Rugby Union - by Craig Hill

The prefix Ballymore was attached to indicate not only the geographical aspect of north of the river and northern region, but also to enliven the tribal aspect by capturing all the devotees of Ballymore in making the Tornadoes their team

Nineteen members of the Brisbane-based Mazda Australian Rugby Championship team - the Wilson HTM Ballymore Tornadoes - have been selected from club rugby ranks, reinforcing the importance of the competition as a stepping stone to the fully professional game.

Nine members of the 28-man squad are contracted players with the QR Queensland Reds, with the balance made up mostly of semi-professional Reds Academy and Trinity Queensland Premier Rugby players.

Premier semi-finalists GPS and Wests fill 11 places in the squad, announced today along with the team’s principal sponsor, newly listed Wilson HTM Investment Group.

Wallaby prop Greg Holmes and hooker Sean Hardman have been drafted into the squad pending possible World Cup selection, while former Wallaby tourist and new Reds signing Leroy Houston is also included.

Reds flanker Tom McVerry is captain of the squad, which is coached by former Wallaby Chris Roche, assisted by Paul Healy.

The Ballymore Tornadoes also drew players from the Norths, University and Brothers clubs, along with the Sunshine Coast Stingrays who supply two players in prop Shon Siemoneck and No 8 Charles Wyllie. Former Brothers player David Collis joins the side from Sydney and Tim Sampson was drafted from East Coast Aces feeder club Sunnybank to provide more experience in the midfield.

Four of the 19 club players have come via the Reds Academy, selected on the basis of their efforts in Premier Rugby.

As its name suggests, the team will play its home games at Ballymore in Brisbane, with their first game in the eight team championship a local derby against fellow Queensland side, the East Coast Aces at the Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara on Sunday, August 12 (kickoff 4pm).