Sarah Riordan is zealous about a strong finish to her decorated career after being cleared to return for the Queensland Reds at Ballymore Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The former Wallaroo’s can-do mindset and abrasive play are just what the Reds need from the bench in the must-win clash against the Fijian Drua.
In the team named today, backrower Riordan and Australian sevens star Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea are two super-sub selections who add real firepower to the Reds’ cause.
At 34, Riordan makes no secret of the fact this is her final season in Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s after more than a decade in the game.
A knee injury sustained against the Drua in last year’s semi-final at Ballymore drove her to play on.
“It was disappointing to miss out on playing in last year’s grand final and I wasn’t going to finish my career on an injury,” Riordan said.
“It’s hard to stop when rugby has been a big part of my life but, yes, definitely, this is it…my last season.
“I’m determined to enjoy it to the full and finish on a high, collectively as a team.”
Riordan has overcome an ankle niggle and will bring her strong, direct running and cool leadership to the game.
After two losses to start the season, the Reds have to dig deep against the free-running Fijians.
“It was a tough loss in Perth last weekend. That’s rugby and we have another job to do on Saturday,” Riordan said.
"We've done it before (beaten the Drua) and we need to do it again. We are back at Ballymore where we love to play and it will be great to have a good crowd behind us."
The Reds uncorked two of their best performances of 2025 to twice beat the Drua and it will take nothing less on Saturday from 2:05pm.
Riordan knows Lefau-Fakaosilea’s huge capabilities because she was her centre partner when both debuted for the Reds in 2018.
Riordan was a Wallaroo at the time and the kid with the ponytail and line-busting running game was just 17.
“It’s good to have Alysia back. She adds a threat for sure. I know she’s excited about playing for the Reds again,” Riordan said.
“If anything, I've had to get her to slow down a bit at training because it’s a longer game in XVs not seven-minute halves in sevens.”
Akira Kelly returns to flyhalf after being laid low with the flu last weekend.
The versatile Harmony Vatau will play at fullback with Lori Cramer away playing for the Barbarians in London.
Ballymore Stadium
2:05pm, Saturday
Watch Live on Stan Sport
1 Jordan Neal - Brothers
2 Zophronia Setu - University of Queensland
3 Eva Karpani - Bond University
4 Lucy Thorpe - Bond University
5 Vineta Teutau – Brothers
6 Jemma Bemrose (c) - Bond University
7 Zoe Hanna - Bond University
8 Tiarna Molloy - Brothers
9 Sarah Dougherty - GPS
10 Akira Kelly - Bond University
11 Piper Flynn - Easts
12 Ava Wereta - Bond University
13 Briana Dascombe - Easts
14 Aroha Spillane – University of Queensland
15 Harmony Vatau - Sunnybank
16 Mary Tuaana - Wests
17 Hayley Glass - University of Queensland
18 Tanya Kalounivale - GPS
19 Dillyn Blackburn – Wests
20 Sarah Riordan - Brothers
21 Evie Sampson - Bond University
22 Charity Wightman-Beaven - University of Queensland
23 Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea - Australian Sevens
