Country rugby prepares to tackle the Lions in 2013

Qld Country is excited to announce that the Heelers will combine with NSW Country to play the touring British Lions in Newcastle next year.  Not since the All Blacks (1984), Western Samoa (1989) and Papua New Guinea (1991) has the Heelers being given an opportunity of this magnitude to test their skills against an international touring squad.

With selection for the encounter to be hard fought, Queensland Country Rugby Union President Boyd Curran has called on all players to elevate their game to ensure they give themselves the best opportunity possible to be considered for selection.

With this in mind we will embark on a talent ID and development program to provide players with the necessary skills and resources.

Last season ended with the Queensland Country Heelers enjoying one of their best campaigns in years, where they finished undefeated after capturing the prize scalps of NSW Country and the Brisbane City Premier XV.  Along the way they also claimed the inaugural State Tri-Series, held in Darwin, with wins over their South Australian and Northern Territory counterparts.

Their success is just the beginning however as the Heelers gear up for what promises to be an exciting and challenging 2012 representative season, where the QCRU will seize the opportunity to build on the achievements of 2012.

QCRU President Boyd Curran insisted the new development programs are the best platform to challenge the best and most ambitious players, coaches and officials within the Country Rugby ranks.  This was evident from the hidden talent already unearthed from regional Queensland in the past 12 months.

The 2012 preseason commenced earlier than expected with a Country Sevens team selected to compete in the Hyperion Paradise Sevens on the Gold Coast last October, where they featured in the Plate Final after a narrow loss to the Aussie Thunderbolts.

Heelers coach Tom Rosewarne said he was pleased with where the Country Development Program was heading.

“There are some very good players playing their Rugby in regional Queensland,” Rosewarne said.

“This group is growing as players continue to migrate to regional areas courtesy of the mining industry.  This has impacted greatly on Country Rugby and is positive for the future of the Heelers.”

Under 20 All States Carnival

As part of the long-term vision for Country Rugby, and as part of the current Development Program, The Gold Coast will host an Under 20 carnival over the Queens’ Birthday long weekend in June.  State teams from NSW Country, Victoria, South Australia and Northern Territory will do battle against the Queensland Country U20s.

This carnival is being viewed as an important link in the chain to better prepare players transitioning from the junior footy through to senior representation. In recent history, Colts Rugby in Queensland has been played as an U19 age group, however, as this limits the opportunity to play interstate teams QCRU decided to select an U20 to participate in this carnival.

SATURDAY June 9                                           

                                 Match 1     VIC                          vs         TBC

                                 Match 2     QLD                        vs         NT

                                 Match 3     NSW                       vs         SA

SUNDAY June 10                                                                   

                                 Match 4     2nd best Loser         vs         3rd best loser from day 1

                                 Match 5     2nd best winner        vs         3rd best winner from day 1

                                 Match 6     best winner              vs         best loser from day 1

MONDAY June 11                                                                  

                                 Match 7     Loser Match 4          vs         Loser Match 5 (5th & 6th play off)

                                 Match 8     Winner Match 4        vs         Loser Match 6 (3rd & 4th play off)

                                 Match 9     Winner Match 5        vs         Winner Match 6 (GF - 1st and 2nd play off)