Players selection highlights from all eight Colts 1 club rugby teams battling it out in round one of the season this Saturday

Colts 1 round one teams: Player selection highlights from all eight teams playing this weekend. See what exciting youngsters are lining up for your local rugby club.

The teams were in for round one of the Colts 1 competition and here we present some key selection highlights ahead of our continuing coverage this weekend.

It is a round which will see eight clubs launching the season - Souths v Norths, Sunnybank v Bond University, Wests v University and GPS v Easts. Brothers will sit out with a bye.

COLTS 1 PLAYERS TO WATCH

SEASON PREVIEW: YOUR ULTIMATE CLUB RUGBY GUIDE

HOSPITAL CUP: INS AND OUTS OF EACH TEAM

A new batch of talent has landed on the club scene, with every team gaining an influx of emerging rugby rookies from school’s all across Queensland.

FOOTNOTE: Watch for our www.couriermail.com.au coverage every Saturday and Sunday across the season.

ROUND ONE SELECTION HIGHLIGHTS

Sunnybank v Bond University

Colts 1 Norths v Sunnybank Saturday July 8, 2023. Picture, John Gass

The Dragons were primed to front the Bullsharks with a promising lineup this weekend.

In the backs, the ‘Bank have speed in winger Daniel Malum, flare in fullback Netani Lesimaikimatuku, leadership in flyhalf Nico Buckley and a mix of power and ball-playing ability in gun centres Malachi Vaigulu (Ipswich Grammar) and Brody McLaren (St Laurence’s).

Kelston Boys’ High School duo Fati Fala (winger) and Andre Loughlin (hooker) earn their starts under coach Rex Tapuai.

Sunnybank’s lineout was in good hands with Isaac Nomani, a Reds under-19s selection last year, and Mattias Agent, an athletic big man out of Brisbane State High.

The side also had a bit of punch out of No.8 with Ipswich Grammar’s flanker last year, Tane Gregory, named at No.8. Off the bench, wrecking ball centre Dajuan Manase, halfback Jack Parlane and forward Genesis Luli show the depth of the squad.

For the Bullsharks there are plenty of fresh faces, including Harry Ole, Oliver James and Will Carter. Leading them on will be captain Charlie McCauley.

Matching the firepower of Sunnybank’s backline will be Ieuan Cornelius (winger), Callum Simpson (inside centre) and Blake Raymond (outside centre).

This is a dangerous trio.

With utility back Reef Newdick playing at No.15, anything was possible.

Sunnybank’s team:

1 Angus Cheetham

2 andre Loughlin

3 Ryan Woodford

4 Isaac Nomani

5 Caleb Mackay

6 Mattias Agent

7 Oscar Lane

8 Tane Gregory

9 Oscar Mccarthy

10 Nico Buckley

11 Fati Fala

12 Malachi Vaigalu

13 Brody McLaren

14 Daniel Malum

15 Netani Lesimaikimatuku

Bond University’s team:

1 Nikotimo Mateiwai

2 Will Carter

3 Harry Bell

4 Oliver James

5 Charlie McCauley (C)

6 Harry Ole

7 Kobie Mackey

8 Jack Tee

9 Sam Howarth

10 Kobe Waikato

11 Ieuan Cornelius

12 Callum Simpson

13 Blake Raymond

14 Hunter Robinson

15 Reef Newdick

Wests v University

University named a strong side to begin the season, with Canterbury College school captain Jack Henry to lead the boys into the fray.

Henry played No.8 in school, but has been shifted to lock for round one.

Big Barney Radel, a country boy out of St Peters, will partner Henry in the locks. Radel was one of if not the best No.8 in the 2022 AIC First XV rugby season. Fellow St Peters boy, Moe Koroi, a hulking prop, has been given a start.

Utility back Siliva Leofa has been named at fullback, a position he is more than capable of playing.

Last year Leofa impressed at the flyhalf and inside centre posiitons.

Siliva Leofa last year.

Chace Oates has been named at inside centre, his best position. Ace St Edmund’s College scrumhalf Tafito Ah-Ki has been given the No.9 jersey, the UQ scholarship holder a tremendous starting point for The Students to get their attack going.

St Edmund's College player Tafito Falaniko Ah-Ki played Colts 1 rugby for University last season while he was still in school.

University also have a newcomer from New South Wales, loosehead Daniel Christodoulou, making his first start for the club.

Christodoulou was a part of Canterbury Bankstown’s premiership winning Harold Matthews squad last year.

In the backrow University had Gregory terrace school captain Tom Robinson paired with Patrick Sowerby.

That speaks for itself.

For Wests, third year Colts 1 centre Campbell King will captain the Bulldogs.

“We are a relatively young side so Campbell, this is his third year in colts...he’s highly experienced,” said coach Phil Mooney.

“He’s done really well with his training over the offseason. It’s a great reward for his efforts.”

Partnering King in the centres will be Campbell Kallquist, a quietly spoken Rockhampton Grammar product with raw talent.

On the wings was the highly-skilled Fynn O’Rielley (Nudgee) and Carter Liddiard (Toowoomba Grammar) who offer a mixed bag.

O’Rielley has dabbled as a halfback and fullback and will be a suprise packet on the wing, while Liddiard is a 195cm big man who weights over 100kg.

Jamie Alexander will return to his boyhood club Wests where he played as a junior, the ace scrumhalf will be one to watch across the season.

Nick Dunstan will move back into flyhalf after spending time as a fullback in the Gregory Terrace First XV. Meanwhile, Ben Mooney will don the No.15 jersey, a position he can play with ease despite having grown up playing flyhalf.

Ben Mooney.

Mooney’s strongly built Brisbane Grammar schoolmate Liam McGregor will play No.8, with Charlie Cookie (Gregory Terrace) and Alex Watkins (Nudgee) the other backrowers.

Townsville boy Will Pascoe will pack some punch at lock, alongside Churchie old boy Rory Bliss whose schoolmate Hamish Ward will play loosehead prop.

Sunshine Coast tighthead prop Joshua Barlow will make his club debut, partnering Ward and hooker Finlay King in the front row.

It will be a nice moment for the King family when Finlay and his older brother and captain Campbell head into battle together for the first time on Saturday.

Of course they played trials together but this one will have extra significance.

Bulldogs team:

1 Hamish Ward

2 Finlay King

3 Joshua Barlow

4 Rory Bliss

5 Will Pascoe

6 Alex Watkins

7 Charlie Cooke

8 Liam McGregor

9 Jamie Alexander

10 Nick Dunstan

11 Fynn O’Rielley

12 Campbell King (C)

13 Campbell Kallquist

14 Carter Liddiard

15 Ben Mooney

Red Heavies team:

1 Daniel Christodolou

2 Vaimoe Koroi

3 Stirling Munsie

4 Jack Henry

5 Barney Radel

6 Tom Robinson

7 Patrick Sowerby

8 Rodney Blake

9 Tafito Ah-Ki

10 Dougal McLoed

11 Leonardo Aiello

12 Chace Oates

13 Samuela Tuisau

14 Max Blair

15 Siliva Leofa

GPS v Easts

Colts, Sunnybank v GPS Saturday May 13, 2023. Picture, John Gass

New head coaches Kris Kuridrani (GPS) and Jack Richards (Easts) have put out impressive lineups for the season opener.

Kuridrani has named a quality front row consisting of Harry Gould (Marist Ashgrove, 2022), Ewald Kruger (Toowoomba Grammar, 2023) and Nick Harper (Marist Ashgrove, 2021). Behind that terrific trio, towering lock Pat Gavin (Marist Ashgrove, 2022) will partner Xalian Salakaia-Loto, the brother of Rebels and Wallabies forward Lukhan.

In the backrow, GPS were in safe hands with forward leaders George Griffiths (Toowoomba Grammar, 2023), Jack Leo (Iona, 2023) and Tom Wiliams (Nudgee, 2023).

TGS skipper George Griffiths.

Things were also looking up for GPS in the backline, with Marist Ashgrove product James Prole earning the start in jumper No.9.

He is quick that kid, and can go all day.

The Southport School playmaker Spencer Alcock has been given the green light at No.10.

Alcock holds the keys to an exciting backline, featuring defensive monster Chris Jansen (Reds under-18s centre), Tasman Barry (Marist Ashgrove, 2022), Joe Daljanin (Reds under-19s) and fullback Pat Tierney (Marist Ashgrove, 2022).

Pate Raicebe.

Pate Raicebe has been named on the wing for GPS. He is the nephew of Kris Kuridrani, and has represnted the Queensland Schoolboys and Fiji Under-18s rugby 7s.

Light on his feet, he can stop-and-go without losing pace.

Big Stuart Tualima will return at some stage this season for GPS.

Easts coach Jack Richards has also named a strong side, with fresh blood in the front row ready to challenge the GPS pack.

St Laurence’s College premiership winner Byron Murphy will confront opposing loosehead Gould, while tremendous BSHS forward leader Jakeb Horne has been named at hooker.

He has been an Australian Schoolboys select (2022) and has another BSHS product in Luke Hatherall (flyhalf) running out alongside him.

Gregory Terrace were also well represented with No.8 terror PJ Su’a named alongside captain Joe Liddy (flanker).

Joe Liddy will captain Easts this season. Picture: Tom Primmer/QRU.

Churchie First XV premiership winners Frankie Goldsbrough (centre) and Mac Kelley (winger) will reunite again after Kelley played his first year of Colts at University last season.

Mac Kelley in University colours last season.

Their rugby captain in 2022, Tom Stoddart, has been named at blindside flanker.

Without putting too much pressure on him, watch for the hard running Goldsbrough to impact matches this season.

Easts were in safe hands at the lineout with big boys Tane Heteraka (Iona) and Tom Twaddell (Villanova) manning the pumps.

Lightning scrumhalf Archie Xavier has got the start over three year First XV Marist Ashgrove halfback Charlie Condon.

Xavier is quick between the ears and gets his start here after playing in Colts 2 last season.

GPS team:

1 Harry Gould

2 Ewald Kruger

3 Nick Harper

4 Pat Gavin

5 Xalian Salakaia Loto

6 George Griffiths

7 Jack Leo (C)

8 Tom Williams

9 James Prole

10 Spencer Alcock

11 Pate Raicebe

12 Chris Jansen

13 Tasman Barry

14 Joel Doljanin

15 Pat Tierney

Easts team:

1 Byron Murphy

2 Jakeb Horne

3 Drew Smith

4 Tane Heteraka

5 Tom Twaddell

6 Tom Stoddart

7 Joe Liddy (C)

8 PJ Su’a

9 Archie Xavier

10 Luke Hatherall

11 Connor Malherbe

12 Nick Matauiau

13 Frankie Goldsbrough

14 Mac Kelley

15 Joedeci Letalu

Souths v Norths

The Souths Magpies and Norths Eagles will engage in aerial warfare at Chipsy Wood oval to christen the new season.

Souths coach Cian O’Connor has named a strong front row with returning player Nick Sturdy (loosehead) to hold the lantern for newcomers Cooper Hoare (BBC hooker) and Slater Galloway (BBC tighthead).

Young veterans Cadeel Rees and Tom O’Callaghan are back, with O’Callaghan honoured with captaincy.

Scrumhalf Rourke Symons will offer quick service to William Nason, who will play his second season at flyhalf after being a fullback in his junior career.

Will Nason.

Ryley Bierton and Dre-dyn Cruz Laban will be stationed on each wing. Both players were key cogs in last year’s side which took the competition by storm.

Classy school leavers Maddox Maclean (Nudgee, 2023) and Xavier Rubens (BBC, 2023) will combine in the centres which will be great to see. Maclean being the playmaker and Rubens the strong line runner who has a turn of speed.

Grand final fullback Te Ohorei Totorewa has been named vice-captain in a team brimming with talent. So much so that Harry Raff, Heath Lindenmyer and Harry Newnham will come off the bench.

New Norths coach Bart Ritchie has unearthed a strong Eagles team as well, with former Souths boy Joe Woods to start at No.13.

Woods was stuck behind some good ones at Souths, but had turned it on during preseason to ensure a starting spot.

On his inside is the promising Ryan Heaton, a representative inside centre out of Nudgee College.

Speedster Sam Dickie will man one wing with Cameron Philip on the other and returning boys Callum Reidy (scrumhalf) and Will Balke (flyhalf) will provide crucial leadership for Norths.

Watch for that Norths scrumhalf.

Callum Reidy. Picture: Tom Primmer/QRU.

Marsden SHS product Tyron Fanueli has been given the nod at No.8. It was a no brainer to have the mobile big man out of the sporting rich Logan city in there.

Blue collar boys Zack Zinclair, a Sunshine Coast lad, Ben Kluck, Mac Hermann (captain) and Crosby Anderson have also been given starts.

In the front row, props Cameron Ray (BBC) and Macarius Pereira (Nudgee) will partner hooker Sean Noone, with Will Rogers still to come back for Norths.

This shapes up to be a great battle.

Souths Colts 1 boys about to celebrate the club’s Colts 2 premiership last season which was on the hooter by Darcy Rowan.

Norths team:

1 Cameron Ray

2 Sean Noone

3 Macarius Pereira

4 Crosby Anderson

5 Mac Hermann (C)

6 Ben Kluck

7 Zack Sinclair

8 Tyron Fanueli

9 Callum Reidy

10 Will Balke

11 Sam Dickie

12 Ryan Heaton

13 Joe Woods

14 Cameron Philip

15 Tom Chapman

Souths team:

1 Nick Sturdy

2 Cooper Hoare

3 Slater Galloway

4 Sam Hanna

5 Matthew Robertson

6 Cadell Rees

7 Tom O’Callaghan (C)

8 Kaleb Akaroa

9 Rourke Symons

10 William Nason

11 Ryley Bierton

12 Maddox Maclean

13 Xavier Rubens

14 Te Ohorei Totorewa

15 Dre-dyn Cruz Laban

Originally published as Players selection highlights from all eight Colts 1 club rugby teams battling it out in round one of the season this Saturday