Reef Raiders stepping out with whole new international flavour
Rugby Union
A new-look Reef Raiders rugby union team is looking to start the season in style tomorrow as the first round kicks off in Port Douglas.
The First Fifteen features 10 new players debuting for the club, with the team up against Southside at Port Douglas sports park from 4pm on Saturday, as a new influx of travellers replaces much of last season’s preliminary-final making side.
The new recruits are from a wide range of countries, including England, France, Spain, Ireland, New Zealand, Italy, Chile and Fiji.
A couple to watch out for are second five player Juan Cervan (number 12), of Spain, and lock Joe McNeill (4), from England.
Other debutantes include Sean Farrell, Kevin Lynch, Harry Erraji and Cillian Murphy.
Club president Travis Gooch says he is looking forward to the start of the season.
“We are basically a whole new team,” Gooch says.
“It will be good to get out there and see what they can do.”
One positive addition this year is that a new Atherton Tablelands team will be operating as the reserve grade, so there are more options for player crossovers where needed, Gooch says.
The first round of the new Far North Queensland Rugby season was scheduled to start for the Reef Raiders last Saturday against the Northern Beaches Mudcrabs, but was postponed due to a rain-affected West Barlow Park ground.
That entire round of competition will now be played on Saturday, April 26.