An Excellent Conversation with Eva Karpani

Last week, I caught up with Reds and Wallaroos star Eva Karpani. We had an awesome catch up, in the middle of a busy training week, ahead of their “grudge match” against the Waratahs!

The team went on to win that game, to finish in the top four of the competition!

***The Reds play the Fijian Drua, away in Suva, for the semi-final, this Saturday at 11:05am.***During our chat, Eva shared about her rugby journey, including what it’s been like coming to Ballymore and some awesome advice for up and coming players! I hope you enjoy reading our conversation, as much as I enjoyed having it!

Hey Eva, thanks so much for your time. How have you been enjoying your second season here at Ballymore?

Yeah. This is my 2nd season here at Ballymore, I've loved it.  I spent six seasons with the Waratahs and I thought this would be a great opportunity to be challenged elsewhere, and no better place to come to the Queensland Reds. 

Some do say I've seen the greener side, or I've seen the light, but yeah, I've loved it. 

The two past two years, yeah, it's a different kind of experience. I'm an older head now, so I've loved every moment of it and I think the Queensland Reds are great. 

That's awesome. What are you looking forward to the most about the final game of the regular season against your old teammates?

Yeah, what I'm looking forward to is just going up against them. It's, always fun playing with your mates, but going up against them is different. And I think it brings that competitiveness. 

I've played with them, and I've gone through juniors and international rep with them. So, yeah, I'm excited to go up against them, but also challenge them in my own way, knowing how they play. 

What's something unique about the training environment at Ballymore that not many people might know about?

I think what's so unique about the training environment at Ballymore is... I think the support we have from the men...  I think, Les Kiss is absolutely lovely. The scrum coach, Zane saying, like, absolutely lovely. Like, he, he's always taken the time, they've always taken the time to come downstairs and have a yarn with us. 

I had a really good yarn with Zane, who, was very, very welcoming, and said, If you need anything, come join in on the boys' session, come and watch wherever you're comfortable, but... I think something I do value, is that support from the men, it's more of a family from both sides, if that makes sense. Yeah. 

Yes, Les and Zane are great value. Awesome people as well as coaches. What does a typical training week look like for you at the moment? 

Yep, so typical training week, so usually that first session of the week. On Monday, it will be a bit of a fast day off of the back end of the game. So, a review the fast, a bit of skills, and then lineup primers and some lineup players. 

And then, recovery day on a Tuesday. Wednesday is usually our scrum, scrum base, and also, it's 15 on 15, so we go live. It's more of our contact day. Uh, well, 14 and 14. 

They're varying with the numbers. You're coming on the wrong day top. Yeah. 

Um, and then Thursdays are usually our captain's run and our final touches before we head off. But this week, it was a bit different. We started on Tuesday. [Because game day was a day later, on Sunday.] So tonight [Friday] our captain's run.

Can you tell us what first inspired you to play rugby?

Yeah, I think what first inspired me to play rugby was… I come from a big family, but I also come from South Australia.  I come from a family of nine, so I have  siblings. I have 5 sisters, well, 4 sisters and four brothers. 

And I lost my parents at a very young age. I was always into sport, but I got into rugby at 15, and I found my sense of community there. And the thing that was so inspiring to me, and the reason I've spent my half my life now doing rugby is because it's for all shapes and sizes, and it's no matter who you are or what you are, rugby will always love you.

That’s why I found rugby and gravitated towards it.

What have been some of the biggest challenges of your rugby career, and how did you overcome them? 

Yep. I think, um, probably one of my biggest challenges was relocating to Sydney from Adelaide. So, Adelaide is my home.  It's where I belong. But unfortunately for Adelaide, it doesn't provide what Queensland and New South Wales do, which is a strong competition, and also the quality of the training environment… or “the professional environments”. 

I moved in 2018, and I was probably homesick for about three years. And then, and I was also learning a new position, which was tight head prop. And I came from playing wing originally, so... I think, I overcame it by… I’d put it this way… I left my home to go and do something great. So, I'm gonna continue to keep being great, no matter how long it takes, I'm gonna make sure that I make South Australia proud, because I'm only, the second Wallaroo from South Australia to represent the country. [The first was Lito 'Lee' Fata.]

How do you mentally prepare for big matches, especially on the international stage?

Yeah, I think for big matches, on the big stage, especially, but just in general, I prepare by… I like to be clean. So the night before, my bag is packed, the house is clean, the room is clean. 

I like to fuel really well, but I also don't like to think of rugby. So, today for example, I'll do Captain's Run, and after that, I won't really think of the game. until game day.

And then I don't really start switching on until probably about maybe two hours outside of the game.

What some advice you would give to young up and coming players?

Yeah. I think the advice that I'd give to young enough coming players is... that rugby is for all shapes and sizes, but I think tough times, like, a quote that I stick by till this day is, tough times don't last, tough people do. And another one is, when I'm in the trenches, is, and when I'm trying to work on something in my rugby careers: You don't have to be great to start. We have to start to be great. 

And I think... That's good. Yeah, that's why I'm probably here, is because, yeah, time's got tough, but I guess I believed in myself to continue to move forward, and, I guess, build my craft.

Awesome. What's a fun fact about you that most fans wouldn't know? 

I think a fun fact about me is... I'd probably be about my family. I play rugby union for the Reds, but my sister actually plays for the NRLW Knights, so, she's a leaguey! and I'm a union player, and there's a big rivalry between the two of us.

What's your favourite post-game meal?

 

I don't know if you'll like or love my answer, but I love a nice double quarter powder from McDonald's. Not gonna lie!

There’s definitelya few boys from the Reds that like going to the same place, after their game!

Thanks heaps, Eva, for your time, especially during a very busy week. All the best against the Tahs! I can’t wait to watch. See you when you get back.

Oh, for having me. I love Q and A's. That's probably an interesting fact. But yeah, really appreciate your time as well Tom. 

And also I would love to give you some kit. So the next time I see you, I'll make sure I have some. It looks like you need an updated cap, and I've got a few of them!

Classic Interviews with Today’s Reds

It’s been a while since a posted here, so I thought I’d take a trip down memory lane. I’ve made so many great memories down at Ballymore and on the road with the Reds. This week, I thought I’d post a few classic interviews from the first few years when I started this blog (between 2017-19) that are still in the team today! These guys are just a few of my “OG’s”. Click on some of the links below and enjoyoy!

Harry Wilson

I first caught up with Harry in 2019, down at Brothers Rugby Club. He showed more signs of true promise with the junior Wallabies soon after! (See interview #2 with Harry, Fraser and Isaac right here, fresh from their win over New Zealand!)

I also loved catching up officially with Harry last year at Ballymore, while he was rehabbing his arm. Harry is always good value and good company!

Fraser McCreight

It’s been awesome seeing Fraser go from Club footy, to NRC, to the Reds, to… a Wallabies billboard! Amazingly, his journey has coincided with Harry’s rise to impact. This year, Fraser did us all proud captaining Reds and Harry is once again about to captain the Wallabies. They are two great men who don’t care who has the “title” but will both always be leaders wherever they play, because of who they are.

I first caught up with Fraser outside Wests, during the NRC season, back in 2018.

And again during the 2019 NRC season… I regularly see him around Ballymore and like many of these guys, I consider him a good mate.

I’m hoping to catch up with him again officially soon. (Stay tuned!)

Tate McDermott

Tate has grown into a phenomenal player. I can’t wait to see him come off the bench for the Wallabies this weekend against Ireland! I first interviewed Tate back in 2018 and it was clear how much he loved the game of rugby. In the years following, he’s expressed a great desire to bring Australian Rugby to new levels. Along with Fraser and Harry I know he has his sights on a certain Cup in 2027.

Check out my first interview with Tate here...

In May of 2019 here...

2020, (the Lock-Down interview, via Zoom) is here...

2022 (also via Zoom) is here...

2024 is here!

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto:

I first caught up with Lukhan in 2017, during the Reds trip to Samoa! (You can read that interview here and my Samoa trip blog here.)

I also caught up with him in January, 2020 (right before the sporting world turned upside down...)

He's played around the world since my last official catch up with him, and I'm hoping to interview him again him soon!

Jock Campbell

I first interviewed him in 2019, which was his debut (and most certainly “break-out”) year with the Reds. We had a fun chat and just a little bit of banter with a ring-in.

Jock has been a staple for the Reds ever since. I'm excited to see where he goes with the Reds (and the Wallabies!!!) in the future!

Special mention: James Slipper

James plays for another Super Rugby team now (I’m not sure if I want to mention who!) However, James was my first interviewee for Reds Rugby Rules back in 2017. He’s been a good mate ever since. (He’s broken a few cool records since then aswell!)

James is a 2011 champion and a good bloke in my book. My interviews with the OG himself are here and here!

Reds Super W Squad:

Lori Cramer

Lori has been a mainstay of the Reds squad for most of the the last 9 years. You can catch up on my interviews with
her here, here and here.

I always love seeing Lori down at Ballymore. She's got a personality as big as her game, and as it happens, the Wallaroo regular has always been handy on the field!

She missed last weeks game with the Reds squad, because she was invited to travel to England to play with the Barbarians against Wales! I’m hoping to catch up with her soon to ask her about this amazing experience.

Sarah Riordan

Along with Lori, Sarah is also an experienced Red and Wallaroo that I’ve enjoyed catching up with over the years. Besides a few seasons in exile playing a very strange game called Rugby League, she’s been a regular at the Reds ever since Super W launched. It is clear she’s still having an amazing impact on the team!

My 2018 interview with her is here and last years interview with her is here (2025).

While you're here!!!! The Reds Super W Reds have their final game of the regular season this Sunday! 4:05pm on Stan Sport (Away, against the Tah's.) I'll be watching!

The Wallabies play Ireland tomorrow night and I can't wait!!!

A Cool Conversation with Queensland Prop Aidan Ross

It’s been an awesome couple of weeks at Ballymore. The Reds Super Rugby AU season has kicked off with an awesome game against the Brumbies, where we came away with a 36-26 win. And leading the forward pack was one of Queenslands newest recruits, Aidan Ross!

Today, after a tough morning of training with the boys, Aidan sat down with me for an interview about all things Queensland. We had an awesome conversation. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed having it!

What’s your experience been like at Ballymore so far?

My experience at Ballymore's been really awesome. The new facilities are world-class - like nothing that I've ever had before, and the players and the coaches are just so welcoming. It’s a really cool environment to come and be a part of.

Congrats to you and the whole team, for the win last week, over the Brumbies! What do you feel like the team will need to do to beat the Waratahs in Narrabri on Saturday?

The team will need to back up another good performance from last Sunday. 

One of the hardest things in sport is having a really good performance and then doing it again the following week, so that's the challenge for us. Also, just sticking to what we're really good at, having a strong scrum and a strong maul, really set-piece orientated and the backs showing their skills out wide.

What do you love most about living in Queensland?

Queensland’s an awesome place and to bring the family over here and experience a different city's been real eye-opening - for the better.

I’ve been living in Hamilton for the last 10 years and my family and I really enjoyed that place, but it was time for a change up and just to see how such a big city runs so easily, with the public transport system and all the parks, the kids love the vibrant culture, there are a lot of family-orientated activities going on in this city. It's really awesome to come and experience it.

I’d love to hear about your experience during the British & Irish Lions tour. What was it like for you, playing for the Reds against the Lions, and also, being in the Wallabies squad, towards the end of the tour?

Coming over and playing my first game for the Reds against the British and Irish Lions was, you know, really spectacular. I had a chance to play against the Lions eight years ago in New Zealand for a couple of sides [the Chiefs and the Barbarians], and then to do it again this year, it was just so awesome to see a country, many countries, to be fair, get behind such an incredible tour.

How many supporters there were, the quality of the Lions team, the packed-out stadiums, it's just something that if you get the opportunity to play against, you certainly want to try and do it and then to join the Wallabies in the squad at the end was awesome too - to get welcomed into that group and get alongside such awesome staff and players, it was really special for myself.

Can you tell us about your rugby journey growing up and what first got you hooked on the game?

Yes, obviously, I was born in Australia and I lived here ’til I was about eight years old, although my Mum and Dad were born in New Zealand. I never played the game while in Australia, but when they took us back to New Zealand, I started playing rugby then, just because everybody does it in New Zealand, you play footy.

It was more just a thing that I did with my mates, and I didn't take it too seriously. I certainly wasn't the best at it, we just enjoyed the game.

And then, I played for my club, played for my school. Once I got to the end of my school journey, when I could see a genuine pathway there, through the rep system and the age group systems, from there, it kind of cracked on. I made the New Zealand under 20s and then Bay of Plenty in the NPC and then after a couple of years of NPC, I got my first Chiefs contract. I was there for 10 years and now here I am here at Ballymore.

Who were your biggest influences or mentors early in your career?

When I was growing up, one of my first rugby coaches at under nines or tens, was Bull Allen, also known as Mark Allen, I played along with his son. And obviously, with him being a former prop, I really got alongside him growing up, and he helped me a lot along the way. Then, as I got into high school and my early stages of rep footy, I really looked up to Sammy [Sam] Cane, with him also being from Bay of Plenty and a Chiefs legend. So definitely those two blokes.

What future goals do you have for yourself? Both inside, and outside of rugby?

Coming to the Reds, just leaving as big a mark as I can on the club… whatever success that looks like, you know, ideally, we want to win a championship here. That's definitely a thing that I want to be involved in.

And outside of rugby, I’ve moved my family over here, I’ve got a two year-old boy and another one on the way, I want to bring them up really healthily, get them get them into schooling and give them, I guess, the best childhood possible.

What do you like to do away from rugby to relax and recharge?

I love taking the boy down to the park, grabbing a coffee and just seeing him have so much fun and enjoyment. He's getting to a good age now where he's starting to climb up and over the playgrounds. I love going on new adventures with him, exploring all the different parks in Brisbane. So days off, that’s pretty much what I'm into at the moment. 

What advice would you give to young rugby players that want to play professionally?

Make sure you really enjoy it because if you don't enjoy it, it's not going to be much fun along the way because it gets bloody tough and hard at times. So if you're enjoying it, you'll want to just stick at it, no matter what crossroads you you come to along your career. 

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

No, I don’t. Actually, I do wear the same pair of jockeys. They're a nice blue pair - I’ve worn those my whole career. But apart from that, I don't really.

Yeah, nothing really phases me if something's different on game day. I do like a nap on game day…. But yeah, I'm pretty cruisy kind of guy, I’m not too high-maintenance.

What’s your favourite post-game feed?

Um, burgers. I’ve just discovered Betty's burgers here in Brisbane - they’re so good. Anything with a bun on either side of it.

Thanks Aidan for taking time out for an interview. All the best against the Tah’s on Saturday, I’ll be watching and cheering you on!

Awesome, mate! Thanks for interviewing me - I’m looking forward to seeing you around here more.