Injuries force changes for Sydney Rays ahead of Brisbane City clash
A Belgian international who was the first prop to be named the NSW Country player of the year has been brought into the Sydney Rays squad that will take on Brisbane City at Ballymore on Sunday.
Alain Miriallakis has been named on the bench in the Rays squad and is sure to get some time at tighthead prop in the important showdown with the 2014 and 2015 NRC champions.
The 30-year-old has been playing in Newcastle for the past four years for the Waratahs and has notched up more than 50 Tests and played a major role in the qualifying games for Belgium leading into the 2007, 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups.
The Belgian national side is ranked 25th in World Rugby rankings and is a growing sport there, but it has to compete with soccer and tennis for the hearts and minds of the nation.
The Belgian Rugby team predominantly plays in the European Nations Cup, a competition for countries outside the Six Nations championship.
Miriallakis trained with the Rays at the training grounds at Macqu