Super Rugby AU: Reds prop Ruan Smith excluded from Ballymore bubble

Reds prop Ruan Smith is being kept out of Queensland’s Ballymore bubble while he awaits results of a COVID-19 test.

Reds props JP, left, and Ruan Smith. Picture: Brendan Hertel, QRU

Super Rugby finals week has started off in dramatic style at the Queensland Reds with prop Ruan Smith set to be excluded from the Ballymore bubble while he awaits results from a COVID-19 test.

Smith was feeling unwell on Monday, and stayed at home rather than attend training and a scheduled press conference with his twin brother JP Smith.

A Reds spokesman said Ruan would have a COVID-19 test on Monday and not return to Ballymore until the results were known.

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JP Smith played down the situation, saying his brother and fellow front-rower was “still looking for his lungs at Suncorp Stadium” after making his Reds return via the bench in Queensland’s 26-7 Super Rugby AU win at the weekend against the Brumbies.

“He’s just a bit sore but he’ll be back tomorrow (Tuesday),” JP Smith said.

Ruan has just returned to the Reds after a short stint with the Melbourne Rebels, Queensland’s semi-final opponents on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.

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Ruan’s knowledge of the Rebels could prove vital this week as Queensland strives to earn another shot at the Brumbies in Saturday week’s grand final in Canberra.

“He’ll help the boys and help the team as much as he can around that. We’ll see what he can bring to us,” JP said.

“It’s special to him because the Melbourne staff and the team really meant a lot to him.

“Playing for two franchises in one year … it would be a ‘good uncomfortable’ so he’ll be looking forward to it.”

JP also made his Reds comeback off the bench on the weekend after being sidelined with a neck injury.

“I was a bit nervous … (but) I enjoyed every minute of it, especially going out there with my brother and packing a few scrums,” he said.

The Reds’ scrummaging was questioned by the Brumbies after the game, who were unhappy with Queensland being awarded at least two penalties as their loosehead prop Scott Sio struggled with Reds tighthead prop Taniela Tupou.

“I can’t say much on what the Brumbies have said,” JP said.

“As a team, we need to look past that. We can’t really dwell on that. We’ll just do what we’ve been doing and leave it in the ref’s hands.

“The ref’s got a job to do, we’ve got a job to do. We want to portray a place at the scrum that we do everything right, and we believe we are doing that.

“Nella (Tupou) has been working hard on it – he’s a world class prop.”