2015 End of Season International Selections
2nd October 2015
Luke English Tour Co-Captain
Rabbitohs players, Bryson Goodwin and Issac Luke, have both been added to the New Zealand Kiwis train-on squad for the upcoming tour of England in October and November. The addition of the pair could pave the way for Goodwin to play his 11th Test of his international career, while Luke would play his 34th Test for the Kiwis if selected to play. New Zealand Coach Stephen Kearney was particularly impressed with the form of centre/winger Goodwin in the latter stages of the 2015 NRL season. "I thought Bryson finished off the year really well and while South Sydney were obviously disappointed with how it ended, he was one of their best players," Kearney told nzrl.co.nz. The selection also means that the pair could come up against Rabbitohs forwards George and Thomas Burgess if the brothers are selected to represent England. The wider Kiwis group consists of about 40 players and more will be named over the next three weeks as their NRL seasons end. Train-on camps will begin next week in Auckland and Sydney, with the 23-strong touring side to be announced soon after the NRL Premiership Grand Final on October 4. Congratulations to both Bryson and Issac on their selection in the squad.
Rabbitohs hooker, Issac Luke, has been named co-captain of the New Zealand Kiwis alongside Adam Blair for the side’s upcoming tour of England in October and November. The duo have been named by head coach Stephen Kearney to share the role that became vacant when incumbent Simon Mannering was ruled out of the tour for medical reasons earlier this week. Luke (Kiwi #749) has played 33 tests for New Zealand, two more than Blair, having made his debut in the 2008 Anzac Test and then coming off the bench for the World Cup triumph later that year. He was a driving force in South Sydney’s 2014 premiership-winning campaign, and then led the Rabbitohs to victory at the 2015 Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines as skipper. “Issac is very highly respected within the group and, again, has been part of the programme for a long time,” says Kearney. “He’s definitely one that’s grown over the course of his Kiwis career, both as a footballer and a leader.”
Tom Burgess English Selection
Thomas Burgess has been selected in England squad for the upcoming Kiwi 3 Test Tour of England and the lead up Test verses France.
Thomas Burgess has since been named in England’s 19-man squad for this Saturday’s international against France at Leigh Sports Village, Leigh.
Rabbitohs prop forward, Thomas Burgess, has also been named in England coach Steve McNamara’s 19-man England squad for each of the 2015 International Series against New Zealand. Starting from the interchange bench.
Rabbitohs NYC (under 20s) player, Wallace Tangiiti, has been selected at halfback in the Cook Islands’ World Cup Qualifier team to take on Tonga on October 17 at Campbelltown Stadium. A utility player, Tangiiti has played 43 games for the Rabbitohs 20s, scoring eight tries and fourteen points in the process for a total of 60 points. Cook Islands coach Alex Chan “I certainly believe that our qualifying match against Tonga will unveil some exciting and entertaining players. “I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what this squad is capable of.”
Johnston, Reynolds, McQueen and Tyrrells PMXIII Selections
Rabbitohs players Adam Reynolds, Alex Johnston, Chris McQueen and Dave Tyrrell have today (Tuesday) been selected in the Prime Minister’s XIII squad that will play against the Papua New Guinea Kumuls on Saturday September 26. Rabbitohs halfback, Adam Reynolds, will partner Titans five-eighth Kane Elgey in the halves, while Alex Johnston will start on the wing as part of a formidable back-three alongside Canberra’s Jack Wighton and Wests Tigers’ David Nofoaluma. In the forwards, Chris McQueen will start in the back-row, with Dave Tyrrell part of Coach Ivan Cleary’s extended bench. Cleary is viewing the match as an important selection trial for younger players looking ahead to 2016 Representative matches.
Murray Schoolboys Selections
Rabbitohs junior Cameron Murray has completed a successful year by being selected in the second row in both of the tests in the Australian Schoolboys Test Series verses New Zealand.