Latest news with #JockCampbell
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Lions Tour, v Reds, news and scores: Toomaga-Allen gives Reds early lead over the Lions
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen has given the Reds an early lead against the British and Irish Lions, in a tour game which doubles as a chance to impress for a gold Wallabies jersey. Jock Campbell is living a rugby dream as he captains Queensland against the British and Irish Lions, and it's a dream start after the Reds scored fired at Suncorp Stadium. Reds custodian Campbell will become the state's 125th rugby union captain, 12 years after watching the 2013 Lions series from the stands as fullback of The Southport School's Second XV. The Lions Tour only comes around once every 12 years, with the Reds falling just short in a 22-12 loss back in 2013. Quade Cooper captained the Reds on that night, and this week the decorated former Wallaby wrote why that experience remains such a major moment in his career. For some, like Hunter Paisami and Matt Faessler, it shapes as an opportunity to show Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt why they deserve a gold jersey later in the tour.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Jock Campbell pens own Farr-Jones fairytale with Reds Lions captaincy
Queensland rugby's answer to the Nick Farr-Jones fairytale will be writ large on the international stage when Jock Campbell leads the Reds into battle against the British and Irish Lions. Farr-Jones, the Wallabies captain from 1988 to 1992, has been the inspirational poster boy for every man, woman and child to miss out on selection for their dream team ever since he missed out on Newington's First XV in 1979. His timeless tale of perserverence to lead Australia to 1991 World Cup glory has become the stuff of legend, echoing through the years to Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night. When Reds custodian Campbell leads his team out the tunnel he will become the state's 130th rugby union captain, 12 years after watching the 2013 Lions series from the stands as fullback of The Southport School's Second XV. Like Farr-Jones, the unheralded Campbell never started a match for the school's flagship team before blossoming into the school's 20th Wallaby. First XV coach Mike Wallace said he was immensely proud of the late bloomer's rise to captain his state against the Lions. 'It's fantastic. It's a testament to the type of person he is and that people have recognised his qualities as a human as much as his qualities as a footballer,' Wallace said. 'Jock is a really good example of persistence, hard work and effort paying off in the end.' Those traits were apparent in The Southport School's boarding house as early as age 13 but were drawn into sharp focus as Campbell battled injury in his senior year. A back injury sustained while pace bowling in TSS' First XI cricket campaign was exacerbated during the First IV tennis season, robbing Campbell of precious opportunities to train in the lead-up to the First XV season. 'He was a very good touch footballer and an all-round great sportsman; rugby, cricket, tennis,' Wallace said. 'Jock had a stress fracture in his back from the First XI and only got through the first few rounds (of tennis) before his back gave up on him. 'I think he maybe even had ankle injuries as well, so there were multiple things going on in that final year of school (that conspired against his selection).' Campbell's toughness saw him fight through his injury pain to start every match of the Second XV season instead. What Wallace never doubted was the fullback's toughness. 'He was a classic country kid who was and remains a bloody good human,' he said. 'He had fantastic talent across multiple sports. He ended up a school prefect, was well-respected, a really good academic. He was highly regarded, was good to his mates. He could do anything.' Campbell's touch football background translated into a keen awareness of the space around him as a schoolboy but his slight build and lack of a long kicking game limited him to the occasional First XV appearance off the bench. It was on the rugby sevens field for University of Queensland after graduation that Campbell's success story began brewing. UQ assistant coach Andrew Brown, a former Aussie Sevens representative, had been impressed by the quicksilver Gold Coast product during the club's summer sevens circuit and flagged Campbell as a potential Premier Grader to coach Mick Heenan. After two seasons in the club's under-20s Heenan gave Campbell his shot on the wing, learning the ropes from future Wallaby fullback Tom Banks in 2016. Banks' departure to the Brumbies the following season was the chance Campbell had been waiting for. Campbell filled the vacant No.15 jersey and helped lead UQ to the 2017 Hospital Cup. He was drafted into Brad Thorn's Queensland Country team, wining the National Rugby Championship that same season and setting in motion his pathway to the Reds. Heenan said Campbell's story was the ultimate endorsement of Queensland's pathways. 'He was definitely unheralded,' Heenan said. 'He never had any rep selections, he didn't come to UQ on the back of any rep career. He certainly wasn't in first grade straight out of colts. 'What he is, is encouragement for players who don't make the academy as a 16- or 17-year-old. He was never in that pathway. He's just a guy who loved his footy, loved playing with his mates and every level he got to, he excelled at. 'I'd love to see him get another opportunity at Wallaby level because I think he'd thrive in that environment as well.' The appointment of Reds coach Les Kiss to succeed Joe Schmidt at the Wallabies will give Campbell a chance to feature during the 2027 Rugby World Cup. A one-year contract extension announced this week will keep Campbell in Red for Kiss' takeover, with six months to negotiate whether Campbell's versatility could be an asset to the 2027 Wallabies squad. 'Having experience around our program is so important. Jock's communication on the field is valuable for other players apart from the strong skills to his own game,' Kiss said this week. 'When I first arrived at the Reds, Jock was one of the senior players who helped me a lot around the coaching. 'To have a smart footballer capable of playing fullback, wing or a role at flyhalf during a game is the sort of flexibility all squads need.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kiss urges under-strength Reds to 'rip in' against Lions
Jock Campbell (C) will captain the Queensland Reds against the British and Irish Lions (William WEST) Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss called on his side to dominate the breakdown and "rip in" against the British and Irish Lions after on Monday naming a team missing a host of key players. The Reds face the tourists in Brisbane on Wednesday, having watched Andy Farrell's men demolish Western Force 54-7 at the weekend. Advertisement "In this match, we have to be very good at the breakdown and aerially. They've shown their attacking side too," said Kiss, who will take over from Joe Schmidt as Wallabies boss next year "We have to meet those challenges but we'll put our brand of rugby out there as well. We'll keep backing ourselves. Why can't we put our best foot forward, rip in and see what happens?" The Reds' job has been made harder by the absence of six players who remain with the extended Australia squad as they prepare for a one-off Test against Fiji on Saturday. While Schmidt released hooker Matt Faessler and centre Hunter Paisami, the likes of Tate McDermott, Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson remain in camp. Advertisement Kiss was still able to name a squad boasting nine Wallabies and two All Blacks, with experienced fullback Jock Campbell captaining the side. The pack has been stiffened by the inclusion of prop Aidan Ross, who signed for the Reds after playing for the Waikato Chiefs in the recent Super Rugby final. Ross, who played a Test for the All Blacks in 2022, will form a front-row with Faessler and former New Zealand prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen. Both Ross and Toomaga-Allen have previous experience packing against the Lions in 2017 for Super Rugby clubs. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto partners Josh Canham in the second row, with Seru Uru and John Bryant as the flankers with Joe Brial at No.8. Advertisement Kalani Thomas at No.9 and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips form the half-back pairing with Paisami and Josh Flook together in the centres. "Excitement is high that's for sure," Kiss said. "This is a great opportunity for our Reds players." When the two sides met in 2013, the Lions won 22-12. Queensland Reds (15-1): Jock Campbell (capt); Lachie Anderson, Josh Flook, Hunter Paisami, Tim Ryan; Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Kalani Thomas; Joe Brial, John Bryant, Seru Uru; Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Josh Canham; Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Matt Faessler, Aidan Ross Replacements: Josh Nasser, George Blake, Sef Fa'agase, Ryan Smith, Angus Blyth, Connor Vest, Louis Werchon, Isaac Henry mp/dh
The Age
23-04-2025
- Sport
- The Age
The ‘controversial' call that launched Wallabies star into Lions box seat
A 'controversial' call may have stalled Hunter Paisami's season, but Reds coach Les Kiss believes it has opened the floodgates for his star centre to produce his best football. The Wallabies' sensation received a two-game suspension – downgraded from three upon completing World Rugby's Coaching Intervention program – following an incident in Queensland's round-two triumph of Moana Pasifika. At the time, Kiss strongly considered fighting the punishment, believing the collision, which was not penalised, warranted a dangerous tackle charge. But as outside centre Josh Flook was joined by fullback Jock Campbell and Filipo Daugunu in the casualty ward, Kiss needed Paisami to stand up upon his comeback. 'He had an incident that was quite controversial, it put him out of the game, and he'd started the season really well. But then it just … refocused him really well,' Kiss said ahead of his side's Anzac Day battle with the Blues. 'Once we had a few injuries like Flooky and Jock Campbell, he had to step up to the plate, and the way he has mentored young Dre Pakeho has been impressive on a lot of fronts. 'Some people, when they take on that extra responsibility, something else comes out of them. 'I think we're seeing a real mature, real focused Hunter. He's always been good for us, he's been impressive all the way, but there are these other layers of his leadership, in his quiet way, coming through that are necessary for us to cover those midfield injuries.'
Sydney Morning Herald
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The ‘controversial' call that launched Wallabies star into Lions box seat
A 'controversial' call may have stalled Hunter Paisami's season, but Reds coach Les Kiss believes it has opened the floodgates for his star centre to produce his best football. The Wallabies' sensation received a two-game suspension – downgraded from three upon completing World Rugby's Coaching Intervention program – following an incident in Queensland's round-two triumph of Moana Pasifika. At the time, Kiss strongly considered fighting the punishment, believing the collision, which was not penalised, warranted a dangerous tackle charge. But as outside centre Josh Flook was joined by fullback Jock Campbell and Filipo Daugunu in the casualty ward, Kiss needed Paisami to stand up upon his comeback. 'He had an incident that was quite controversial, it put him out of the game, and he'd started the season really well. But then it just … refocused him really well,' Kiss said ahead of his side's Anzac Day battle with the Blues. 'Once we had a few injuries like Flooky and Jock Campbell, he had to step up to the plate, and the way he has mentored young Dre Pakeho has been impressive on a lot of fronts. 'Some people, when they take on that extra responsibility, something else comes out of them. 'I think we're seeing a real mature, real focused Hunter. He's always been good for us, he's been impressive all the way, but there are these other layers of his leadership, in his quiet way, coming through that are necessary for us to cover those midfield injuries.'
