Some of the brightest emerging talent in Queensland rugby can expect a rugged initiation into the hard nosed reality of professional rugby during the QR Reds' four match development tour of Ireland and France, which begins today (Tuesday, Aug 19).

With four members of the 2009 QR Reds squad absent on Wallaby duty and a number of others injured, the squad has a large quota of fresh-faced teenagers from the QAS Reds Academy and club rugby.

A third of the squad of 26 is under 20 and there's a squad total of just 241 Super rugby caps - with 150 of those won by just three players. However Head Coach Phil Mooney is looking forward to seeing how the youngsters respond to the challenge of playing hardened professionals and how the more experienced players in the squad step up as leaders and role models.

"I think we've got a good mix of contracted players and some young Academy players and club players who have worked really hard for an opportunity," Mooney said. "I feel confident that the young guys we've selected will certainly aim up - and they really need to because it's going to be difficult rugby."

Pre-tour training sessions have been limited by the unavailability of several players because of club finals or commitments interstate, but Mooney said having to adapt quickly is just another part of the professional development process. "Whilst it's not ideal that we go away with a limited preparation, it's a fantastic opportunity for this group to begin our Super 14 2009 preparations. "One of the beauties of this tour is we can take players out of their comfort zone in terms of the travel, in terms of the short schedule between games, so guys will really have to be vigilant with their preparation."

The QR Reds will play Irish provinces Ulster, Connacht and Leinster, who are tuning up for their domestic competitions and keen to get in some hard rugby after their summer break, and will round off the tour with a match against Nice in the south of France.

Mooney said playing against high calibre opposition in unfamiliar surroundings will give the youngsters in the squad a taste of what to expect when they step up to Super 14 rugby in the next season or two. "They (the Irish) won't be pulling any punches," Mooney said. "You don't get any easy games in France so they'll provide us with a different style of opposition to the Irish. "We're hopeful that we'll give a good account of ourselves in all four matches."

Mooney said he would look to give every member of the squad a run in the first two games before looking more closely at combinations for the last two. While realistic about the size of the challenge, Mooney said the experience of this year's Investec Super 14 showed that young players welcome the opportunity to show what they can do and he's looking forward to seeing how QAS Reds Academy players like fullback Aiden Toua, Luke Morahan and Jono Lance handle it. That's the beauty of a trip like this; it gives our young guys the opportunity to play high quality opposition in intimidating settings without having to play for the added pressure of competition points. It does enable us to try things that we maybe couldn't try in the Super 14 competition.

"Aiden Toua has done well for Easts in the Premier competition and was quite explosive at times during the Barbarians game. So to see him against fully fledged opposition will be exciting. "Young Luke Morahan is a big raw-boned athlete at age 18 and we're excited about the potential he offers us. "And young Jono Lance at 10; it's a pretty big call to send an 18 year old playmaker over but we see something in Jono and it'll be exciting to see how he develops over the course of the tour."

2009 QR Reds' signing Rod Davies was a late addition to the squad, after the wing completed his rugby league commitments, while scrumhalf Ben Lucas (knee injury) and centre Ben Tapuai (hamstring) and had to be replaced by Brothers scrumhalf Brendan McKibbin and Sunnybank and England Sevens flyhalf Ben Gollings. 

The squad is:
Forwards: Greg Holmes (prop, Sunnybank, co-captain), Albert Anae (prop/hooker, Sunnybank), Adam Byrnes (lock), James Hanson (hooker, University), Scott Higginbotham (backrow, Wests), Leroy Houston (No 8, Norths), Van Humphries (lock, Souths), Jack Kennedy (prop), Poutasi Luafutu (flanker, Wests), Jake Schatz (backrow, Sunnybank), Andrew Shaw (backrow, Brothers), Shon Siemonek (prop, Sunshine Coast), Robert Simmons (lock, Sunnybank), James Slipper (prop, Gold Coast)

Backs: Morgan Turinui (centre, Sunshine Coast, co-captain), Rod Davies (wing), Anthony Faingaa (centre), Charlie Fetoai (centre, Sunnybank), Will Genia (scrumhalf, Wests), Ben Gollings (flyhalf, Sunnybank), James Harvey (centre, Brothers), Digby Ioane (wing, Sunnybank), Jono Lance (flyhalf, University), Brendan McKibbin (scrumhalf, Brothers), Luke Morahan (wing, University), Aidan Toua (fullback, Easts).

The itinerary is:

Tuesday, Aug 19 - depart Brisbane for Dublin
Thursday, Aug 21 - train to Belfast
Friday, Aug 22 - Match v Ulster
Saturday, Aug 23 - return to Dublin
Monday, Aug 25 - train to Galway
Tuesday, Aug 26 - Match v Connacht
Wednesday, Aug 27 - return to Dublin
Saturday, Aug 30 - Match v Leinster
Monday, Sept 1 - Fly to Nice, France
Wednesday, Sept 3 - Match v Nice
Thursday, Sept 4 - return to Dublin, fly to Brisbane

Mooney said the squad was looking forward to catching up with former Queensland players Clinton Schifcofske, Ed O'Donoghue (Ulster) and Andrew Farley (Connaught) when they play those provinces.

---