Gunnedah rugby union export Ben Gunter is set to strut his stuff in the Queensland capital this weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The hulking number eight and ex-St Mary’s College student is part of the Panasonic Wild Knights team playing in the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens, played at Suncorp Stadium on February 11-12.
Gunter signed for the Japanese powerhouse in June of last year and has made a good impression for the team coached by former Wallabies supremo Robbie Deans.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Gunter said.
“It will be great for Brisbane and great for Rugby.
“The Global Tens will be a great opportunity for me and all the Japanese boys.
“It is great to come home to play in front of plenty of friends and family.”
Formerly known as Sanyo, the Wild Knights are one of the country’s premier clubs.
The Knights’ squad in the 2016-17 season included David Pocock, Berrick Barnes and Highlanders cult hero halfback Fumiaka Tanaka, while Sonny Bill Williams and Jaque Fourie also turned out for the club in the past.
Barnes, the former Wallaby, was named in the Panasonic touring party despite missing last week’s All-Japan championship final through injury.
Another Australian in the squad is Daniel Heenan, the former Queensland and ACT forward.
Panasonic is one of three non Super Rugby sides (Toulon and Samoa the others) competing in the tournament.
The Wild Knights have been drawn in Pool A where they will play NSW Waratahs, Melbourne Rebels and New Zealand powerhouse Chiefs.
Panasonic will not have to wait long to get into the action, with its first match against the Waratahs, featuring Tamworth’s Paddy Ryan, at 12.28pm Queensland time on Saturday.
The side’s other matches are at 3.33pm (against Melbourne Rebels) and 10.27am on Sunday (against the Chiefs).
Pool B is made up of the Blues, Crusaders, Queensland Reds and Samoa.
Pool C consists of South African team Blue Bulls, ACT Brumbies and Highlanders.
The Hurricanes, Western Force and Toulon featured in Pool D.
Two teams from each pool qualify for the quarter-final stage.
The final will be played on Sunday at 5.40pm Queensland time (6.40pm NSW).
The teams are chasing a share of $1.6 million in prizemoney.
Betting agencies installed the Wild Knights as $101 outsiders for the two-day event with the Hurricanes the $4.25 favourites.
