Reds announce powerhouse 2025 women's squad
01/13/2025 03:20 AM
NEWS: The Reds announced their 2025 women's squad with quality Wallaroos recruits Eva Karpani, Layne Morgan, and Tiarah Minns plus two exciting 17-year-olds.
The diligent pre-Christmas work of the wider training group has paid off with a 37-strong squad now selected for the Super Rugby Women's season.
The squad includes the dynamic extra dimension provided by five Australian sevens players with World Sevens Player of the Year Maddison Levi, sister Teagan, Charlotte Caslick, Kahli Henwood, and Bella Nasser.
The recruits bolster a core of class at the Reds where Ivania Wong, Carola Kreis, Bree-Anna Browne, Carys Dallinger, Lori Cramer, Mel Wilks, and others have contributed strong seasons of service.
The squad includes 13 players who have represented the Wallaroos and 12 new faces yet to pull on the maroon Queensland jersey.
"We're delighted to be able to unveil the best 37 players we have in Queensland and all the attributes they represent," Reds coach Andrew Fraser said.
"To have 13 players in the squad who have represented the Wallaroos shows the high-end experience of the group and a level of confidence to handle the tight situations a season throws at you.
"We are already seeing how having such role models is a real positive for the younger and newer girls in the squad.
"It's exciting times for Queensland women's rugby to see a squad of this calibre."
The shot of youthful energy in the squad is best demonstrated by centre Shalom Sauaso, last year's breakout rookie, and prop Sky-Yvette Faimalie. Both are just 17 and were teammates in Year 12 at Ipswich State High just a few months ago.
While the recruitment of powerful 31-Test prop Karpani was announced as a coup in October, the arrival of Morgan in Queensland is far more recent.
The Wallaroos regular of 29 Tests only this month relocated to the Gold Coast with her partner. It set in motion a link with the Reds after three Super W titles with the NSW Waratahs.
"I'm really excited and see this move to the Reds as a great challenge to take on," Morgan said.
"There were some nerves around leaving something I know but nothing ever good comes from easy decisions.
"I've finally finished my studies (an education degree with a maths major) which has given me more flexibility.
"This will be really good for my growth as a player and I've already seen, in two sessions, how hard the Reds girls are working and a really good team environment."
For Faimalie, she is already seeing the benefits of the headstart provided by being involved in the wider squad trainings since October.
"The naming of the squad is something I've really been looking forward to," Faimalie said.
"I've definitely learnt a lot already around skills and knowledge from the experienced team-mates I've been training with."
Faimalie, backrower Dillyn Blackburn, backline utility Faythe Manera, prop Jiowana Sauto, Morgan, outside back Michelle Curry, winger Piper Flynn and the five Australian sevens players are the squad members yet to make Queensland debuts.
The sevens players will be available for several matches in March.
2025 Reds Squad:
Ariana Hira - Bond University
Bella Nasser - Australian Sevens
Bree-Anna Browne - Brothers
Briana Dascombe - Wests
Caitlin Urwin - University of Queensland
Carola Kreis - Easts
Carys Dallinger - Easts
Charli Jacoby - TBC
Charlotte Caslick - Australian Sevens
Cristo Taufua - TBC
Deni Ross - Brothers
Dillyn Blackburn - Wests
Eva Karpani - Bond University
Faythe Manera - Bond University
Ivania Wong - Sunnybank
Jemma Bemrose - Bond University
Jiowana Sauto - TBC
Kahli Henwood - Australian Sevens
Layne Morgan - TBC
Lori Cramer - University of Queensland
Maddison Levi - Australian Sevens
Maraea Tupai - Wests
Melanie Wilks - Bond
Michelle Curry - Wests
Natalie Wright - University of Queensland
Piper Flynn - Easts
Renae Nona - Sunnybank
Sarah Riordan - Brothers
Sarah Dougherty - GPS
Shalom Sauaso - TBC
Sky-Yvette Faimalie - Sunnybank
Teagan Levi - Australian Sevens
Tiarah Minns - University of Queensland
Tiarna Molloy - Easts
Vineta Teutau - TBC
Zoe Hanna - Bond University
Zophronia Setu - University of Queensland
