Country Rugby talent from across Australia will be heading to Palm Beach Currumbin on the Gold Coast on Saturday for the commencement of the inaugural Under 20 Interstate Rugby Union Carnival.
Invitational teams from New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia and Victoria will join two Queensland Country teams for the three-day event to be held over the Queen’s Birthday weekend at the home ground of the Palm Beach Alligators.
The carnival, beginning on Saturday 9 June, is being supported by Queensland Rugby and will offer Queensland Country players a representative opportunity against some of the nation’s best playing stocks.
All Queensland Country regions are well represented within the two Queensland Country teams, with 22 players coming from South Queensland, 14 players coming from North Queensland, and 10 players from Central Queensland.
The Queensland Country Rugby Union Presidents XV kick off their campaign on Saturday at 12:30pm against NSW Country while Queensland Country takes on Northern Territory at 1:55pm.
The carnival format will see Saturday matches decide the seeding’s for Sunday’s games and ultimately who will play off for the championship on Monday 11 June at 11:50am.
The event is being held at the same time as the Under 20 Junior World Championships in South Africa where St.George Queensland Reds flanker Liam Gill is the captain of the side.
Queensland Rugby President Boyd Curran said the carnival would prove to be a further representative pathway for Country Rugby players.
“While the elite of our 20 year olds are playing in the Under 20 World Cup in South Africa , Queensland Country has consciously taken the opportunity to introduce many 19 years olds to this level of competition with a view to developing players for future U20 representation and the Country Heelers,” Mr Curran said.
“There is an enormous amount of talented 19 and 20 year-olds in the Country and this carnival will provide more opportunities for those players.
“We’re also fortunate to have a great facility at Palm Beach Currumbin and I’m sure we will have plenty of supporters over the three days come out to cheer on the two Queensland teams.”
The carnival will also be a launching pad for many players wanting to be selected in next year’s combined Queensland and New South Wales Country side to play the British Lions.
Heelers coach Tom Rosewarne said he would be using the carnival as a further selection trial for future Heelers matches, including 2013’s headline contest against the Lions.
“I’ve been pleased with the raw talent I have seen across the state this year, but to match it against quality opposition, we need skill development programs and to continually challenge the players,” Rosewarne said.
“This U20 carnival will go a long way to achieving that. We also have the annual City vs Country clash on July 14 at Suncorp Stadium, which will be played as the curtain raiser the Queensland Reds and Waratahs match. I would love to see a couple of the players at this carnival get a run in that.”
DRAW