Latest news with #MattFaessler
The Age
30-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Not here (just) to participate': Reds keen to tame touring Lions
To this day, Matt Faessler is still confused by it all. On a quiet day in early June, as he went through rehab training at Ballymore, the unassuming Queensland hooker was shown a graphic that had him ranked as one of the most marketable athletes in Australia. In a Gemba study measuring athletes' profile and social media clout, Faessler was ranked fourth and second for 'interest' and 'influence' respectively, ahead of names like Pat Cummins, Sam Kerr, Gout Gout and Oscar Piastri. Faessler is happy to admit his sleepy social media footprint, with a couple of thousand followers, isn't a buzzing hive of activity. 'It was as big a surprise to me as it was everyone else,' Faessler said. 'I thought it was one of the boys in the team had edited it, to take the piss. I am not sure how they worked that out, but it gave us all a good laugh.' Faessler's best guess is the snapshot was taken around the time the 14-cap Wallaby scored a hat-trick for Australia in their win over Wales on their spring tour last year - the first ever by a Wallabies hooker - and duly made a few digital waves. Heaven knows what fame and online virality might be unlocked, then, if Faessler and his Queensland teammates make some much bigger waves on Wednesday night, by toppling the mighty British and Irish Lions in a midweek tour game in Brisbane. In their second stop on a nine-game tour of Australia, the Lions will meet the Reds at a near sold-out Suncorp Stadium and the hosts are aiming to make an historic night, by causing an upset and downing the famous Home Nations team. It's not done very often. Away from Test matches, only the Brumbies (2013) and Australia A (2001) have managed to claim wins over the Lions in the past two tours.
Sydney Morning Herald
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Not here (just) to participate': Reds keen to tame touring Lions
To this day, Matt Faessler is still confused by it all. On a quiet day in early June, as he went through rehab training at Ballymore, the unassuming Queensland hooker was shown a graphic that had him ranked as one of the most marketable athletes in Australia. In a Gemba study measuring athletes' profile and social media clout, Faessler was ranked fourth and second for 'interest' and 'influence' respectively, ahead of names like Pat Cummins, Sam Kerr, Gout Gout and Oscar Piastri. Faessler is happy to admit his sleepy social media footprint, with a couple of thousand followers, isn't a buzzing hive of activity. 'It was as big a surprise to me as it was everyone else,' Faessler said. 'I thought it was one of the boys in the team had edited it, to take the piss. I am not sure how they worked that out, but it gave us all a good laugh.' Faessler's best guess is the snapshot was taken around the time the 14-cap Wallaby scored a hat-trick for Australia in their win over Wales on their spring tour last year - the first ever by a Wallabies hooker - and duly made a few digital waves. Heaven knows what fame and online virality might be unlocked, then, if Faessler and his Queensland teammates make some much bigger waves on Wednesday night, by toppling the mighty British and Irish Lions in a midweek tour game in Brisbane. In their second stop on a nine-game tour of Australia, the Lions will meet the Reds at a near sold-out Suncorp Stadium and the hosts are aiming to make an historic night, by causing an upset and downing the famous Home Nations team. It's not done very often. Away from Test matches, only the Brumbies (2013) and Australia A (2001) have managed to claim wins over the Lions in the past two tours.
France 24
30-06-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Kiss urges under-strength Reds to 'rip in' against Lions
The Reds face the tourists in Brisbane on Wednesday, having watched Andy Farrell's men demolish Western Force 54-7 at the weekend. "In this match, we have to be very good at the breakdown and aerially. They've shown their attacking side too," said Kiss, who will take over from Joe Schmidt as Wallabies boss next year "We have to meet those challenges but we'll put our brand of rugby out there as well. We'll keep backing ourselves. Why can't we put our best foot forward, rip in and see what happens?" The Reds' job has been made harder by the absence of six players who remain with the extended Australia squad as they prepare for a one-off Test against Fiji on Saturday. While Schmidt released hooker Matt Faessler and centre Hunter Paisami, the likes of Tate McDermott, Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson remain in camp. Kiss was still able to name a squad boasting nine Wallabies and two All Blacks, with experienced fullback Jock Campbell captaining the side. The pack has been stiffened by the inclusion of prop Aidan Ross, who signed for the Reds after playing for the Waikato Chiefs in the recent Super Rugby final. Ross, who played a Test for the All Blacks in 2022, will form a front-row with Faessler and former New Zealand prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen. Both Ross and Toomaga-Allen have previous experience packing against the Lions in 2017 for Super Rugby clubs. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto partners Josh Canham in the second row, with Seru Uru and John Bryant as the flankers with Joe Brial at No.8. Kalani Thomas at No.9 and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips form the half-back pairing with Paisami and Josh Flook together in the centres. "Excitement is high that's for sure," Kiss said. "This is a great opportunity for our Reds players." When the two sides met in 2013, the Lions won 22-12. Queensland Reds (15-1): Jock Campbell (capt); Lachie Anderson, Josh Flook, Hunter Paisami, Tim Ryan; Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Kalani Thomas; Joe Brial, John Bryant, Seru Uru; Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Josh Canham; Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Matt Faessler, Aidan Ross © 2025 AFP
France 24
26-06-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Wallabies release Reds pair Faessler and Paisami for Lions clash
The move follows Lions chief Ben Calveley demanding that top Australian players appear for their Super Rugby sides in ensure competitive warm-up matches to their three-Test series. "Matt Faessler and Hunter Paisami will return to Brisbane today to prepare with the Queensland Reds," the Wallabies posted on social media late Wednesday. But six other Reds players remain with the Wallabies extended squad as they prepare for a one-off Test against Fiji in July 6, including Queensland captain Tate McDermott. Calveley told reporters their agreement with Rugby Australia was "very clear". "It says that Test players have to be released to play in fixtures leading into that series. That is our expectation," he said. The Lions open their nine-game tour against Western Force in Perth on Saturday. Force are set to field five Wallabies -- Nick Champion de Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain and Nic White -- who have all been released from Wallabies training in Sydney. But team-mates Carlo Tizzano, Ben Donaldson, Jeremy Williams and Harry Potter have been retained in camp by Australia head coach Joe Schmidt. Schmidt is keen to avoid key players picking up injuries ahead of the Test series, which starts in Brisbane on July 19. It remains to be seen whether he releases players for Lions clashes against the NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies ahead of the opening Test.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Australia release two Reds players to face Lions
Western Force v British and Irish LionsDate: Saturday, 28 June Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth Time: 11:00 BST Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website Centre Hunter Paisami and hooker Matt Faessler have been released by Australia to play for Queensland Reds against the British and Irish Lions in their match next six other Reds players - including Wallabies captain Harry Wilson and key back row Fraser McReight - have instead stayed with Australia to prepare for their warm-up Test against Fiji on 6 coach Joe Schmidt's decision to allow Paisami and Faessler to return to the Reds for the match on 2 July follows tension over whether the hosts' big names will be allowed to play against the Lions for their Super Rugby sides. Lions chief executive Ben Calveley had warned holding back Test players for the fixtures was contrary to an agreement with Rugby Australia and risked devaluing the Schmidt has argued it is counterproductive to release all Wallabies back to their provincial sides as he attempts to prepare for the three-Test also pointed out the Lions will not put out a first-choice line-up for every match, with a Test team and midweek side made up of more fringe squad members invariably and Rugby Australia counterpart Phil Waugh met on Wednesday to discuss the issue, before Schmidt opted to release Faessler and Ben Donaldson, who will stay in the Wallabies camp instead, admitted it would have been "awesome" to play for Western Force on Saturday in the Lions' first match on Australian soil. "Yes and no," he said when asked if he regretted not being able to turn out for the Perth-based side."Obviously it is out of the players' control - we do what the coaches want, we get the schedule and we come into camp."There are four Force boys here [retained by the Wallabies], five back there, so there is a good share back there ready to rip in this weekend."It would have been awesome to play - any game you get to play against the Lions is pretty cool - but we are in camp, preparing for Fiji next week and we are really excited to watch the Force boys play at the weekend."Donaldson is one of three fly-halves in the Wallabies squad, competing with Tom Lynagh to back up first-choice Noah Lolesio. If selection goes against him, he could miss out on facing the Lions at finished ninth in this season's Super Rugby Pacific table, the lowest of any of the Australian sides."Yeah, they will win I reckon," Donaldson said with a smile when asked about the outcome of Saturday's match."It is an awesome experience for them and a great challenge, you saw the Brumbies win 12 years ago so it is not impossible."Lions assistant coach Andrew Goodman said he expects all the Super Rugby sides to raise their game considerably for a meeting with the Lions that only comes around once every 12 years."If you watch a Force team or a Reds team during Super Rugby, it's not an indication of what you're going to get against a Lions team," he said."It's a once-in-a-life opportunity for most of those guys, so the level of intensity is going to be through the roof."
