Bond University Rugby Football Club to host Queensland Country v Western Force semi-final

Bond University Queensland Country will host the Western Force in the National Rugby Championship semi-final at Bond University Rugby Football Club, kick-off at 2:00pm AEST this Sunday. 

This is Country’s second straight year hosting a home semi-final, having defeated the Fijian Drua at Toowoomba’s Clive Berghofer Stadium last year, before going on to beat the Canberra Vikings in Canberra to claim the 2017 premiership. 

Bond University has become a stable base for the Country side since the team played their first ever NRC game at the ground against NSW Country in Round 2 of the 2014 season. 

Having already played the Force at Bond back in Round 4, narrowly going down 42-40, the team are looking forward for another opportunity against the West Australians on Sunday. 

“We’re excited to have progressed to the semi-finals, we’ve been working hard on and off the field and we’re still in the fight for the title,” said Queensland Country captain Duncan Paia’aua. 

“Having narrowly gone down to the Force just a few weeks ago, we’re hungry to turn the result around on Sunday and hopefully progress through to the grand final. 

“Bond University is a great venue for Rugby and the team really enjoy playing there. It’s the one location we have consistently played at every year since the NRC first started and it’s become home base for the team.” 

Country have finished second overall on the NRC ladder at the end of the regular season, the same position as 2017, having narrowly dropped two matches to the Force and Brisbane City in Round 4 and 5. The team head into Sunday’s match off the back of two straight wins over the Sydney Rays and NSW Country. 

Queensland Country head coach Rod Seib said: “We’ve built some momentum over the past two weeks, claiming wins over both NSW teams, and we’ve provided ourselves with the opportunity to play a home semi-final at Bond. 

“Bond have been great supporters of Queensland Country and the NRC since the tournaments’ inception five years ago, and it’s fitting that we play our home semi at the University and thank them and the Gold Coast Rugby community for their ongoing support. 

“We’ve got a tough challenge ahead of us this weekend against the Force. They’ve been impressive throughout the season and will be reeling after their loss to the Fijian Drua last weekend. 

“The last time we played the Force the match finished six-tries-a-piece, with only two points from kicks separating the two sides. Sunday’s match will no doubt be another close encounter and a great spectacle for Rugby fans on the Gold Coast.” 

Bond University Executive Director of Sport, Garry Nucifora said: “We’re very excited to be hosting the semi at Bond, the spiritual home of the Queensland Country NRC team.”

“It will be a great opportunity for the boys to hit back at the Force after their narrow defeat at the canal here at Bond last time the squads met. Queensland Country has enormous respect for the Force who, although lost to Fiji on the weekend, will indeed prove a force to be reckoned with.

“Queensland Country is strongly represented by Bond University players and we look forward to seeing them trade their wares on their home turf on Saturday.”

While Queensland Country progress through to the NRC finals, McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City’s NRC campaign came to a close yesterday afternoon, after they narrowly missed out on a finals berth going down to the Vikings 13-10 at Easts Rugby Union Club in Brisbane. 

City finished the season having won four from seven matches in fifth place on the ladder, continuing to unearth exciting young talent emerging from Queensland Rugby’s pathway and club systems. 

Queensland Country will play the Western Force in their semi-final clash at 2:00pm on Sunday afternoon at Bond University Rugby Football Club, tickets will be $5.00 available at the gate with children under-12 free. The match will be broadcast LIVE on Fox Sports CH503.