The weekend warriors who have proudly put the new Tablelands Reds Rugby Club on the map play in borrowed jerseys and are still to host a home game.
There’s something hugely uplifting about footy lovers banding together to form a club and creating a pathway for juniors where previously there was so little.
That’s been the dream and now the reality for Trevor Lane, a lemons and limes farmer from tiny Dimbulah, who knew his patch of Far North Queensland was missing out.
Things have moved swiftly since the club’s first meeting of volunteers and curious players in January. The club's website, tablelandsreds.com.au, only launched this week.
The club’s “Reds” handle applies to the team’s red heeler logo and the rich red earth of the region as a noted food bowl.
Red-and-maroon jerseys, with a flash of gold, are on order but, for now, the club is playing reserve grade in the FNQ competition in jerseys borrowed from the Port Douglas Reef Raiders.
Better still, Tablelands have already won two of their opening three matches.
Lane has just turned 50 but the Club President is so invested he’s decided to lace up the footy boots again to help out on field as well.
“The whole idea sprung from our son Harley (10) not really having any rugby to play. The community spirit to rugby is not like you find in anything else,” mum Nellie Lane said.
“Originally, the idea was to cater better for juniors but Trevor discovered enough keen, like-minded people to start a men’s team as well.”
It’s a near two-hour drive from Dimbulah to play in Cairns. Players muster from Mareeba, Atherton, Malanda, Port Douglas and other points to fire up the Reds each weekend.
“Ultimately, the idea is to build more chances for juniors who want to play rugby. At the moment, it’s a short October-November season in Cairns but we’d love to have a proper juniors season closer to home,” Lane said.
"The Reds name is a happy coincidence because we do follow the Queensland Reds."
The club is not chasing charity but, with no clubhouse or gear shed, a lockable trailer to transport gear to different training locations is the next aim.
Go the Reds.
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The StoreLocal Hospital Cup never lacks for drama or crazy turnarounds.
After being humbled 71-19 by Norths, University of Queensland’s last-gasp win over Wests last weekend was the tonic the club needed.
The winning penalty goal was knocked over by winger-fullback Morgan Rees.
The 21-year-old from Swansea Rugby Club is not the first Welshman to make his mark on the Brisbane club scene.
Prop Darren Morris, who toured Australia with the 2001 British and Irish Lions, and flyhalf Arwel Thomas both played at Easts.
Lock Tony Rees, the mud-man of the famous photo that adorns the wall in the Reds gym, played for UQ and Queensland while brother Darren’s playing days at UQ progressed into coaching and refereeing.
On the coaching front, Welshman Geoff Davies was a popular top grade coach at UQ.
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The Reds women have much to be proud of although their last-to-first fairytale came up a little short in last weekend’s grand final.
The strength to the season was how many players in the squad advanced their skills and performances because that will be a great headstart for 2026.
Backrower Zoe Hanna, just 21, really made judges take notice with her mature and powerful displays in the final weeks of the Super Rugby Women’s season after building confidence in three premiership sides with Bond University.
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There's a huge season ahead for the best of Queensland's Under-20 players with tournaments in South Africa and Italy.
Prop Trevor King, flanker-lock Charlie Brosnan, flanker Tom Robinson, halfback James Martens, centre Xavier Rubens and winger Nick Conway were today named in the Australian Under-20s squad.
There is an assembly in Perth ahead of The Rugby Championship U20 tournament in May in South Africa where New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina will be opponents.
The World U20 Championships in Italy run in June-July.
