Sevens star Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea is to give the Queensland Reds a bold lift in firepower for the remainder of the Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s season.
Her timely availability is part of the revised make-up of the Reds squad to cover injury issues.
Elisha Godsiff and Kieran Berry have been elevated to the squad with Wallaroos lock Tiarah Minns (shoulder), lock Deni Ross (shoulder) and French halfback Margaux Duces (knee) all ruled out for the remainder of the rapid-fire season of five rounds and finals.
The Reds will name their team on Wednesday for Saturday afternoon’s must-win game against the Fijian Drua at Ballymore Stadium (2:05pm).
Livewire University of Queensland flanker Berry has been part of the wider Reds training squad this season.
Lock Godsiff, a multiple premiership-winner with Bond University, has been rewarded for her standards at the Bullsharks.
All workrate and consistency, she led the Bullsharks to the Australian Club Championship, as captain, in Sydney to open the season.
Lefau-Fakaosilea has progressively prepared for the transition from sevens to the demands of the 15-a-side game.
She is in form and confident after playing a strong role for the Aussies in their stirring recent run to the World Championship with tournament wins in Spain and France.
It was a fantastic peak for Lefau-Fakaosilea, 25, who had made her comeback from injury for Queensland’s Next Gen 7s side in February.
She is no stranger to all of rugby’s formats. She played nine times for the Reds at 15-a-side in 2018-19 as Red #184.
Even as a 17 and 18-year-old back in those days, she was a dominator with hat-tricks of tries against the Melbourne Rebels in 2018 and 2019.
She was fast-tracked into the Reds side at 17 because of the eye-popping talent she showed at the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens early in 2018.
More than being named Player of the Tournament and scoring the winning golden point try in the final, she produced a clattering front-on tackle that many remember to this day.
“Alysia has made a wonderful comeback this year. We saw how diligent she was with her final rehab when we shared the gym at Ballymore with here,” Reds Head Coach Andrew Fraser said.
“The plan has always been for her to become available for us. She is now and that’s great news.
“It’s unfortunate for the three injured players. The Super Rugby Women’s season is a sprint and there’s not the opportunity for them to return.
“What it does do is create some opportunities for good players who have been on the fringes.
“Kieran was part of the Reds team that played in Narrabri last September at the Santos Festival of Rugby.
“Elisha is highly respected for her contributions with Bond in the Founders Cup over a number of years.”
