Queensland Country Helers in the media

Townsville Match Report: http://bit.ly/10DwigS  

Queensland Country Team Announcement: http://bit.ly/ZMwTRM

FNQ: Townsviile Brolgas end Cairns Thunders's perfect run: http://bit.ly/10bYL1h

2013 QUEENSLAND COUNTRY SQUAD
Queensland Country Head Coach Garrick Morgan has named a 30 man squad to take into camp ahead of the Heelers match against NSW Country in Townsville on Saturday May 4. From this squad Morgan will select his match day 23 to take into the clash. 

2013 QUEENSLAND COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE PROGRAM

Heelers Matches

• May 4: Heelers vs NSW Cockatoos - Townsville
• July 12-14: Inter State Carnival - Adelaide
  
  •  Competing States: Qld Country, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria
  •  NOTE: Qld Country U19’s will also be completing
• September 28: Heelers vs ARMY - Brisbane
  
  •  TBC

Regional Matches

• June 22: South Qld v Central Qld – TBC
• June 29: North Qld v South Qld – Cairns
• July 6: Central Qld v North Qld – Rockhampton

Sub Union Matches

NORTH QUEENSLAND

• March 29: Mt Isa v Cairns - Mt Isa
• April 6: Cairns v Mackay - Cairns
• April 12: Townsville v Mt Isa - Townsville
• April 14: Mackay v Mt Isa - Airlie Beach
• April 20: Townsville v Cairns - Townsville
• April 27: Mackay v Townsville - Mackay

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

• May 10: Western Qld v Central Highlands - LongreachMay 18: Rockhampton v Central Highlands - Clermont
• May 25: Wide Bay v Central Highlands
• May 16: Wide Bay v Western Qld - Rockhampton
• May 18: Western Qld v Rockhampton
• TBC: Wide Bay v Rockhampton

SOUTH QUEENSLAND

• June 8: Gold Coast v Darling Downs - Helensvale
• June 9: Darling Downs v Sunshine Coast - Helensvale
• June 10: Gold Coast v Sunshine Coast - Helensvale

JUNE 11: COMBINED QLD/NSW COUNTRY vs BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS - Newcastle

2013 QUEENSLAND COUNTRY SUPPORT STAFF POSITIONS

The QCRU Board wishes to announce and congratulate the successful candidates for the coaching and support staff positions with the Queensland Country Representative program in 2013.

HEELERS:
Head Coach: Garrick Morgan
Assist Coach: Scott Barnes (forwards)
Assist Coach: Brett Johnstone (backs)
Manager: Dan Bowdler/Trent Raymond
Physio/Chiropractor: Morgan Pratt/Mark Brownlie

COLTS:
Head Coach: Clint Bullock
Assist Coach: William Urquhart
Manager: Rod Hohn
Physio: To be named

2012 COUNTRY AWARDS:

At the Biannual Sub Union meeting the country award winners for 2012 were also announced; congratulations to the following recipients;

• Bob Wood Country Coach of the Year 2012: Terry Shiells (NQ – Townsville)
• Bruce Kennon Country Championships Best and Fairest 2012: Rikki Abraham (NQ – Townsville, Heelers)
• Andy Purcell Heelers Best and Fairest 2012: Jono Bradbury (CQ – Rockhampton, Heelers)
• Bob Sinclair Under 19 Country Championships Best and Fairest 2012: Tom Vinson (NQ – Townsville, Country U20’s, Heelers, ARU U20 Academy Trials) 

2012 COUNTRY REVIEW
Now that the Country Rugby competitions across Queensland have drawn to a close in 2012, it’s a worthwhile opportunity to wrap-up what has been an extremely successful year in each of the regions.

From a Regional Country Championships perspective, North Queensland finished the year with a full trophy cabinet, winning both the Opens and U19 divisions. NQ also had strong representation in Country State sides with 19 year olds Tom Vinson and Michael Parker from Townsville going on to gain selection in the Country U20’s and Heelers. Their performances were further recognised by the ARU with an invitation to trial for the National Academy U19 team to play NSW on October 6.

The inaugural U20 State Carnival was held on the Gold Coast in June with Victoria being deserved winners, defeating Queensland Country in the final. Queensland was given the opportunity to enter two teams in the carnival providing a great opportunity for 19 and 20-year-olds to experience representative Rugby. All competing states enjoyed the experience, with discussions well underway to ensure the event continues next year. Match Reports

The New South Wales Cockatoos got the better of the Heelers this year to avenge last year’s loss before Queensland Country finished off the rep season with matches against Brisbane City and Queensland Suburban. Although Country performed well in both of these City/Country matches, they fell short, going down 26-12 to City and 36-30 to Subbies. Both these matches were great opportunities to provide valuable experience to some of the younger talent with many players identified from the National U20 carnival.

As the season drew to a close, Queensland Country Rugby Union recognised the importance of reflecting on the successes and failures of the year. In view of this ongoing commitment to develop and improve programs, the QCRU is conducting a review of the current strategic plan. Members were given the opportunity to be involved in the process by completing a questionnaire and SWOT analysis of the representative program. All information captured from this input provided the QCRU with direction on how members see the roles and responsibilities of the committee.

The deadline for completion of the survey was August 31.  Information has now been analysed with a new Strategic Plan being presented back to the members on October 20 at the Biannual Affiliate Meeting.

The QCRU also recognises that better communication lines need to be developed between clubs/affiliates/QCRU/QRU. In response to this members have been given the opportunity to add agenda items for discussion at the QCRU committee meetings. Items for discussion need to be emailed to brent.hagen@qru.com.au.

Q. Concern was expressed that qualified candidates were being lost to the committee if they missed out of being elected to an executive position at the AGM elections

A. It can be confirmed that there was nothing in the QCRU constitution preventing a candidate from nominating for more than one committee position.