Two changes to Combined Country team to face Lions

Mon, Jun 10, 2013, 2:00 AM
AAP
by AAP

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

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