Written by Reds Media Unit on Nov 20, 2024 08:00 AM, courtesy of qld.rugby Source article.
Reds warhorse Carola Kreis…home game lift in store at Ballymore
Three home games for the 2025 Super Rugby Women’s season is an ideal draw for the Queensland Reds to rebuild by turning Ballymore Stadium into a fortress.
Senior leader Carola Kreis is delighted with the flow to the draw as unveiled today with an exciting new trans-Tasman punchline for all teams.
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In an historic partnership, the Super Rugby Women’s champion will face the winner of New Zealand’s Super Rugby Aupiki competition in the inaugural Champions Final on Thursday, April 17.
With the Melbourne Rebels no longer, an inventive way has been found to make sure all four Australian teams play on each weekend of the five-round season.
All clubs will play development fixtures against Penina Pasifika, an amalgam of talent from the Pacific region, most particularly Samoa and Tonga.
The Penina Pasifika team will be funded through the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program just as the Queensland women’s team’s landmark tour to Tonga was in July.
Influential Wallaroos recruit Eva Karpani will get her first chance to play at Ballymore as a Red against Penina Pasifika on March 1.
The season-proper follows with matches against Fijian Drua (March 8), NSW Waratahs (March 16), ACT Brumbies (March 22) and Western Force (March 30).
The matches against Penina Pasifika, the Waratahs and Force will be played at Ballymore Stadium.
“It’s awesome to know Ballymore will be our home with that smaller, more intimate vibe. The girls love playing there,” 2024 standout Kreis said.
“We play a high-level, physical trial against Penina before facing a similar team in the Drua.
“We meet the high-tempo Drua before we play the defending champions from NSW.
“It’s a really good build-up through the season.”
Kreis has already felt the positive vibe at pre-season training through November.
“We’ve gathered a really good group of girls with the right balance of leadership, senior players and newer faces. Overall, you just feel the right attitude is there to leave last season behind us and make 2025 a good year,” Kreis said.
Flanker Kreis was the Shannon Parry Medallist as the Reds’ best during a disappointing 2024 campaign when the team missed the semi-finals.
Andrew Fraser is on board as the new head coach. He likes the draw and the challenges built into it.
“We’re delighted to have three quality games at Ballymore Stadium. It’s rugby’s home in Queensland, it’s women’s rugby’s home, and we aim to make it a fortress,” Fraser said.
“We have three afternoon time slots there and we want to engage with the crowds and keep them coming back.
“It will be a tough initiation going to Lautoka to face the Drua and it will show how well we’ve prepared.
“Playing the Waratahs at home is going to be a huge litmus test for us.
“They are great challenges to look forward to.
“We are into the rigours of pre-season training. There are smiles on faces and the data shows we are improving each week.
“We have a number of new players in the squad who are buying into the standards we are setting.”
Centre Briana Dascombe is back from the injury that grounded her for the 2024 campaign while 2023 Wallaroos prop Bree-Anna Cheatham is only weeks away from full training after the major knee surgery that ruined this season.
Just as Ballymore was locked in for the 2024 grand final, North Sydney Oval will be the venue for the 2025 climax on April 12.
“Super Rugby Women’s will go to another level in 2025 as our teams compete for both the championship and the right to participate in the first-ever Women’s Super Rugby Champions Final,” said Rugby Australia General Manager Women’s Rugby Jilly Collins.
“As well as a historic event for the women’s game, the final will be a showcase of elite women’s Rugby that helps to elevate the game across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.”
Every game of the 2025 Super Rugby Women’s season will be broadcast ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport.
REDS’ 2025 SUPER RUGBY WOMEN’S DRAW
All times local
Round 1
Sat 1 Mar – Development fixture v Penina Pasifika – Ballymore Stadium (3pm)
Round 2
Sat 8 Mar – v Fijian Drua – Churchill Park, Lautoka (1:05pm)
Round 3
Sun 16 Mar – v NSW Waratahs – Ballymore Stadium (2:05pm)
Round 4
Sat 22 Mar – v ACT Brumbies – Viking Park, Canberra (1:05pm)
Round 5
Sun 30 Mar – v Western Force – Ballymore Stadium (1:05pm)
SEMI-FINALS
Fri 4 Apr – Sat 5 Apr
Teams ranked 1st and 2nd will host the Semi-Finals
GRAND FINAL
Sat 12 Apr – North Sydney Oval (2:35pm)
2025 WOMEN’S SUPER RUGBY CHAMPIONS FINAL
Thurs 17 Apr – Super Rugby Women’s Champion v Super Rugby Aupiki Champion in NZ (7:05pm)
FULL 2025 SUPER RUGBY WOMEN’S DRAW
All times local and * denotes double-header with Super Rugby Pacific
ROUND 1
5.05pm Friday 28 Feb – Waratahs v Drua – Allianz Stadium, Sydney*
2.05pm Sat 1 Mar – Force v Brumbies – HBF Park, Perth*
Development fixture – 3.00pm Sat 1 Mar – Reds v Penina Pasifika – Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
ROUND 2
1.05pm Sat 8 Mar – Drua v Reds – Churchill Park, Lautoka*
5.05pm Sat 8 Mar – Waratahs v Force – Allianz Stadium, Sydney*
Development fixture – 2.00pm Sat 8 Mar – Brumbies v Penina Pasifika – University of Canberra
ROUND 3
3.35pm Sat 15 Mar – Drua v Brumbies – Churchill Park, Lautoka
2.05pm Sun 16 Mar – Reds v Waratahs – Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
Development fixture – 3.00pm Sat 15 Mar – Force v Penina Pasifika – McGillivray Oval, Perth
ROUND 4
1.05pm Sat 22 Mar – Brumbies v Reds – Viking Park, Canberra
4.50pm Sun 23 Mar – Force v Drua – HBF Park, Perth*
Development fixture – 2.00pm Sat 22 Mar – Waratahs v Penina Pasifika – Daceyville, Sydney
ROUND 5
5.05pm Fri 28 Mar – Brumbies v Waratahs – GIO Stadium, Canberra*
1.05pm Sun 30 Mar – Reds v Force – Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
SEMI-FINALS
Fri 4 Apr – Sat 5 Apr
Teams ranked 1st and 2nd will host the Semi-Finals
GRAND FINAL
2.35pm Sat 12 Apr – North Sydney Oval, Sydney
2025 WOMEN’S SUPER RUGBY CHAMPIONS FINAL
7.05pm Thurs 17 Apr – Super Rugby Women’s Champion v Super Rugby Aupiki Champion in NZ
