Rugby Union - by Craig Hill

selected a name that would embrace the various stakeholders at club level.

He added that "Our team will draw on players and supporters from Cairns to Coolangatta – and possibly even rugby fans in northern NSW - in what is an exciting development for the code in Queensland,"

Trinity Queensland Premier Rugby semi-finalists Sunnybank and the Gold Coast Breakers fill 20 of the 28 squad places in the Mazda Australian Rugby Championship team the East Coast Aces, which was announced today.

Twelve members of the squad are contracted players with the QR Queensland Reds, with the balance made up of Reds Academy and Premier Rugby players.

Wallaby props Rodney Blake and Greg Holmes, and fullback Chris Latham, all returning from long term injuries, were not named in the Mazda ARC lineup but may also play during the tournament if that’s required as part of their Rugby World Cup preparations.

Powerful Reds and Breakers centre Lloyd Johansson has been named captain of the squad, which is coached by former World Cup coach John Boe and former Wallaby Garrick Morgan, who have already guided the Gold Coast Breakers to this Sunday’s major semi-final against GPS at Ballymore (kickoff 3pm), where Sunnybank will also be playing Wests in the minor semi-final (kickoff 1pm).

The East Coast Aces also drew players from the Easts and Souths clubs in Brisbane and considered players from the Queensland Country Heelers.

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