14 March, 2023
Queensland Reds trio to visit Caboolture this Friday
The Caboolture Rugby Union Club will welcome home two of its own as Queensland Reds players visit clubs across south-east Queensland this Friday night.
Caboolture junior Ryan Smith and former Caboolture women’s player Mel Wilks will be joined by Reds prop Harry Hoopert in a visit to the Petersen Road venue from 5.30pm.
The guests will promote rugby union and the Reds’ Sunday clash with the Fijian Drua at Suncorp Stadium.
While the Reds are visiting, the Caboolture Snakes rugby union club will also host a scrum clinic for the teenage forwards, featuring the Snakes’ own Tongan international and former Auckland Blues player Tevita Mailau.
The local barber was hesitant to coach when he first came to the area in 2019 after finishing his playing career in France. Time with his sons’ junior teams opened his eyes and made him realise he still has a lot to offer, and he has gone on to help the next generation of props and forwards in the game.
Mel is a star on the rise, having been selected in the Wallaroos squad last year. She is looking to make the most of every opportunity with her club side Bond Uni and the Queensland Reds Super W side, with the Super W season starting on March 24.
Mel and her Bond Uni teammates won last year’s grand final 25-12 against Easts, with Mel named the inaugural Cheyenne Campbell medal winner for player of the match. The junior Caboolture touch star has also started this year strongly, having been selected in the Queensland Reds AON Next Gen 7s side which took out the crown in the wet at Toowoomba last weekend.
Caboolture Rugby invites everyone to Petersen Road to meet the Reds, give rugby a try and stay to watch Caboolture’s senior squad play an internal trial before taking on the Griffith Knights at home the following weekend.
Caboolture Rugby still has plenty of spaces in its U4/5 development squad, U6-9 age groups, U12 and girls’ program.
