Players selection highlights from all eight Colts 1 club rugby teams battling it out in round 1 of the season this Saturday
Colts 1 round 1 teams: Player selection highlights from all eight teams playing this weekend. See what exciting youngsters are lining up for your local rugby club.
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The teams are in for round 1 of Colts 1 club rugby, Queensland’s premier under-20s competition.
It is a round which will see eight clubs launching the season. Souths go up against Sunnybank, Norths face Easts, Wests clash with Bond University and GPS take on University in what shapes as a rain-soaked opening round.
A fresh batch of talent has landed on the club scene, with every team gaining an influx of emerging rugby rookies from schools all across Queensland, New Zealand, England and other states.
Read on for the round 1 team lists and selection highlights.
CLUB RUGBY PREVIEW: FIRST GRADE WOMEN, MEN
ROUND 1 SELECTION HIGHLIGHTS
NORTHS V EASTS
Norths were primed to make more noise after an improved 2024 season.
The club will benefit from an influx of new faces, the most notable not yet known to the general public.
Watch out for No. 15 Tommy Green, a Yeppoon product whose vision and class will give Norths a headstart when counterattacking. Closer to the action is Scotland top gun Henry Armstrong, a top-flight flyhalf prospect.
It will be in Armstrong’s best interests to feed the ball to new outside centre Carlos Ka, a raw talent out of the Wavell State High stable.
Green, Armstrong and Ka were all primed to make a splash at some point, after third-year colts hooker Sean Noone and his new addition props take care of business at scrum time.
Noone, a pacy Padua product, has the likes of skilful Queensland Schoolboys select Manaaki Bateman and Central Queensland enforcer Jake Pierce packing down alongside him.
Rounding out the tight five was 17-year-old utility forward Jack Corby, a key player in Padua’s First XV teams which finished second in 2023 and first in 2024 – to snare the school’s first AIC premiership since Waratahs playmaker Lawson Creighton steered the side to glory in 2016.
Flame-haired Norths junior Jackson Raven, a tried-and-tested campaigner of Caboolture’s A-grade side, has been given the nod at lock as well.
Another Norths junior, Padua College old boy Brock Powell, will wear jersey No.6.
In the backrow alongside Powell will be impressive openside Ben Kluck, a humble hero who just gets it, and English recruit Luke McGarry.
McGarry (No. 8) was a high-achiever back home where he was previously in Bath’s Rugby Academy.
The firing pin for Norths will be Callum Reidy, a halfback who could be used as a first grade finisher for Dan Ritchie’s Hospital Cup team.
When Reidy looks up from the scrum base, he will be grinning ear-to-ear looking at his options: Armstrong (flyhalf), Sam Dickie (winger), Cale Maurice (inside centre), Ka (outside centre), Dylan Roost (winger) and Green (fullback).
Reidy’s connection is strong with Dickie, a third-year colt with a need for speed.
Nudgee College old boy Roost brought his A-game to pre-season and looks the goods while midfielder Maurice adds to the excitement.
Maurice, originally from the Northern Territory where he played for the Swamdogs in Freds Pass, was stuck behind some goods ones last year at Toowoomba Grammar.
The energetic inside centre, who has a sprinkle of Fijian flare from his mother’s side, will get clean air to strut his stuff in round 1.
Easts will counter with a promising outfit of their own.
Queensland Under-20 front-rowers Byron Murphy and Cooper Hoare (hooker) will pack down alongside tighthead toiler Craig Rowsell.
Rowsell, an Iona College product, is no flash dan but he scrums well and is full of effort.
The Easts second row will feature Max Cambell (Churchie) and Tom Nadenic (St Laurence’s) who compliment each other nicely.
The athletic Campbell, who stands tall at 200cm, will make his return after missing the 2024 season recovering from a shoulder reconstruction. Nadenic, a mobile big man, has legs of granite and will be an imposing physical presence alongside lineout jumper Campbell.
Churchie products Joe Stoddart and Caleb Godfrey (both flankers) enter the season players of note and they will have the barnstorming PJ Su’a behind them at No.8.
That is a high-class backrow contingent.
Charlie Condon, who possesses an effective kicking game, has been entrusted the No. 9 jumper. His older brother Jack was a fine flanker from Brothers now in the Brumbies system.
The Tigers will return serve against Norths with a blistering backline of their own.
Flyhalf Sam McGahan is Skillful with a capital S. He has two quick, reliable wingers on his outside in Caden Griffiths and Mac Kelley.
In the midfield, Ormiston College bolter IIan Cloete gets his start as a reward for a stunning trial period where he started in Colts 3 just three weeks ago.
He will wear jersey No. 12, with trusty Villanova old boy Larry Clarke named at outside centre.
South African ace Cloete brings the muscle and Clarke the finesse and in behind at fullback will be Tom Lambo.
A Perth lad now boarding at King’s College at University, Lambo made the move to put into action his big body, boot and speed in Australia’s most competitive under-20s competition.
NORTHS TEAM LIST:
1. Jake Peirce
2. Sean Noone
3. Manaaki Bateman
4. Jack Corby
5. Jackson Raven
6. Brock Powell
7. Ben Kluck
8. Luke McGarry
9. Callum Reidy (C)
10. Henry Armstrong
11. Sam Dickie
12. Cale Maurice
13. Carlos Ka
14. Dylan Roost
15. Tommy Green
EASTS TEAM LIST:
1. Byron Murphy
2. Cooper Hoare
3. Craig Rowsell
4. Max Cambell
5. Tom Nadenic
6. Caleb Godfrey
7. Joe Stoddart
8. PJ Su’a (C)
9. Harry Condon
10. Sam McGahan
11. Mac Kelley
12. Ilan Cloete
13. Larry Clarke
14. Caden Griffiths
15. Tom Lambo
GPS V UNIVERSITY
The Gallopers will unleash a Marist-Ashgrove headed starting XV for Saturday’s clash with the Red Heavies.
Locals Harry Gould (loosehead prop), Reuben Downes (hooker) and tighthead prop Bailey Caplick were all schooled a stones throw from the Yoku road club.
Also in the tight five was tall timber Christian Kurylewiski, a handy lineout target who played very well for 2024 AIC First XV rugby runners up, Ashgrove.
A mobile lock who works hard, learns quick and is tougher than he looks, Kurylewski will have an emerging leader alongside him in Avery Thomson.
Thomsson, a Brisbane Boys’ College product with rugby smarts, will call the lineouts and is the type of bloke whose approach to training and games is of a professional nature.
Leading the team as captain will be blindside flanker George Griffiths, a smart footballer who you can expect smart decisions from.
At openside is the fit and firing Tom Williams, a high-energy Nudgee College old boy who just gets rugby.
At No. 8 will be another Nudgee product, Tom Hansson. A work in progress, Hansson has the athletic attributes and attacking prowess to be real force.
Expect Hansson, who can play lock as well, to find his feet quickly after spending 2024 playing rugby league.
The scheming Flynn Horton has been named at No.9. He is fast to the breakdown and even quicker to get the ball away.
Attacking flyhalf Spencer Alcock is back for seconds after a steady debut season at GPS. A pointscorer, Alcock can knock them over from the sideline and continues to improve around his decision making and ballrunning.
Stationed on the wings will be Matt Ribot and Jonah Allen. Ribot, a rugby-league convert, is elite when he is at his best.
Allen, who last season played as a lock and flanker for Toowoomba Grammar’s First XV, will make a positional switch out wide where the tall, rangy and deceptively fast newcomer can be a handful.
Returning the ball from fullback is Jude Knapp, a fierce footballer whose dependability gets a big green tick from teammates.
He is the type of player who would rarely make the same mistake twice.
Knapp’s Ashgrove schoolmate Tobias Graham, his First XV flyhalf in 2023, has been named at inside centre and Ashgrove old boy Tasman Barry at outside centre.
Graham’s assurity and Barry’s bashing runs may present a nice combination.
University will unleash a ferocious front-row at the weekend.
Props Kingbenjamin Swirling (Queensland under-18s) and Paul Aiolupotea (former Rebels under-19s) are a handful, as is hooker Moe Koroi.
St Peters old boy Koroi is entering his third year of colts and he knows how to get the job done.
Mitch Waldon and Raife McKenzie have been named in the second row with Ipswich Grammar product McKenzie honoured with the captaincy role.
Waldon warmed his engines in Colts 2 last season while McKenzie was a key forward in a much-improved Ipswich Grammar First XV outfit last year.
Third-year flanker Xavier Grambower will play blindside flanker and a newcomer, Jacob Mamoka, will don jersey No.7.
Grambower is a scrappy, all-effort player out of Gregory Terrace. Mamoka has a rugby league background (Souths Magpies) and is eager to make a thud in rugby.
Blonde-haired brute Angus Kelly, previously a centre, will look to do the same at No.8.
There is plenty to like in University’s backline. Australian Under-18s select Tom Howard has been named at his best position of fullback while Sunshine Coast speedster Kye Porter will play inside centre.
Field general Isaac McAuliffe, also vice-captain, will bring it all together from flyhalf.
Tom Simpson is in charge of providing crisp service from scrumhalf while pacy pair Finn Harris and Ruston Taylor will lurk on the wing.
Spencer Frame will make his debut at outside centre after impressing in the trials.
UNIVERSITY TEAM LIST:
1. Kingbenjamin Swirling
2. Moe Koroi
3. Paul Aiolupotea
4. Mitch Waldon
5. Raife McKenzie (C)
6. Xavier Grambower
7. Jacob Momoka
8. Angus Kelly
9. Tom Simpson
10. Isaac McCauliffe (VC)
11. Finn Harris
12. Kye Porter
13. Spencer Frame
14. Ruston Taylor
15. Tom Howard
GPS TEAM LIST:
1. Harry Gould
2. Reuben Downes
3. Bailey Caplick
4. Christian Kurylewski
5. Avery Thomson
6. George Griffiths (C)
7. Tom Williams
8. Tom Hansson
9. Flynn Horton
10. Spencer Alcock
11. Matt Ribot
12. Tobias Graham
13. Tasman Barry
14. Jonah Allen
15. Jude Knapp
SOUTHS V SUNNYBANK
Sunnybank will field a young team to begin their season, with a handful of Saturday’s starters in the classroom less than 24 hours before kick off.
Cyrus Suniala and No. 8 Jesse Maugatai (both BSHS), scrumhalf Francis Pepe (Mabel Park SHS), Junior Sitia Malupo (Marsden SHS) and 17-year-old front-rower Tyrece Herniman (BSHS) were all still in Year 12 and ready to give the competition a shake.
In the front row alongside representative hooker Suniala will be his schoolmate Herniman.
He is a ferocious customer who made Souths Logan’s Connell Cup under-17s side this year and the Reds Under-16s late last year.
Tireless twin pairing from across the ditch, Andre (hooker) and Dylan Laughlin, will also feature in the front-row this season.
Hooker Andre, who played last year, brought his bash brother Dylan over for the 2025 season and both boys have the skill, rugby IQ and high work rate to match it with the best this competition has to offer. For Saturday’s fixture, schoolboy studs Suniala and Herniman will start.
Emmanuel Mara, a quiet achiever of Fijian heritage, cemented his spot at lock following a strong pre-season. He will be a focal point in the lineout alongside utility forward Mattias Agent.
Agent’s best position is blindside flanker but his versatility is reflected in his selection in the second row. The calm and collected Sunnybank strongman will captain the side.
Workhorse Ipswich Grammar products Declan O’Sullivan and Tane Gregory will partner up in the flanks with big-bodied Brisbane State High senior Maugatai sure to rumble the ‘Bank forward from No.8.
Halfback Pepe will distribute the ball to Sunnybank junior Jack Maunsell, a composed playmaker who has the tools to fill the void left by Netani Lesimaikimatuku (first grade call up).
Manning each wing will be Jeriah Vagana and Kiyan Gunewardene.
Vagana has completed just four training sessions with the side in preparation for Saturday’s game but that was all coach Rex Tapuai needed to know he has his winger.
The Ipswich State High old boy was embedded in a rapidly-rising league academy for years and is giving the 15-a-side code a crack after previously representing the Ipswich Jets under-19s and A-grade teams.
Watch for Gunewardene’s work off the ball and consistency.
At the back will be Bailey Danielson, a supreme communicator. In the midfield, Sunnybank will pack a punch in fast-footed DJ Manase (Ipswich Grammar, 2023) and attacking weapon Malupo.
A Marsden SHS student and junior at the club, the exciting Malupo played every game bar three last season as a 16-year-old.
There will be a Pommy presence in the Souths side this year.
Yorkshire product Lucas Oxley has been named at prop. He did not look out place playing off the bench in first grade trials.
Malachi Tuakura, a Gladstone product, will play hooker after mixing it in Colts 2 last season. He is blessed with skill and soft hands.
Rounding out the row is powerhouse prop Viliami Motuapuaka. He has the motor to match his strength and athleticism.
Another Yorkshire youngster, lock Ollie Owour, will feature.
He is a fine utility whose no-nonsense attitude and toughness thrust him into the starting line-up for Saturday.
Charlie Yeomans, a hard working Downlands College old boy, will be his locking partner.
In the flanks will be Downlands product Jake Stephens, a well-rounded talent who is damaging in the tight channels, and Huw Griffiths, a loose channel weapon who was key for St Laurence’s First XV last year as a hooker.
Trent Picot (concussion) is nearing a return.
At No. 8 will be Joel Broderick, an abrasive Brisbane State High old boy whose carries and sledgehammer defence will be key for the Magpies.
Former St Laurence’s mighty mite Sam Benham has been given the nod at scrumhalf. He is a genuine utility who won’t die trying.
Riley Speare gets his start on the wing after biding his time behind some goods ones last season. The Wellington SHS product is made for this level and he can offer plenty on both sides of the ball.
Representative midfielder Darcy Rowan is back, bigger and wiser, at No. 12. Watch for him and outside centre Harry Newnham, an excitement machine who is sure to get better as the season progresses after injury hindered his 2024 season.
Luke Xerub, another Downlands boy, impressed in the pre-season with his speed, hard work and willingness to get involved. He will play on the wing, with Sunshine Coast first-grader Harry Mills named at fullback.
A halfback at heart, the ace utility offers too much in attack to be anywhere else.
Steering the side at flyhalf will be Finn Mackay. He is a cerebral playmaker out of St Laurence’s College.
SOUTHS TEAM LIST:
1. Lucas Oxley
2. Malachi Tuakura
3. Viliami Motuapuaka
4. Ollie Owour
5. Charlie Yeomans
6. Jake Stephens
7. Huw Griffiths
8. Joel Broderick (C)
9. Sam Benham
10. Finn Mackay
11. Riley Speare
12. Darcy Rowan (VC)
13. Harry Newnham
14. Luke Xerub
15. Harry Mills
SUNNYBANK TEAM LIST:
1. Tyrece Herniman
2. Cyrus Suniula
3. Dylan Loughlin
4. Emmanuel Mara
5. Mattias Agent (C)
6. Declan O Sullivan
7. Tane Gregory
8. Jesse Maugatai
9. Francis Pepe
10. Jack Maunsell
11. Jeriah Vagana
12. DJ Manase
13. Junior Sitia Malupo
14. Kiyan Gunewardene
15. Bailey Danielson
WESTS V BOND UNIVERSITY
Bond University will trek up the M1 and roll out a new look outfit following last year’s semi-final finish.
Looshead prop Logan Huntley will maintain the scrum-time rage after Bond had success in that area last year. Hooker will be Lauchie Smith, a little tank entering his fourth year of colts rugby after playing his first season as a schoolboy.
Tighthead prop Jake Leck, a Kiwi talent who was in the Crusaders under-18s last year, rounds out the row.
Bond will be well serviced in the second row with the agile Keanu Rashe and promising Hayden Keldie-Genner handed starts.
Rashe prides himself on working hard and Keldie-Genner is a rookie on the rise from TSS.
In the flanks, Bond will unleash a South African who plays like he is South African – Heinrich Fourie.
Fourie’s partner in crime, Charlie Wake, is a new recruit from Melbourne who can go all day.
Harry Ole, who has progressed from Colts 2, earns the No. 8 jumper after an impressive pre-season showing.
The Bull Sharks captain will be Sam Howarth, a chirpy Kiwi who can slot goals from anywhere.
Ryan Wildman, who was a part of the club’s junior colts team in 2024, will don jersey No. 10. He is a smart and versatile footballer.
Manning each wing will be the fast-footed Taz Milner and speed demon Hunter Robinson.
In the midfield, kicking ace Callum Simpson and skilful big man Max Angrove, a talent from Melbourne, will run amok.
The No. 15 jersey belongs to sharpshooter Seamus Boakes.
A Rolls Royce Wests outfit has been named to defend the Kennel against the Bull Sharks.
Young veterans Jacob Job, Hamish Ward and Archie Smith will counterpunch in the scrum after setting strong foundations during the 2024 season.
Rory Bliss, an unsung lock of great importance to Wests, and Townsville terror Will Pascoe will man the pumps in the second row.
In the backrow, Tom Doe, Charlie Cooke and Alex Watkins (No. 8) offer the best of both worlds. They have strength, size and skill.
Scrumhalf Jamie Alexander will connect with half Ryan Shaw. That is a serious combination.
Alexander, a Mr Natural, made things happen at flyhalf at times last season. Shaw, a third-year player, has found himself in his best position after showing his versatility playing various backline positions last year.
Towering teen Carter Liddiard, an Adelaide boy who was schooled at Toowoomba Grammar, will man one wing. On the other will be diamond in the rough Nudgee College old boy Chrionie Tisi, a Papua New Guinean gem with a high work rate.
Outside centre Nick Dunstan gets a start after standing out in Colts 2 last season. He, like Easts’ Larry Clarke, is a terrific footballer well suited to outside centre despite having played elsewhere coming through the ranks.
Nudgee College First XV premiership teammates Max Rohan (inside centre) and Nick Conway (fullback) will run it back at Sylvan Road.
Conway was recently named in the Australian Under-20 squad. He will be eligible again in 2026 and 2027.
BOND TEAM LIST:
1. Rogan Huntley
2. Lochlan Smith
3. Jake Leck
4. Keanu Rasch
5. Hayden Keldie-Genner
6. Heinrich Fourie
7. Charlie Wake
8. Harry Ole
9. Sam Howarth (C)
10. Ryan Wildman
11. Ta’ziayah Milner
12. Callum Simpson
13. Max Angrove
14. Hunter Robinson
15. Seamus Boakes
WESTS TEAM LIST:
1. Jacob Job
2. Hamish Ward
3. Archie Smith
4. Rory Bliss (C)
5. Will Pascoe
6. Tom Doe
7. Charlie Cooke
8. Alex Watkins
9. Jamie Alexander
10. Ryan Shaw
11. Chrionie Tisi
12. Max Rohan
13. Nick Dunstan
14. Carter Liddiard
15. Nick Conway
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