RISING TO TAKE 27 PLAYERS TO ORANGE
RISING MEDIA UNIT
The Melbourne Rising will take a 27 man touring squad to Orange this weekend. 12 members of the squad are Dewar Shield players, while 22 players featured in the Dewar Shield competition in 2014.
23 players will be named in tomorrow’s matchday squad for the Rising, who face NSW Country Eagles on Saturday afternoon in Round 5 of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC), while four players will feature for the Australian Barbarians in the curtain raiser against the Eagles’ Development Squad.
Melbourne Rising Head Coach Sean Hedger was pleased that the Barbarians had extended an invite for four players, and was looking forward to the opportunity to work with 27 Melbourne Rising players over the course of the weekend.
“There are guys coming up who have been working so hard to put themselves in the frame for Rising selection,” Hedger said. “The four players who will be released to represent the Australian Barbarians will come up against quality opposition and gain some important match practice in the process.
“Just as importantly, they get the opportunity to embed themselves within the Melbourne Rising squad for the weekend. These guys have an important role to play for us on and off the field throughout the remainder of the competition, and have been training hard behind the scenes; they deserve to be here, as part of the squad.”
The Melbourne Rising team to face NSW Country will be announced on Thursday morning. Sefanaia Naivalu (hand), Jonah Placid (knee) and Toby Smith (knee) will miss after starting in last Thursday’s 44-24 win over Perth Spirit, with their injuries to be assessed over the next few days.
Melbourne Rising touring squad to Orange
Props
Ah-Nau, Cruze (Footscray/Melbourne Rebels)
Alo-Emile, Paul (Power House/Melbourne Rebels)
Sa’aga, Fereti (Melbourne Uni)
Simpson, Finbar (Melbourne)
Tuia, Tuiatua (Moorabbin)
Hookers
Leafa, Pat (Box Hill/Melbourne)
Sexton, Tom (Power House/Melbourne)
Locks
Hamilton, Angus (Harlequin)
Jeffries, Sam (Melbourne Uni/Melbourne Rebels)
Neville, Cadeyrn (Footscray/Melbourne Rebels)
Back Rowers
Jones, Luke (Moorabbin/Melbourne Rebels)
McMahon, Sean (Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels)
Rolleston, Reuben (Endeavour Hills)
Simona, Pom (Harlequin)
Taufa, Sione (Harlequin)
Timani, Lopeti (Foostcray/Melbourne Rebels)
Halves
Debreczeni, Jack (Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels)
Johansson, Lloyd (Harlequin)
Meehan, Ben (Box Hill/Melbourne Rebels)
Stirzaker, Nic (Endeavour Hills/Melbourne Rebels)
Centres
English, Tom (Melbourne Uni/Melbourne Rebels)
Imo, Shane (Footscray)
Inman, Mitch (Southern Districts/Melbourne Rebels)
Naufahu, Martin (Footscray)
Outside Backs
Kamana, Joe (Moorabbin)
Lautolo-Molimau, Rennie (Endeavour Hills)
Veainu, Telusa (Melbourne/Melbourne Rebels)