Holmes, Turinui to co-captain Reds’ tour squad

Wallabies Greg Holmes and Morgan Turinui will co-captain a Queensland Reds squad of 25 players on a 17 day, four match development tour of Ireland and France later this month.

The squad includes a mix of Super 14 players, up and coming QAS Reds Academy rookies and in-form players from the Trinity Queensland Premier Rugby competition.

The Reds’ new recruits for 2008, Junior Waratahs lock Adam Byrnes, former Brumbies centre Anthony Faingaa and Canberra prop Jack Kennedy, are in the side, along with Wallaby wing Digby Ioane and fellow capped Reds Leroy Houston, Van Humphries, Ben Lucas, Will Genia, Poutasi Luafutu and Scott Higginbotham.

Young uncapped Reds’ lock Robert Simmons is in the squad, along with some of the brightest young talent from the QAS Reds Academy, some of whom like hooker James Hanson and exciting fullback Aidan Toua will step up to the senior side in 2009.

Outstanding playing form in the Premier Rugby competition has also been rewarded, with Brothers’ centre James Harvey and Sunshine Coast Stingrays prop Shon Siemonek called into the squad.

Another strong club performer in 2008, Brothers backrower Andrew Shaw, son of former Wallaby and Reds captain Tony Shaw, is in the squad as is 18-year old University flyhalf Jono Lance, the son of former Canberra Raiders rugby league premiership winning captain and now NRL coach, Dean Lance. Both players will come into the Academy fold in 2009.

Holmes said being given the co-captaincy by coach Phil Mooney was unexpected but a call he was delighted to receive.

“I’m pretty happy about it. When I was one of the younger players in the squad it was something I didn’t really give much thought to. But I suppose the longer you manage to hang around, these things come up,” said the 25 year old with 13 Tests and 35 Queensland caps to his name.

“It’s nice to know the coaches are thinking about you in that way.

“I’m sure if some of the Wallaby guys had been going on the tour I wouldn’t have been given the opportunity, but I have and I’ll take it. I’ll do my best to lead by example,” Holmes said.

The squad will leave Brisbane on August 19, two days after the Trinity Queensland Premier Rugby Grand Final, and play matches against Irish sides Ulster, Connacht and Leinster and French provincial side, Nice.

The Queensland Reds squad is:

Forwards: Greg Holmes (prop, Sunnybank, co-captain), Albert Anae (prop/hooker, Sunnybank), Adam Byrnes (lock), James Hanson (hooker, University), Scott Higginbotham (backrow, Wests), Leroy Houston (No 8, Norths), Van Humphries (lock, Souths), Jack Kennedy (prop), Poutasi Luafutu (flanker, Wests), Jake Schatz (backrow, Sunnybank), Andrew Shaw (backrow, Brothers), Shon Siemonek (prop, Sunshine Coast), Robert Simmons (lock, Sunnybank), James Slipper (prop, Gold Coast).

Backs: Morgan Turinui (centre, Sunshine Coast, co-captain), Anthony Faingaa (centre), Charlie Fetoai (centre, Sunnybank), Will Genia (scrumhalf, Wests), James Harvey (centre, Brothers), Digby Ioane (wing, Sunnybank), Jono Lance (flyhalf, University), Ben Lucas (scrumhalf, Sunnybank), Luke Morahan (wing, University), Ben Tapuai (centre, Gold Coast), Aidan Toua (fullback, Easts).

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