View From The Stand

The QR Reds today announced that four Australian Sevens stars from the QAS Reds Academy have been signed for the Reds senior squad in 2011.

Liam Gill, Ed Quirk, Dominic Shipperley and Kimami Sitauti have been developed through the talent development pathway to the point where they are now ready to step up to the Reds.

Head Coach Ewen McKenzie said all four teenagers had been identified as players the Reds wanted to keep long before they came to prominence on the international stage with eye-catching performances on the iRB World Sevens circuit.

"(Academy Head Coach) Paul Carozza and his team – supported by the Premier clubs – are doing a great job in identifying, nurturing and developing guys through the Academy to the point where they can take the next step with confidence," McKenzie said.

" Queensland is producing some terrific rugby talent and we're working hard at retaining the best to ensure that the medium and long term future of the Reds is secure.

“When you’re in a state that develops rugby talent, you have to make early decisions and be decisive. The guys we are announcing today have all done great things in their rugby careers already and we see very bright futures.”

The youngest of the four, flanker Gill was tour captain of the Australian Schoolboys last year and has already been blooded at senior level, scoring a try off the bench for a Queensland 2nd XV in a pre-season trial match against an Australian Barbarians side.

Fellow backrower Quirk also had a decorated Australian Schools career before stepping up to the senior ranks in 2009 in international Sevens and Queensland Premier Rugby, winning Colt of the Year.

Outside back Dominic Shipperley joined the international Sevens circuit in 2009 and also played for a Queensland XV against Japan last year, showing dazzling speed and footwork to score the winning try late in the match.

Kimami Sitauti is another fast and elusive winger, who played for Souths in the 2009 Premier Grand Final against Brothers before heading overseas with the Australian Schoolboys tour to the UK . New to the international Sevens circuit this year he has proved a sensation with his speed and power.

Gill said it was an easy decision to sign, having grown up in Queensland .

“It makes it even more rewarding knowing that they’re happy to have us here as much as we want to stay,” Gill said.

Quirk said he couldn’t wait to receive an opportunity next season with the Reds enjoying plenty of success on the field.

“There’s a lot of hype with the Reds doing so well this year and that fuels the younger guys to come through and be part of that,” Quirk said.

“It makes us work harder. You really want to work hard to earn a spot.”

Player Profiles

Liam Gill
Liam was named tour captain for the Australian School Boys tour of the UK in 2009. A mobile flanker who causes plenty of trouble at the breakdown for the opposition, the talented teen is a member of the Australian Sevens squad for 2010. Born in Melbourne , Liam lived in the United States for several years before relocating to Brisbane .

Position Flanker
Date Of Birth 8/6/1992
Place of Birth Melbourne
Weight 86kg
Height 1.84m
Junior Club Sunnybank Juniors
School Gregory Terrace

Ed Quirk
Ed represented Queensland and Australia as a Schoolboy and won the Bronze Boot Award for being the best player on the field during a New Zealand v Australia Schoolboys match in 2008. His representative honours include QLD Under 16s (2007); Queensland Schoolboys (2008); Australia A (2008); Australian Schoolboys (2008); QAS Reds Academy (2009-10, Australian Sevens (2009-2010). Ed’s performances with Easts in Premier Rugby in 2009 earned him the award of Colt of the Year.

Position No. 6 - Blindside Flanker
Date Of Birth 28/08/1991
Place of Birth Brisbane
Weight 95kgs
Height 190cm
Club Easts
Junior Club Redlands
School Brisbane State High School

Dominic Shipperley
An accomplished athlete, Dominic made his Australian Sevens debut in early 2009, relying on sheer pace to blitz his opposition and quickly becoming a prolific try scorer on the Sevens circuit. He toured the UK with the Australian Sevens, playing in London and Edinburgh in early 2009, before returning home to resume his studies in engineering and commerce at the University of Queensland . His representative honours also include: Australian Schools (2008); QLD A (2009); U19 City-Country (2009). He scored a dazzling late try for a Queensland XV to secure a 24-17 victory over Japan in a midweek match in 2009, evading two defenders with some fancy footwork and blistering speed along the left touch line to seal the match.

Position Outside Backs - Wing/Outside Centre/Fullback
Date Of Birth 4/1/1991
Place of Birth Redcliffe, Qld
Weight 86kg
Height 1.85m
Club Brothers
School St Josephs Nudgee College

Kimami Sitauti
A fast and elusive winger, Australian-born Kimami pulled on the gold jersey for the first time in 2009 after representing New Zealand in the U17s and Auckland U16s. He was selected in the GPS 1st XV and Queensland Schools in 2009 and was awarded the man of the match in his Australian Schools debut against Tonga . The Nudgee college product played on the wing for Souths in the 2009 Premier Grand Final before heading overseas with the Australian Schools tour of the UK . Snapped up on his return for the Australian Sevens squad, Sitauti scored his first IRB Sevens try when he touched down in Australia ’s opening victory over the unpredictable Papua New Guinean side in Wellington in 2010.

Position Wing
Date Of Birth 12/04/1991
Place of Birth Sydney
Weight 90kg
Height 1.83m
Club Souths
Junior Club Ponsonby (NZ)
School Nudgee College