Queensland Reds sign Connor Anderson and Phransis Sula-Siaosi

After impressing during this year’s inaugural Queensland Rugby Challenger Series and tour of Japan, Queensland Rugby pathway products Connor Anderson and Phransis Sula-Siaosi will join the Queensland Reds squad in 2023
 .Backrower Anderson will call Ballymore home for the next two seasons, while prop Sula-Siaosi has signed through 2023 to bring added depth to the Reds forward pack next year.Through Queensland Rugby’s recent groundbreaking player development initiatives, the Club Rugby pairing both earned their maiden Queensland cap against the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights earlier this month in Kumagaya.
  
 Reds General Manager – Professional Rugby Sam Cordingley said: “We’re pleased to welcome another two genuine Queensland Rugby pathway products to our squad for 2023.
 
 “Connor and Phransis have both been impressive for their respective clubs for a number of seasons now, and they only enhanced their reputations during the Challenger Series and Japan Tour. It’s great to reward their performances with a Reds contract.
 
 “At the Reds, we’ve been built on a strong connection with the community game in Queensland, but the opportunity is clearer than it’s ever been with introduction of the Queensland Challenger Series, and Reds caps and contracts will be available again next year for outstanding performers.
 
 “Next year’s Challenger Series will grow again and with the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights travelling to Queensland in 2023, we will be keeping contract positions open for outstanding performers.”
  
 Anderson said: “I’m super excited to be joining the squad in 2023, this has been a dream of mine since I was four-years-old.
 
 “Being selected for the Japan tour and earning a cap was a massive honour and something I’m extremely grateful for.
 
 “A massive thank you to my coaches at Wests and the club. I wouldn’t be in this position without them.
 
 “I’m looking forward to the challenge of Super Rugby and can’t wait to rip in this pre-season at Ballymore.”
 
 Sula-Siaosi said: “Earlier this year, my dream of being a professional footy player still felt like a long way away.
 
 “I was over the moon to be called into the squad for the Challenger Series and thought what a great year of footy it has been.
 
 “Getting my first cap on the Japan Tour still feels unreal to think about.
 
 “I'm glad I was able to impress Thorny and the staff enough to sign me and I'm excited to take advantage of this opportunity and make something out of it.”
 
 Anderson has enjoyed a breakout 2022 campaign, the backrower winning the StoreLocal Hospital Cup title with Wests and receiving the Alec Evans Medal as the competition’s best player.
 
 The 26-year-old graduated from Brisbane State High School in 2013, and played for the Queensland U20s side in 2016.
 
 An Everton Park Roosters junior, Anderson made the move to Sylvan Road in 2017, and has been a permanent fixture in the Bulldogs pack in the years since.
 
 He featured for Brisbane City in the 2019 National Rugby Championship, before earning selection in this year’s Challenger Series with the Reds.
 
 Still only 22-years-old, Sula-Siaosi captained Souths in the year’s Hospital Cup and has risen through the ranks after graduating from St Joseph’s Nudgee College in 2018.
  
 Sula-Siaosi was an Australian Schoolboy the same year, touring Ireland and Scotland alongside current Reds scrumhalf Spencer Jeans.
 
 The prop made his Premier Grade debut the season after, and went on to captain the Magpies in 2022.
 
 Anderson and Sula-Siaosi will report for pre-season training at Ballymore next week, with Queensland's preparations for the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season set to kick-off on Monday.
 
 The Reds will play five home games at Suncorp Stadium in 2022, with two at Townsville’s Queensland Country Bank Stadium, including a Round 1 blockbuster against the Hurricanes.
 
 Secure your 2023 Reds membership via https://bit.ly/3UP1YDJ.
 
 Connor Anderson
 
 Position: Backrow
 Height: 191cm
 Weight: 107kg
 Born: 13/05/1996
 Place of birth: Brisbane
 Senior Club: Wests
 School: Brisbane State High School
 Queensland debut: 04/11/2022 v Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Saitama
 Queensland caps: 1
 
 Phransis Sula-Siaosi 
 Position: Prop
 Height: 174cm
 Weight: 118kg
 Born: 15/07/2022
 Place of birth: West Auckland, New Zealand
 Senior Club: SouthsSchool: St Joseph’s Nudgee College
 Queensland debut: 04/11/2022 v Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Saitama
 Queensland caps: 1Click Here: Real Sociedad Jersey Sale