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Report: Reds lose Wallabies midfielder Hunter Paisami to injury hours out from Brumbies clash

(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

The Queensland Reds have been dealt a hefty injury blow in the lead-up to their blockbuster Super Rugby AU clash against the Brumbies in Brisbane.

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Wallabies midfielder Hunter Paisami has reportedly been ruled out of the match due to a calf injury, according to Fox Sports.

The 22-year-old had been named to start at centre for Brad Thorn’s side, but he has instead been replaced by Josh Flook, who had initially been named to start from the bench.

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Former Australua U20 representative Lawson Creighton has also come into the match day side to take Flook’s place on the pine.

Fox Sports reports that the Queensland outfit had hoped to keep the injury news quiet, but it is understood the youngster will be available for his side’s final match of the regular season against the Force in two weeks’ time.

Paisami has been a standout for the Reds since debuting for the franchise in 2019 and is part of a strong, youthful nucleus of the squad.

He – along with the likes of Jordan Petaia, James O’Connor, Filipo Daugunu, Suliasi Vunivalu, Tate McDermott, Jock Campbell and Bryce Hegarty – is also part of a lethal cohort of backs at Suncorp Stadium.

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Formerly of the Rebels, Paisami’s talent and potential was recognised by Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie last year, when he handed the former Australian Schools and Australian U20 representative a test debut against the All Blacks in Wellington.

Paisami went on to play in all six of Australia’s tests in 2020 and was included in Rennie’s 40-man training squad to congregate on the Gold Coast for a three-day training camp this month.

The Reds, meanwhile, sit atop the Super Rugby AU standings with six wins from as many matches, but a defeat to the second-placed Brumbies could see them lose their top-of-the-table status.

Victory over Dan McKellar’s side would ensure the Reds a first-place finish at the end of the regular season, which would guarantee them a home grand final for the first time since their only title-winning season in 2011.

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Kick-off for the match is scheduled for 7:45pm AEST.

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J
JW 44 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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