Rebels coach Tony McGahan will have a look at plenty of his new faces on Monday, with a 31-man sqaud named to take on the Force.
Wallabies Sefa Naivalu and Lopeti Timani will line up in their preseason opener, while Kiwi recruit Jackson Garden-Bachop will have his first run at flyhalf, in what looms as his Super Rugby audition.
Marika Koroibete will miss, still battling a knee injury that has him in doubt for the Brisbane Tens and potentially the start of Super Rugby.
A surprise inclusion is Randwick’s Nick Kellaway, twin of Waratah Andrew, named among the reserves amid the Rebels’ injury worries.
Former Queensland Red Jake Schatz will have his first run for the Rebels, coming off the bench, after being added to the squad with Sean McMahon set to miss the first month of the season.
McGahan said every player would have a run in the next fortnight, with this trial, the Brisbane Tens and a Februar y14 trial against the Reds to come.
“The first trial is an exciting time of the year because it’s the first opportunity to put 10 weeks of pre-season into practice,” McGahan said.“We’ve got a heavy schedule over the next ten days with two trial matches against the Force and Reds, along with the Brisbane Tens next weekend, so we will give everyone some game time during this block.”
“We’ve got a heavy schedule over the next ten days with two trial matches against the Force and Reds, along with the Brisbane Tens next weekend, so we will give everyone some game time during this block.”
The Rebels take on the Force at Bond University on Monday February 6, kicking off at 6:30pm AEDT.
TEAM
Rebels to take on Force
1. Cruze Ah-Nau
2. Pat Leafa
3. Laurie Weeks
4. Culum Retallick
5. Steve Cummins
6. Lopeti Timani
7. Jordy Reid
8. Harley Fox*
9. Nic Stirzaker (captain)
10. Jackson Garden-Bachop*
11. Tom English
12. Sione Tuipulotu
13. Mitch Inman
14. Sefa Naivalu
15. Jack Maddocks*
Reserves
16. Siliva Siliva
17. Tom Moloney
18. Tyrel Lomax*
19. Jordan Uelese*
20. Jake Schatz*
21. Ben Meehan
22. Jack Debreczeni
23. Ben Volavola*
24. Mick Snowden
25. Jonah Placid
26. Nick Kellaway*
27. Jack McGregor*
28. Fereti Sa’aga*
29. Ikapote Tupai*
30. Dennis Pili-Gaitau*
31. Semisi Tupou*
*uncapped Rebels
