Newcastle local Lewie Catt has been named amongst the Combined Country starting XV to face the British & Irish Lions at Hunter Stadium in Newcastle tomorrow, Tuesday 11 June.
From Newcastle’s Wanderers Rugby Club, Catt is the only NSW Country Rugby player in the Combined Country starting fifteen, stepping up alongside eight Super Rugby players, two Queensland Country players and four Sydney Premier Rugby players.
There have been two changes from the 23-man squad named on 1 June with Queensland Reds star, Beau Robinson ruled out following a head clash during last Saturday night’s match between the Reds and the British & Irish Lions.
Robinson’s Reds’ teammate, Jarrad Butler has been named at openside while Sydney Premier Rugby representative, Richard Stanford will run on at blindside flanker.
NSW Country representative, Ben Greentree has also been ruled out due to injury, replaced by Queensland Country Rugby player, Shaun McCarthy.
Queensland Country’s Rory Arnold moves onto the bench to complete the 23-man squad.
The 23-man line-up will be Captained by the Melbourne Rebels’, Tim Davidson as announced by Combined Country Coach, Cam Blades and his coaching staff today.
On the bench for the Combined Country side is one Super Rugby player, five Qld Country players, and two NSW Country players, including Singleton local and Wanderers Rugby Club representative, Dylan Evans, for the match against the Lions.
The match is an opportunity for some of Country Rugby’s best to pit themselves against the best from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Fans are being encouraged to dress in the Combined Country colours, blue, orange and black to show their support and counteract the Red of the Lions fans.
The game will provide a unique showcase of Australian Country Rugby during the DHL Australia 2013 Lions Tour giving the players a rare and exclusive opportunity to face the British & Irish Lions who only Tour Australia once every twelve years.
Tickets are still available to the Combined Country v British & Irish Lions Tour game at Hunter Stadium, Newcastle. So don't miss out on your chance to be part of Rugby history. Get your tickets now by clicking HERE
The Combined Country starting XV and the eight-man bench for the match against the British & Irish Lions is below:
Player
Team
Current Club
Regional Club/Born
1
Haydn HIRSIMAKI
QLD Country
Sunshine Coast Stingrays
Sunshine Coast
2
Josh MANN-RAE
Brumbies - Super Rugby
Gungahlin, ACT
Narromine
3
Tim METCHER
Premier Rugby - Southern Districts
Southern Districts, Sydney
Coffs Harbour
4
Phoenix BATTYE
Force - Super Rugby
Wanneroo, WA
Cooma
5
Blake ENEVER
Reds - Super Rugby
Easts, Brisbane
Sunshine Coast
6
Richard STANFORD
Premier Rugby - Eastern Suburbs
Eastern Suburbs, Sydney
Wellington
7
Jarrad BUTLER
Reds - Super Rugby
Easts, Brisbane
Gold Coast Breakers
8
Tim DAVIDSON (Capt)
Rebels - Super Rugby
Sydney University, Sydney
Young
9
Michael SNOWDEN
Force - Super Rugby
Eastwood, Sydney
Tamworth
10
Angus ROBERTS
Rebels - Super Rugby
Sydney University, Sydney
Gunnedah
11
Tom COX
Brumbies - Super Rugby
Uni-Norths, ACT
Sunshine Coast
12
Tareta-Junior SIAKISINI
QLD Country
Gold Coast Breakers
Gold Coast
13
Lewie CATT
NSW Country
Wanderers, Newcastle
Wanderers, Newcastle
14
Alex GIBBON
Premier Rugby - Southern Districts
Southern Districts, Sydney
Far North Coast NSW
15
Nathan TRIST
Premier Rugby - Sydney University
Sydney University, Sydney
Kiama
16
Tom KEARNEY
QLD Country
Noosa Dolphins
Sunshine Coast
17
Dylan EVANS
NSW Country
Wanderers, Newcastle
Singleton
18
Rikki ABRAHAM
QLD Country
Teachers West, Townsville
Townsville
19
Rory ARNOLD
QLD Country
Gold Coast Breakers
Gold Coast
20
Trent DYER
Rebels - Super Rugby
Sydney University, Sydney
Avoca Beach/Gosford
21
Adam McCORMACK
NSW Country
Hastings Valley, NSW
Hastings Valley, NSW
22
Shaun McCARTHY
QLD Country
Burdekin RUC, QLD
Townsville
23
Dale AHWANG
QLD Country
Barron-Trinity Bulls, Cairns
Far North Queensland