GPS rugby season. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Dragons teen Mattias Agent continued to enhance his reputation starting at lock in his team’s round 4 bout.

His opportunity arose due to Taine Roiri travelling across the Tasman for a trial opportunity with Manawatu in the National Provincial Championship (NPC). All signs point towards Roiri gaining a contract for later this winter when that season starts.

Agent will come off the bench in round 5 with Roiri back home and ready to rumble but the young Colts 1 skipper took his chance and thrived.

Rex Tapuai, Sunnybank’s Colts 1 coach, will be smiling ear to ear knowing he has his captain back.

SCRUMHALF STUNNERS

Flynn McDermottt has been on fire for University. Picture courtesy of @The.odyssey.image

Flynn McDermott (Uni) and Finn Hearn (Souths) scorched in their team’s respective round 4 wins.

McDermott’s masterclass, similar to his brother Tate’s at Suncorp on Friday night, was just what the doctor ordered in a close game with the Bull Sharks.

It isn’t Flynn’s first fantastic performance of the season. He has been special regularly for The Students and it’s important he keeps turning it on because University’s second and third choice halfbacks, Tafito Ah-Ki (knee) and Archie Xavier (spine), have both been ruled out for at least the next six weeks.

In Friday’s Anzac Day ambush of Wests, Souths No. 9 Hearn had his way.

His service, speed to the ruck and effective running was important in starving the Bulldogs of their second win.

BERRANGE TEASES TELA INTO RETURN

Former South Magpie Teti Tela runs the ball during the 2019 first grade season. Picture: Richard Walker

University coach Elton Berrange was forced to turn to the club’s kicking coach, 34-year-old veteran Teti Tela, to steer his side from flyhalf in Saturday’s game.

An injury to Kody Edwards (hamstring) meant Berrange needed a quick fix and Tela did a fine job in the 12-10 slugfest win against a Bond side spearheaded by flanker Matt Engelbrecht.

“I noticed he (Tela) was getting itchy feet,” Berrange smiled.

Tela was quick to say yes and add big-match experience to University’s outfit moving forward, while Edwards recovers for the next six weeks.

GIBBS HAS GOT THE GOODS

Flyhalf Jude Gibbs had his best outing in the Butcher Stripes so far to be the difference in Brothers’ 34-22 win over Norths.

The classy tactical kicking ace scored a try, kicked four-from-six off the tee and had time on his hands as the reigning premiers overcame a red card to pull away unscathed on Hugh Courtney Oval.

Brothers host Wests this Saturday in a grand final rematch.