Brisbane junior clubs gave a double thumbs up to a Queensland Rugby-QJRU initiative to send QR Reds and QAS Reds Academy players out to junior club training sessions last Friday night as “rugby ambassadors”.
It was the second visit for the year for the players, who also went to their assigned clubs on their sign-on days in January.
The Pine Rivers club was especially delighted, making QR Reds flanker Daniel Braid and QAS Reds Academy front rower Paul Alo-Emile Honorary Club Members in recognition of their involvement, after the players took club juniors through their paces at training and for a touch game.
Club President Wally Anderson presented the pair with a membership certificate, personalised special 25th Anniversary Jersey and a 25th Anniversary Club Polo shirt.
“The program instigated between the QRU and BJRU to get the Reds out into the rugby community has given our youngsters the chance to meet some of their heroes,” Anderson said.
“It’s great for a club like ours to strengthen our ties to the Reds and it allows us to show our recognition for the support we are now receiving.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming both Daniel and Paul back to assist in the teaching of some specialised skill areas, such as line-outs and scrums.”
Other junior club officials also praised the program.Everton Park Junior Club President Robert Barry applauded their ambassador Lei Tomiki for his enthusiasm and commitment at both Friday’s training and at an earlier visit for their junior sign-on day.
“Lei interacted with parents and juniors alike and is to be commended for being not only a nice guy, but a sincerely true gentleman,” Barry said.
Albany Creek-GPS Director of Coaching Brad Greentree said the same of their ambassador, Morgan Turinui.
“Morgan is terrific to work with and we are fortunate to have him at our club. He is excellent with the players are works in well with the coaches,” he said.
Taylor Bridge Junior President Tim Huntley added this about James Hanson and Matt Lucas: “Both players were great with the younger players and used a great deal of patience and knowledge of the game to assist our coaches in running some drills to prepare for our weekend trial games.”
BJRU clubs and their QR Reds Ambassadors
Albany Creek GPS JRUFC – Morgan Turinui and Liam Gill
Ashgrove GPS JRUC – Peter Hynes and Simon Morahan
Brothers Junior Rugby Union Club Inc – Sean Hardman and Dominic Shipperley
Browns Plains JRUC – Richard Kingi and Albert Anae
Caboolture JRUC – Laurie Weeks and Jack Kennedy
Easts Junior Rugby Club – Will Chambers and Aiden Toua
Everton Park JRUC – Lei Tomiki
Forest Lakes JRUC Ben Daley and Jarrad Butler
Goodna Junior Rugby Union Club – Scott Higginbotham
Ipswich JRUFC – Rod Davies and Ben Tapuai
Kenmore Centenary JRC – James Horwill and Aaron Chapman
Lions Junior Rugby Club – Luke Morahan and James Slipper
Logan City Junior Rugby Club – Brando Va’aulu
North Brisbane JRUFC – Will Genia and Blair Connor
North Lakes JRUC – Rob Simmons and Kimami Sitauti
Pine Rivers Pumas JRUC – Daniel Braid and Paul Aloe Emile
Redcliffe JRUC – Adam Byrnes and Andrew Shaw
Redlands JRUC – Anthony Faingaa and Joel Faulkner
Riverside JRUFC – Van Humphries and Ed Quirk
Riverview JRUFC – Poutasi Luafutu
Southern Bay JRUFC – Saia Faingaa and Jake Schatz
Souths Junior Rugby Club – Quade Cooper and Jono Lance
Springfield Lakes JRC – Leroy Houston
Sunnybank Junior Rugby Club – Digby Ioane and Ben Lucas
Taylor Bridge JRUC – James Hanson and Matt Lucas
Wests Junior Rugby Club – Greg Holmes
Wynnum JRUFC – Ezra Taylor and Mitchell Felsman
