Queensland add French match to Irish tour
Queensland's upcoming 17 day rugby development tour has been amended to include a match against French team, Nice.
A squad of 26 players will leave on August 19, two days after the Trinity Queensland Premier Rugby Grand Final, and play matches against Ulster, Connacht, Leinster and now, Nice, in the south of France.
QRU Performance Rugby Manager Ben Whitaker said the original tour plan had included a French component but when confirmation was delayed an alternative match with Munster A was arranged.
"Nice has now come back with a firm proposal and they're pretty keen, so we've agreed with Munster to swap back to the original plan," Whitaker said.
With no provincial rugby championship to follow the Premier Rugby season this year there was a need to provide 2009 QR Reds players and those knocking on the door of selection an opportunity to test their skills at a more competitive level.
The squad will be named next week, following this weekend's Premier semi-finals.
The revised itinerary is:
Tuesday, Aug 19 - depart Brisbane for Dublin
Thursday, Aug 21 - train to Belfast
Friday, Aug 22 - Match v Ulster
Saturday, Aug 23 - return to Dublin
Monday, Aug 25 - train to Galway
Tuesday, Aug 26 - Match v Connacht
Wednesday, Aug 27 - return to Dublin
Saturday, Aug 30 - Match v Leinster
Monday, Sept 1 - Fly to Nice, France
Wednesday, Sept 3 - Match v Nice
Thursday, Sept 4 - return to Dublin, fly to Brisbane
