The QR Reds have recruited former Wallaby prop Guy Shepherdson to add age and experience to their front row stocks.
QR Reds Head Coach Ewen McKenzie also confirmed the re-signings of exciting QAS Reds Academy centre Ben Tapuai, Australian Under 20s captain Jake Schatz and former Wallaby backrower/lock Radike Samo, who had joined the Reds squad in late season as an injury replacement.
Shepherdson joins the Reds as a specialist tighthead prop following seven-years of quality service at the Brumbies, where he earned 70 Investec Bank Super Rugby and 18 Wallaby caps.
“It’s not often you get to bring in someone as experienced as Guy and at 28, he still has plenty of life in him,” McKenzie said.
“We want to make our squad as competitive as possible and now we have a range of skills and experience in the front-row. As a group, we’ll benefit from that.
“There aren’t many tighthead props around that you can bring into your squad that have 18 Test matches and 70 Super Rugby games under their belt."
Shepherdson said the offer to be part of the Reds' resurgence was too good to refuse.
“I’ve been at the Brumbies a long time and change is sometimes good. With that in mind, Queensland is the most attractive place to come to at the moment for a number of reasons,” Shepherdson said.
“The talent they have is pretty exciting and I can see them having a lot of success in the next few years. With the environment Ewen has created, guys are playing really well and they seem to be enjoying their football. All round, it’s a great opportunity for me.
“But I’ve got a lot of hard work to do in gaining the respect of the coaching staff and players. They have some pretty high standards, so as a new player it’s up to me to get myself to that standard.”
McKenzie said bringing Tapuai, a former Australian Under 20s and Schoolboy representative, through from the Academy to the senior squad would provide additional options in the inside backs.
“Ben sat behind Anthony Fainga'a, who had a great season, this year, but we need competition and he offers different skills and that gives us diversity,” he said.
“He's a guy coming through with a lot of potential and in the few opportunities he had this year, we got a small taste of some of his skills.”
Tapuai’s development at inside-centre started during the Reds’ tour of South Africa this year and culminated in him making his first starting appearance against the Highlanders in the final round, where he acquitted himself well.
Tapuai, 21, is focused on adding to the four Super Rugby caps he has earned since debuting in 2009 with a try against the Crusaders, preferably by starting games rather than just finishing them.
“It’s always a privilege to put on the jersey and it’s an awesome feeling. But after experiencing 10 or 15 minutes from the bench most of the time, it has left me wanting more,” Tapuai said.
“I’m really excited for next year and re-signing is a great opportunity for me to become a better player. The boys this year really taught me how to be professional and touring South Africa was a really good experience.”
Brisbane-born but raised in Melbourne, Tapuai toyed with the idea of signing with the Rebels but decided staying put was his best option.
“It was tempting to go back home and be close to my family, but I’ve been in the Academy for three years and Queensland Rugby has been really good for me and my development,” he said.
“They have given me opportunities the past few years, so it was just common sense to stay here.”
Schatz, 19, enjoyed an outstanding debut Super Rugby season in 2010, where he played all three backrow positions in nine appearances for the Reds after stepping up from the QAS Reds Academy. He will captain the Australian Under 20s at the iRB Junior World Championships in Argentina this month.
Fijian-born Samo, 33, signed a short-term contract to provide depth at lock late this season, but impressed so much in two starting appearances that McKenzie opted to extend his contract to 2011 as a backrower/lock.
Guy Shepherdson
Position: Prop
Date of Birth: 17/02/1982
Place of Birth: Jakarta, Indonesia
Weight: 119kg
Height: 1.87m
School: Canberra Grammar, ACT
Super Rugby caps: 70 for Brumbies (75 state caps for Brumbies)
Super Rugby debut: 2004 v Blues
Test caps: 18
Test debut: 2006 v Ireland
Ben Tapuai
Position: Centre
Date of Birth: 6/6/1989
Place of Birth: Brisbane, Qld
Weight: 93kg
Height: 1.76m
Club: Gold Coast Breakers
Junior Club: Box Hill Rugby (Victoria)
School: The Southport School
QLD/Super caps: 4
QLD/Super debut: 2009 v Crusaders, Christchurch
QLD points: 5 (1t)
Jake Schatz
Position: Backrow
Date of Birth: 25/07/1990
Place of Birth: Brisbane, Qld
Weight: 103kg
Height: 1.9m
Club: Sunnybank
Junior Club: Sunnybank
School: Anglican Church Grammar School
QLD/Super caps: 9
QLD/Super debut: Feb 2010 v Crusaders, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Radike Samo
Position: Backrow/Lock
Date of Birth: 09/07/1976
Place of Birth: Fiji
Weight: 116kg
QLD caps: 2
QLD debut: 2010 v Hurricanes, Wellington
Super Rugby caps: 37 (35 for Brumbies. Super debut 2000 v Qld)
Test caps: 6
Test debut: 2004 v Scotland
