The 139 star rugby union players to watch on Grammar Downlands Day
From the 11A young guns to the First XV here’s our look at the 130+ players you need to watch on Grammar Downlands Day.
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The O’Callaghan Cup is arguably one of Australian rugby’s showpiece events.
For more than 70 years Downlands College and Toowoomba Grammar School have battled for cup supremacy.
Wallabies legends like Jason Little, Tim Horan and Garrick Morgan have featured in the match over the years and other professional rugby stars like Mac Grealy, Hamish Stewart, Greg Holmes, Harry Hoopert, Peter Ryan, Marcus Vanzati and Matt Faessler have also played.
This year a new crop of young stars will feature for the first time on Grammar-Downlands Day and senior boys will lace up their boots in the cup.
From the 11A and B-sides right through to the O’Callagahn Cup here’s our look at the 139 stars you need to watch.
11A
Downlands
Reito Mori-Bumatay: A naturally speedy star with great footwork who is always a threat with the ball in hand.
Conor Roderick: A very solid ball runner who pounces on the ball at the ruck and is a weapon in defence.
Other key players: Zane Clark, Louis Hitchcock, and Harper Russell
Grammar
Paddy Sander: A hard ball runner who loves the breakdown
Charles Slipper: A big and aggressive player who carries the team forward with his runs. big
Other key players: Billy Sheridan, Heath Schofield
12A
Downlands
Jack Crook-King: An all-rounder with good running, passing and kicking skills. His match awareness really sets him apart on the field.
Archer Russell: A solid ball runner who makes great contact in defence. A player that can
break the game apart.
Other key players: Max Jones, Paul Rouhead, and Harry English
Grammar
Hayden Watts: A big unit who can play centre of backrow. Has scored eight tries already this
season
Tom Rawlings: The talented 5/8th expertly steers the team around the field.
Other key players: Dougal Carroll, Rupert Raymond, Will Jenkins
13A
Downlands
Aidan Day: An aggressive ball runner who is quick onto the ball, a game changer and never drops his standards.
Tim Luck: One of the best props on the Downs. A top notch defender and ball runner with a great work rate.
Other key players: Charlie Killen, Noah Primus, and Pierce O’Brien
Grammar
Lawson Morris: A no-nonsense backrower who runs the ball hard and tackles just as well.
Ben McDonald: A versatile forward who rarely plays a bad game
Other key players: Alby Galbraith, Benson Humphries, Max Onley
13B
Downlands
Caelan McNicol: A solid defender and a great carrier of the ball. His body height in both
aspects of the game make him a damaging player.
Darcey Edwards: An excellent ball runner who uses his speed well and works hard in defence.
Other key players: Jayden Lyons, Darcy Edwards, and Jock Craddock
Grammar
Liam O’Mara: A standout forward with a high workrate.
Jock Kirkby: The backrower loves to compete and can always be relied on to work hard.
Other key players: De’aundre Yorkston, Archie Gibbons
14A
Downlands
Charlie Park: An outstanding player who is always reliable. He has the skills to break a game open and the trust from his team to pick them up when needed.
Matt Williams: A player full of potential. His skill, speed, and strength is something that is
rarely seen. Can break a game wide apart.
Other key players: Alex Phelan, Cormac Hass, and Harry Dwan
Grammar
Xavier Davey: A skilful backrower who is full of running.
Innis Nowlan: A hard running player who can line up as a backrower or centre
Other key players: Tom Penberthy, Dom Seaby, Jack Jellicoe
14B
Downlands
Ned Osmotherly: Runs the ball well and has great footwork.
Nathan Savage: A crafty little player who more often than not will get his team out of trouble with some smart plays.
Other key players: Cooper McKillop, Henry Telford, and Henry Zellars
Grammar
Darcy Coleborn: A fantastic backrower with a complete game.
Lachie Dayas: The fullback is developing his game every time he takes the field. A great
future prospect.
Other key players: George Anderson, Cooper Cook
15A
Downlands
Gavin Wilson-Tyres: A devastating prop with size, speed, agility and the ball skills to go with it. He is also outstanding in the scrum.
Max Primus: A dangerous outside back that has the size, speed and ball skills to break a game
apart.
Other key players: Xander O’Neil, Sonny Yates, and Henry Steer
Grammar
Harrison Humphries: The young prop is the cornerstone of the pack.
Bodhi Boehme: A fast and athletic player who always looks dangerous
Other key players: Ruben Kruger, Archer Bracey, Charlie Kinniburgh
15B
Downlands
Seb Hordern: A dangerous ball runner that is able to break the line with his speed and strength.
Jack Day: Has great footwork and ball skills. While relatively new to the game, his progression has been one to keep an eye on.
Other key players: Rusty Geillis, Connor Lindermayer, and Jack Franklin
Grammar
Thomas Gaffney: A hard running backrower who is always in the thick of the action.
Hughie Graham: A crafty 5/8th with a solid kicking game.
Other key players: Josh Ecroyd, Hugh Coffey
16A
Downlands
David Nunn: His cool, calm and collective nature can change a game. With the starting First XV caps this year, his kicking game and organisation is something to keep an eye on.
Hudson Campbell: A solid No. 8 who doesn’t give up and keeps ticking over. His speed and skills are able to change a game.
Other key players: Olliver Sharpe, Corey Mulheran, and Carter O’Brien
Grammar
Xavier Austin: A backrower with all the skills to change a game
Cale Maurice: A 5/8th with sublime skills who can steer the team around the park
Other key players: Rhymen Tuilagi Tusi, Headly Dongers, Seb Hepner
Third XV
Downlands
Charlie Lloyd: A key player on and off the field who has been a big part of the team’s success this season
Harry Kelly: Always plays with his heart, the flyhalf is always looking for ways to improve and add in fancy backline moves.
Grammar
Ryan Grimes: A work all day backrower or hooker who never plays a bad game
Jim Mann: A tough as nails lock and leader of the pack
Other key players: Eli McCutcheon, Campbell Gourley and Sam Shannon
Second XV
Downlands
Demetrius Christodoulou: An experience player who lined up for the First XV in the past, represented Darling Downs in 2023 and was also selected for QLD 2. Christodoulou is a reliable big game player.
Brody Lynch: The Darling Downs rep player is a star on the rise.
Grammar
Samson Chow: A strong backrower that carries the ball well. His offloads have created plenty of attacking opportunities this year.
Trace Beattie: A real spark in the backline playing at centre.
Other key players: Jermaine Sialau, Carter Liddiard, Cole Tweedy
FIRST XV
Downlands
George Nott: One of the hardest workers in the team
Clancy Adams: Selected for Darling Downs in 2023 he puts his body on the line in every game.
Adam Fahamokioa: The QLD Country rep loves doing the hard work when the game is on the line.
Charlie Yeomans: Aversatile hard working player who comfortable just about anywhere.
Hamish Loughnan: The engine of the team does not mind the hard work
Johnny Ryan: In his second year with the First XV the QLD Reds U16 player is a star on the rise.
Jake Stephens: The Darling Downs and QLD rep is back in the 1st XV this year. Stephens always leads by example, and leaves everything on the field
Mac Koch: The Darling Downs and QLD rep is the heart and soul of the team and has shown great leadership on and off the field.
Tom McDonnald: A nuggety number 9 that never stops.
Braith Clark: A great communicator and natural leader.
Luke Xuereb: Does not mind putting his body on the line and will challenge any defence.
Heath Lindenmayer: An excellent all-round player with tremendous ball skills
Jaycriyzel Patelesio-Faamausili: One of three brothers to feature for the First XV. Jay has plenty of big game experience.
Ben Lotz: The versatile wing is also comfortable at centre, works hard around the field and has exceptional pace.
Cormack Wainright: A player with tremendous ball skills and great Rugby IQ, Wainwright is also a QLD cricket rep player.
Grammar
Jeremiah Sialau: A skilful and hardworking prop/hooker with a high skill level and rugby IQ.
Ewald Kruger: Extremely skilful with ball in hand, Ewald is the ultimate professional.
Angus Buckley: Always the hardest working guy in the room, Buckley takes pride in his set piece work.
George Griffiths: A natural leader and hard working forward, look for him to win his collisions all game long.
Jonah Allen: A back in a forward’s body, Jonah is extremely skilful and agile, and is an asset on both sides of the ball come lineout time.
Tom Bailey: A big, hardworking flanker, Bailey’s carry and tackle will be crucial to winning the gain line battle on the weekend.
Joe Gray: One of the fittest players on the team, and a menace at the breakdown, look for Joe to disrupt opposition ball on defence.
Jimmy White: Consistently gets the little things right, look for Jimmy to do damage with his carry in the wider channels.
Jack Brown: The youngest player in the First XV, Jack will look to get his forwards over the gain line, before unleashing his attacking weapons outside.
Iliesa Baravilala: A very talented and skilful playmaker, Ili can manipulate defenders with his run, pass and kick.
Clancy McCosker: One of the fastest players in the team, Clancy will make defenders miss if given the chance to attack in space.
Chace Oates: Another one of the leaders of the First XV, his ability to make the right decisions at the right time put his side in the right areas of the field.
Harry Newnham: A big, agile and hardworking outside back with the size and power to consistently make the tough carries and tackles.
Will Holley: An experienced and reliable outside back who can do damage on both sides of the ball.
Richard Dean: An athletic outside back who is dangerous on counter-attack, consistently making the right decisions around his running and kicking game.
Ethan Brooks: A strong and powerful forward who is a nightmare for tight defenders to tackle.
Tom Fenwick: A strong ball carrier, look for Tom to add impact in the collisions on the weekend
Jamaine Sialau: Similar to his twin brother, Jamaine is extremely skilful and abrasive in the collisions.
Samson Chow: One of the strongest players in the squad, Samson is a talented and versatile forward who will consistently win collisions.
Cole Tweedy: A hardworking and abrasive flanker who will consistently deliver on the defensive side of the ball.
Matt Moore: An agile and skilful half, look for Matt to challenge the defence with his ability to run the ball, and put his forwards through the defensive line.
Trace Beattie: A versatile and physically gifted young man, Trace can fill multiple positions for the FIRST XV and has the teams full trust in his role.
Carter Liddiard: A natural athlete, Carter will consistently beat the first up tackler with his size, power and speed.
Noah Taylor: Noah is a skilful and intelligent forward who will consistently get it right in both the tight areas and wider channels.
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