Duncan Paia’aua announced as Queensland Country captain for 2018

Queensland Rugby Union today announced that inside centre Duncan Paia’aua will captain Bond University Queensland Country for the second-straight year.
 
Paia’aua captained Queensland Country throughout the 2017 National Rugby Championship (NRC), and was named ‘Man of the Match’ in Country’s grand final win over the Canberra Vikings in the ACT last November.
 
Queensland Country head coach Rod Seib said: “Duncan has been a proven performer for Country over the last few seasons and led the side well in 2017.
 
“He’ll have an important role to play again this season and with the nucleus of last year’s squad still remaining, it made sense to keep some consistency and stability in the leadership roles.
 
“With another season of Super Rugby under his belt, Duncan will have a lot to offer the group and will be a good mentor for some of the younger players coming into their first season of NRC.”
 
Originally from Rockhampton in Central Queensland, Paia’aua first played Rugby as a junior at Emmaus College and Colts Rugby Club.
 
Having signed for the St.George Queensland Reds ahead of the 2015 Super Rugby season, Paia’aua made his first appearance for Queensland Country in their final match of the inaugural 2014 season against the Melbourne Rising at AAMI Park.