2014 - Queensland Reds
Transcription
2014 - Queensland Reds
ANNUAL REPORT QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD. 2014 PARTNERS 2014 Principal Naming Rights St.George Elite Sponsors Bartercard Lion BLK Volvo Group Australia Major Sponsors Australian Government Coca Cola Amatil Bioglan Red Krill Oil Queensland Government Cardno Triple M Austereo Official Sponsors Capital Training Institute Griffith University Cockfighter’s Ghost Gullivers Sport Travel ConocoPhillips Ice-Watch Tourism and Events Queensland Lumo Energy Fuji Xerox Mission Australia Graincorp Pizza Capers Glencore Rio Tinto Global Road Technology Official Suppliers 2XU Musashi Beiersdorf National Wireless Brooks Northgate Veterinary Surgery Diageo OAMM Enforcer One Solution Four ‘N Twenty Rydges Southbank FroPro Streets Gilbert The Cloakroom Hart Sport Workplace Health Solutions IPG Print X-Radiology Jim Beam Yellow Cabs Jordan Dog Training Media and Advertising Partners 4BC Brisbane Times GOA Billboards 2014 HIGHLIGHTS CONTENTS • 296,356 Queenslanders played Rugby in 2014 with highlights including a 49% rise in Sevens participation, a 5.6% rise in junior club Rugby participation and a 13% rise in females participating in the game last year. Chairman’s Report 2 CEO’s Report 4 • QRU saw a 14.37% increase in Queenslanders playing Rugby. 2014 St.George Queensland Reds 6 • Total aggregation to community Rugby grew from $1,420,252 in 2013, to $1,500,00 resulting in a 5.5% increase. National Rugby Championship 14 Community Rugby 20 • Queensland Rugby reported a surplus of $354,624 (after depreciation of $580,894) compared to a surplus of $287,492 (after depreciation of $666,623) in 2013. The 2014 financial year was reduced to 10 months following the decision to change the year end to October 31 each year from 2014 onwards. Affiliate & Committee Reports 32 Committee Reports 51 Office Bearers 56 Financial Report 57 Auditor’s Report 87 Honour Board 89 Vales 90 • Reds membership grew from 36,014 in 2013 to 58,738 in 2014. • On the eve of the St.George Queensland Reds Annual Gala Ball in August, QRU and St.George Bank announced their commitment to renew their partnership for a further three year term. St.George is embarking on its second three year term as naming rights sponsor with the Queensland Reds, testament to the strong alignment of values, aspirations and commitment to the community between the two organisations. • University of Queensland claimed the Hospital Cup for 2014, defeating Sunnybank 20-18 in the Queensland Premier Rugby Grand Final. • Eleven Queensland Schoolboys were selected in the Australian Schoolboys side for 2014, including Anglican Church Grammar Number 8 Harley Fox, who captained the side. • Six Queensland Schoolboys were contracted to the newly established Reds Elite Development Squad for 2015. • Queensland contributed seven players to the Australian Under 20s side that was coached by Queenslander Adrian Thompson. • Queensland Red took out the National Women’s Sevens title defeating NSW Blue 19-nil in the Cup Final. Queensland and Australian Women’s Sevens star Charlotte Caslick was named the ‘Player of the Tournament’. • Roma’s own Emilee Cherry received a number of individual accolades for her performances for the Australian Women’s Sevens team in 2014 including being named the IRB Women’s Sevens Player of the Year, Queensland Women’s Sevens Player of the Year, RUPA Women’s Sevens Player’s Player, Australian Women’s Sevens Player of the Year and she also received the Shawn Mackay Award - Australian Sevens Player of the Year. • The 2014 Australian Youth Olympic Gold medal-winning Girls Sevens team featured five Queenslanders - Shenae Ciesiolka, Marioulla Belessis, Amber Pilley, Laura Waldie and Dominique De Toit. • Shenae Ciesoilka was named the Youth Girl’s Player of the Year. • Try Sevens saw record growth in participation with 42,902 students participating in the program across 171 schools, compared to 24,261 participants across 123 schools in 2013. • Queensland Rugby participated in the inaugural season of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championships fielding two sides – McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City and Bond University Queensland Country. Brisbane City went on to win the competition, defeating Perth Spirit 37-26 in front of a home crowd of near 8,000 at Ballymore in the Grand Final. • Eleven players from Queensland’s NRC sides went on to earn contracts with the Reds for 2015, with 10 players named in the newly established Elite Development Squad and centre Campbell Magnay signed to the main squad. • Samu Kerevi was named the Buildcorp NRC’s Player’s Player at the RUPA Awards Lunch. • Queensland Rugby inducted three new members into the Hall of Fame - Early 1880/90s halfback Austin Gralton, 1970s legend Tony Shaw and his teammate, and legendary 1970s/1980s back Andrew Slack. • James Slipper claimed his second Pilecki Medal in three years at the 2014 Reds Gala Ball. He also received the People’s Choice Award and the Spirit of the Reds award. • James Slipper was also awarded the RUPA Medal of Excellence for performances on and off the field in 2014. • St.George Queensland Reds celebrated their first ever ANZAC Round with specially designed jerseys which were auctioned, with funds raised going towards the Soldier On charity. • St.George Queensland Reds achieved five wins and 11 losses during the 2014 regular Super Rugby season. • James Horwill, Quade Cooper and Will Genia all played their 100th game for Queensland during the 2014 Super Rugby season. • Hooker Saia Fainga’a earned his 100th Super Rugby cap during the 2014 Super Rugby season. • James Horwill and Rob Simmons both earned their 50th Test Caps for the Wallabies in 2014. • Nine players made their debuts for the St.George Queensland Reds in 2014 – Lachie Turner, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi, Jonah Placid, David McDuling, Samuela Kerevi, Tim Buchanan, Scott Gale, Sam Johnson and Chris Kuridrani. • Jake Schatz, Ed O’Donoghue, Rod Davies, Ben Tapaui, Beau Robinson and Liam Gill all earned their 50th cap for Queensland during the 2014 Super Rugby season. • Quade Cooper set a new Super Rugby scoring record in Round 4 against the Cheetahs, surpassing former Queensland Reds playmaker Elton Flatley’s record of 629. The record now currently stands at 728. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 1 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT The Queensland Rugby Union had a somewhat mixed year in 2014 with many outstanding achievements in membership and participation being tempered by a disappointing on-field season for the St.George Queensland Reds. Reds games were again used as opportunities to promote programs and initiatives of importance to Queensland Rugby – with various causes recognised during the Ladies, ANZAC, Family, Indigenous and Heritage rounds. Among the many highlights for 2014 was the record membership of 58,738 and an increase of 14.37% in Queenslanders playing Rugby. At Test level, eight members of the Reds represented the Wallabies throughout the 2014 international schedule: Quade Cooper, Saia Fainga’a, Will Genia, James Hanson, James Horwill, Jake Schatz, Rob Simmons and James Slipper. The membership result, an increase on 2013’s record number of 36,014, ensured we finished the year with the largest membership base in the Queensland sports market. Importantly, the Reds have risen to have the fifth largest membership base of all 56 professional sporting teams in Australia – up from 12th in 2013. 296,356 Queenslanders played Rugby in 2014 with highlights including a 49% rise in Sevens participation, a 5.6% rise in junior club Rugby participation and a 13% rise in females participating in the game last year. Several milestones were celebrated throughout the Wallabies schedule, including James Horwill’s 50th Test cap against France in Melbourne, Jake Schatz’s Test debut against Argentina in Mendoza and Rob Simmons’ 50th Test cap against England at Twickenham in London. While not on the field, Queensland Rugby also celebrated the achievement of former Queensland and Wallabies great Michael Lynagh – who was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2014. ST.GEORGE QUEENSLAND REDS The 2014 Super Rugby season was a difficult one for the St.George Queensland Reds and their fans, as the team failed to meet its own expectations. Despite the results not going the Reds’ way, an average of nearly 29,000 fans turned out each week at Suncorp Stadium, the highest regular season crowd average in the Super Rugby competition. More Australian Rugby fans watched the Reds on Fox Sports during the regular Super Rugby season than any other Australian Super Rugby team. Queensland Rugby also achieved a 79 % growth-rate of Reds devotees following us throughout the year on our various digital and social media channels and we had more social media followers than any of our Australian Super Rugby competitors. The 2014 season saw several significant occasions marked not least of which were the 100th cap games of three modern greats of Queensland Rugby. James Horwill, Quade Cooper and Will Genia all reached the outstanding achievement of their 100th caps for Queensland during the 2014 Super Rugby season. Although Quade and James played their 100th matches for Queensland in New Zealand, their achievement was marked with an official cap ceremony at Suncorp Stadium following the Reds v Crusaders match, while Will’s was played in front of a boisterous home crowd as the Reds defeated the Highlanders. It was also a year to celebrate the remarkable achievements of James Slipper – a young man who continues to impress with his performances and was duly awarded the Pilecki Medal for Players’ Player, as voted by his peers. This came in a year where he also claimed the People’s Choice and Spirit of the Reds awards at the Reds Gala Ball. Also at our Ball, Queensland Rugby inducted three new members into the Queensland Rugby Hall of Fame, including early 1880/90s halfback Austin Gralton, our President Tony Shaw and his teammate, 1970s/1980s back Andrew Slack. The 2014 season also saw Slipper elevated to Wallabies vice-captain and win the Rugby Union Players’ Association Medal for Excellence. Other award winners at the Reds Gala Ball included Curtis Browning (Most Improved), Samu Kerevi (Rising Rugby Star) and Sam Johnson (Wider Training Squad Player of the Year). 2 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU THE QUEENSLAND RUGBY COMMUNITY – ON-FIELD SUCCESSES Our Queensland representative teams continue to demonstrate the strength of our talent development pathways which were further strengthened in 2014 through the creation of the Reds Elite Development squad. Queensland Rugby also made the strategic investment of establishing and supporting two teams in the inaugural Buildcorp National Rugby Championship, McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City and Bond University Queensland Country. Brisbane City went on to win the competition, defeating Perth Spirit 37-26 in-front of a home crowd of near 8,000 at Ballymore in the Grand Final. Eleven Queensland Schoolboys were selected in the Australian Schoolboys side for 2014, including Anglican Church Grammar Number 8 Harley Fox, who captained the side. Six Queensland Schoolboys were contracted to the newly established Reds Elite Development Squad for 2015. Queensland contributed seven players to the Australian Under-20s side that was coached by Queenslander Adrian Thompson. Queensland Red took out the National Women’s Sevens title defeating NSW Blue 19-0 in the Cup Final. Queensland and Australian Women’s Sevens star Charlotte Caslick was named the ‘Player of the Tournament’. Roma’s Emilee Cherry received a number of individual accolades for her performances for the Australian Women’s Sevens team in 2014 including being named the IRB Women’s Sevens Player of the Year, Queensland Women’s Sevens Player of the Year, RUPA Women’s Sevens Player’s Player, Australian Women’s Sevens Player of the Year and she also received the Shawn Mackay Award Australian Sevens Player of the Year. The 2014 Australian Youth Olympic Gold medal-winning Girls Sevens team featured five Queenslanders - Shenae Ciesiolka, Marioulla Belessis, Amber Pilley, Laura Waldie and Dominique De Toit. 2014 FINANCIAL RESULT Queensland Rugby reported a surplus of $354,624 (after depreciation of $580,894) compared to a surplus of $287,492 (after depreciation of $666,623) in 2013. The 2014 financial year was reduced to 10 months following the decision to change the year end to October 31 each year from 2014 onwards. More detailed information on the financial results and comparisons to 2013 are included in the financial report (Page 57). 2015 2015 shapes to be another crucial year for the game in Australia. While there is much to look forward to in this World Cup year, the challenges confronting the code are still significant. Our governing body, the ARU, has consistently acknowledged that the game faces severe financial hurdles in the short-to-medium term. The QRU continues to be well placed to face these issues and to protect its position in the Queensland sporting landscape. The QRU will continue to work closely with the ARU and of course our members and affiliates, to take the game forward, however in doing so will always have the protection and best interests of all of Queensland Rugby’s assets as our primary objective. Finally, I would like to thank the Queensland Rugby Board for their continued support and of course CEO Jim Carmichael, the staff of Queensland Rugby, as well as all of the staff and volunteers throughout Queensland who continue to work hard in their endeavours to make this game stronger. The results enjoyed in 2014 are a good return for your industry and commitment to Rugby in Queensland over the past year. Rod McCall Chairman Queensland Rugby In another competitive Premier Rugby season, UQ won the Welsby Cup and also bagged the Horsley Cup for the minor Premiership. University took out the Doughty Shield for the fifth successive year. We witnessed a real tussle in the Grand Final with University’s manof-the-match Tom Pincus holding his nerve at the end of the game to slot a penalty and give the students a 20 to 18 victory over a gallant Sunnybank outfit on the siren. It is encouraging to see such success being achieved by Queensland Teams and our clubs. Congratulations to all clubs, teams, officials and fans for your contribution in 2014. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 3 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT 2014 was the final year of Queensland Rugby’s three-year ‘Future Generation Strategy’ for the game in Queensland. Over that time, Queensland Rugby’s major strategic imperatives have been: 1. To build sustained economic growth for the longevity and heath of our game. 2. To nurture our game through increased participation and engagement. 3. To lead our stakeholders within a defined charter while influencing the governance of our code through continued performance. For the past five years, although the game has been vulnerable in many parts of the country, we have attempted to continue to invest into key investment markets, player and talent pathways and Rugby’s infrastructure in Queensland in order to underpin future talent, participation and fan engagement to ensure the growth of Rugby, which benefits all parts of our code. Furthermore, Queensland Rugby continues in its objective to be the most successful and the most favoured sport in Queensland. The reputation Queensland Rugby has achieved in 2014 and the strength of Queensland Rugby’s assets, including the Reds brand and the community game, has again ensured significant results against key organisational indicators. 4 In 2015, in this challenging and uncertain environment nationally for the game, the code has recognised that significant national reform is now necessary. To achieve this, further investment in the future sustainability of the game must be adequately committed. To that end, Queensland Rugby continues to work alongside the Australian Rugby Union through a number of national commissions, as outlined below, to address the appropriate future governance, investment and sustainability model for the code in Australia, which ensures that Rugby can continue to grow and compete in both the domestic and international markets. 1. Governance Committee – with a charter to reform the roles and responsibilities of all of Rugby’s key stakeholders. 2. The National Participation Review Committee – to develop national policy and the framework for future participation growth and sustainability. 3. Future Contracting Policy Committee – to reform the national contracting strategies and protocols to ensure the quality and sustainability of recruitment and retention of talent in the competitive domestic and international market place. 4. Fan Engagement Committee – to build the national framework to identify improved consumer insights that will deliver greater value and access for the fan base, while growing participation and engagement across the key commercial drivers of the sport. WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU These collective national reforms align with Queensland Rugby’s strategic objectives of the past three years, and have created an even greater focus on the growth and sustainability of all State Union’s future investment models. The strategy’s goal is to ensure the necessary state controlled year on year investment for the development of the sport, thereby creating a model that genuinely incentivises and rewards growth. For our part, the reform now provides Queensland Rugby certainty and through continuing to demonstrate value to our participants, allows us to work more precisely on a stakeholder-specific strategies - ones that attracts new markets to our code and ensures growth for all parts of the Rugby economy in this state. In 2015, Queensland Rugby continues to be placed to influence these outcomes and to protect its position within the sporting market, while competing against our competitor codes in the national and Queensland sporting landscape, through a focus on the five strategic objectives below: 1. To increase the scale, growth and market share of the sport and to consolidate the next generation of fans and players. 4. To continue to grow investment in the game at all levels. 5. To develop world-class leadership and management, which influences the national and international landscape of the code. Queensland Rugby’s influence on national reform has never been more important with the upcoming year shaping as critical for Rugby, as the code finalises a new broadcast arrangement, manages the challenges of the expansion of the Super Rugby competition in 2016 and re-aligns Rugby’s traditional investment model. These strategic objectives underline Queensland Rugby’s commitment in 2015 and beyond, so that we continue to provide protection from the serious challenges facing our members, affiliates, our broader stakeholders and the code in Queensland and Australia-wide. Jim Carmichael Chief Executive Officer Queensland Rugby 2. To produce the best teams, players and high performance staff in Australia with a culture and objectives that align to the organisational charter. 3. To deliver the strongest pathways and to attract, develop and retain the very best talent available to Rugby in Queensland. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 5 2014 ST.GEORGE QUEENSLAND REDS SEASON REVIEW ROUND 1: BYE ROUND 6 ROUND 2 The Reds began their 2014 campaign with a clinical 27-17 win over the ACT Brumbies at GIO Stadium. Strong defensive work and dazzling footwork from fullback Aidan Toua were constant throughout the 10-point win. The most talked about moment in the match came when Toua latched onto a cutout pass from Quade Cooper to run 60 metres for his first Super Rugby try. Lachie Turner also crossed for a five pointer in his first match in Reds colours, but was worth another 10, with two try saving cover tackles proving crucial. The win reversed the Round One fixture result of 2013, when the Reds fell short against the Brumbies, 24-6. The Reds’ second leg of their South African trip was a gut wrenching, last gasp 23-20 loss against the Lions in Johannesburg. The Reds created chance after chance in the first half and lead 20-6 at the break after two tries to Quade Cooper. The second half was marred by penalties to the Reds and after repeated infringements, James Hanson and Jake Schatz found themselves in the sin bin for the final 10 minutes of the match. Despite valiant defensive work in the final 10 minutes, an exhausted Reds outfit could not withstand the barrage of attacks the Lions threw their way and Courtnall Skosa scored the match winner with just three minutes remaining. The result meant the Reds took just a single bonus point away from a possible 10 in their two-game trip to South Africa. ROUND 7 ROUND 3 The first clash between the Reds and the New South Wales Waratahs for 2014 was not an ideal outing for the Queensland side, as they fell to the eventual Super Rugby Champions, 32-5 at ANZ Stadium. Two tries inside the first 25 minutes to Waratahs fullback Israel Folau saw the Reds behind early on and unfortunately, the visitors never generated enough momentum to mount a comeback. Lachie Turner’s second try in as many matches were the only points the Reds could muster, as the Reds’ record slipped to 1-1 from their first two games. The Reds returned home from a tough South African trip to face the Stormers and made it two wins from as many starts at Fortress Suncorp. The 22-17 win wasn’t the Reds’ prettiest effort in recent years, rather, the home side showed they could grit out a tough contest and secure the four points, even when things didn’t quite click into gear on attack. The right boot of Quade Cooper and the defensive effort of the team on the whole were the two factors which guided the Reds to a much needed win, with Rob Simmons nabbing the only try of the evening. ROUND 4 The Reds’ first home game for 2014 fell on a beautiful Brisbane Friday night at Suncorp Stadium and the home side rode the buzz around the ground to a 43-33 win. The 27,670-strong crowd were treated to some enterprising and entertaining Rugby, as both sides threw caution to the wind and as a result, found holes in the defence they were up against. The match also marked a major milestone for flyhalf Quade Cooper, as he passed Elton Flatley as the Reds’ highest point scorer in Super Rugby history. ROUND 8 The first home loss in the 2014 campaign came in Round 8 for the Reds, as they fell victim to another close finish in a 32-29 loss against the Western Force. The lead swapped eight times in the nail-biting encounter, with the Reds leading by four points toward the end of the match, before a try to Force fullback Jayden Hayward in the 79th minute cruelly snatched victory away. The Hayward try came after 16 consecutive phases inside the Reds’ 22 in what was a heartbreaking loss. The loss continued the Reds’ struggles against the Force, having not beaten the Perth based team since 2012. ROUND 5 The fifth round of the Super Rugby season saw the Reds pack their bags and head to South Africa for a two-game road trip, with the first leg ending in a 35-20 loss against the Sharks in Durban. A packed “Shark Tank” made conditions even more hostile for the away side and despite scoring two tries each, the Reds’ ill discipline cost them valuable points which made the difference over the full 80 minutes. Will Genia’s terrific solo effort was of particular note and gave the away side hope with 18 minutes remaining. But Patrick Lambie’s seven penalties from as many attempts was the difference between the two sides. 6 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU ROUND 9 ROUND 12 Despite a second half comeback, the Reds suffered a 23-20 loss against the Brumbies. The Brumbies held 71 percent of possession in the first half, leaving the Reds at a disheartening 20-3 deficit at the 30-minute mark. Flanker Beau Robinson put the Reds back in contention just before half time, crossing the line with a successful Quade Cooper conversion to follow. The Suncorp Stadium crowd welcomed hooker Saia Fainga’a onto the field for his 100th Super Rugby cap in the second half. An inspired Eddie Quirk crossed the line for a five-pointer and Cooper’s conversion shortly followed by a penalty goal closed the margin to just 23-20 with just minutes remaining. Some solid work from the Brumbies at the breakdown prevented the Reds from any further scoring opportunities, leaving the home team with just one competition point taken away from an extremely hard-fought match. The Reds experienced their second disappointing loss in New Zealand, falling short to the Auckland Blues 44-14, in Quade Cooper’s milestone 100th Queensland Cap. The Reds scored all of their points in the second half after trailing 20-0 at half time with tries to James Horwill and Ben Daley and a perfect conversion record from Quade Cooper. ROUND 13 In what some considered to be the most disappointing loss of the year, the Reds went from a 17-16 lead at half time against the Crusaders to going down 57-29 at Suncorp Stadium. The two sides set the stage for an exciting clash in Queensland Rugby’s Family Round match in the first half, but the Crusaders came back firing in the second half. In the end, the match featured the most points scored in a Super Rugby game at Suncorp Stadium. Despite this disappointing performance, the game was met with some jubilance as Curtis Browning made his run-on debut and Dave McDuling made his debut after two years of injury frustrations. ROUND 10: BYE ROUND 11 The Reds’ ANZAC Round clash with the Hurricanes in Wellington was arguably one of the most sentimental of the year, with Captain James Horwill celebrating his 100th Queensland Cap alongside Ben Tapuai who celebrated his 50th. The Reds lost 34-21 despite a 14-10 lead at half time. Ben Lucas gave the side an early lead with a try just seven minutes into the match. The home side managed to catch up, with Cory Jane scoring a try as part of his hattrick in the match. The first half was overall tightly contested but the Hurricanes got away in the second half and dominated both possession and territory. James Hanson crossed the line with 15 minutes to go, closing the Hurricanes’ lead to just 25-21 but the home side managed to seal the 34-21 win with a last-minute try to Ardie Savea and a penalty to Beauden Barrett. ROUND 14 The disappointment continued in Round 14 after a last-minute 3027 loss against the Melbourne Rebels at Suncorp Stadium. It was, however, another milestone week for the team after Beau Robinson was awarded his 50th Queensland cap. The score was level at three points during the match including a 17-17 margin at half time. A try from Melbourne’s Luke Burgess two minutes into the second half saw the Rebels take the lead 24-17. Ben Lucas managed to score a five-pointer which Mike Harris converted to once again level the score, this time at 24-all. A penalty to the Rebels on the 70-minute mark was mirrored by Harris just minutes later and the score was once again tied at 27-all. Following a red card to Reds lock Ed O’Donoghue, a penalty slotted by Jason Woodward in the dying moments sealed the heartbreaking 30-27 loss. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 7 ROUND 15: BYE ROUND 18 ROUND 16 After several weeks of disappointment, the Reds turned on one of their most entertaining performances for Will Genia’s 100th Queensland cap. Genia spearheaded his side’s attack in the milestone match, which coincided with Indigenous Round and culminated in a match-winning try to Reds Number 8 Jake Schatz twoand-a-half minutes after the final siren. A 21-0 lead at half time was the result of a strong defensive and attacking effort from the Reds which included tries from Curtis Browning, Rod Davies and Dom Shipperley. The Highlanders crept back into the game in the second half and two tries in the final four minutes saw the scores level at 31-all. The Reds’ ability to keep possession after the siren ultimately sealed the deal for the team, with Schatz giving his vice-captain a fairytale 100th game. The Reds suffered their second loss to the Western Force after falling short of the home side 30-20 in Perth. In young gun Samu Kerevi’s run-on debut, the Reds put pressure on the Force throughout the match, leveling the scores at 20-all in the 70th minute. Kerevi was the first to score a try for the Reds in the match, and Albert Anae scored for the team in the second half. With the final 10 minutes set to be a nail-biter with leveled scores, a slight lag in discipline from the Reds saw them concede a converted try and penalty. ROUND 19 It was a disappointing end to the season with the injury-ravaged Reds going down 34-3 to traditional rivals the New South Wales Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium. The physical and intense game saw the majority of the Waratahs’ tries come from breakaways deep in the Reds’ attacking half. Despite the disappointing result, the team had reason to celebrate with Liam Gill’s 50th Queensland Cap and Chris Kuridrani’s debut. ROUND 17 The Reds returned fresh from the short Super Rugby break to defeat the Rebels 36-20 in Melbourne. In what was a highlight match for the season, the Reds scored six tries to the Rebels’ three. But the game wasn’t without its challenges, which included a yellow card to Lachie Turner and injuries to Dom Shipperley and Anthony Fainga’a. Despite the interrupted play, the Reds managed to seal the four-try bonus point after scrumhalf Nick Frisby scored his second try just before half time, bringing the score to 22-3. The Rebels began to score tries around the 50-minute mark but the Reds held strong and put more points on the home side to eventually produce the 16-point victory. 8 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU 2014 PILECKI MEDAL PILECKI MEDAL COUNT ROUND-BY-ROUND Round 2 v Brumbies TOP 10 Round 11 v Hurricanes James Slipper 239 Liam Gill 39 Beau Robinson 34 Jake Schatz 196 Lachie Turner 20 Chris Feauai-Sautia 27 Greg Holmes 192 Aidan Toua 15 James Slipper 25 Rob Simmons 141 Beau Robinson 123 Round 3 v Waratahs Round 12 v Blues Jake Schatz 28 Jake Schatz 35 Liam Gill 117 Liam Gill 24 Liam Gill 18 Eddie Quirk 95 Eddie Quirk 18 Eddie Quirk 12 Ben Tapuai 92 Lachie Turner 18 Round 13 v Crusaders James Hanson 89 Anthony Fainga’a 88 Round 4 v Cheetahs James Hanson 29 Chris Feauai-Sautia 38 Curtis Browning 27 James Hanson 16 Anthony Fainga’a 23 Rob Simmons 14 Round 14 v Rebels Round 5 v Sharks Ben Lucas 25 Liam Gill 25 Anthony Fainga’a 24 Aidan Toua 14 Greg Holmes 19 Eddie Quirk 13 Round 16 v Highlanders Will Genia 13 Greg Holmes 29 James Slipper 27 20 Round 6 v Lions James Slipper 24 Will Genia Greg Homes 20 Round 17 v Rebels Quade Cooper 17 Nick Frisby 44 Rod Davies 40 Round 7 v Stormers James Slipper 29 James Horwill 14 Beau Robinson 22 Ben Lucas 14 Greg Holmes 14 Round 18 v Western Force Round 8 v Western Force Samu Kerevi 56 Ben Tapuai 30 James Slipper 28 Jake Schatz 19 Curtis Browning 14 Beau Robinson 14 Round 19 v Waratahs James Slipper 14 Rob Simmons 28 Greg Holmes 24 James Slipper 22 Round 9 v Brumbies James Slipper 38 Anthony Fainga’a 19 Eddie Quirk 19 Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 9 Opposition Brumbies Waratahs Cheetahs Sharks Lions Stormers Date 22/02/2014 1/03/2014 7/03/2014 15/03/2014 22/03/2014 29/03/2014 Venue GIO Stadium ANZ Stadium Suncorp Stadium Growthpoint Kings Park Ellis Park Stadium Suncorp Stadium City Canberra Sydney Brisbane Durban Johannesburg Brisbane 13,670 17,580 27,670 23,722 14,213 28,060 27-17 Reds 32-5 Waratahs 43-33 Reds 35-20 Sharks 23-20 Lions 22-17 Reds Position Position Position Position Position Position 17 16 Crowd Final Score ANAE, Albert BROWNING, Curtis 20 COOPER, Quade 10 10 10 10 DALEY, Ben 17 17 1 17 14 14 FAINGA'A, Anthony 22 12 22 (DNP) FAINGA'A, Saia 2 2 16 DAVIES, Rod FEAUAI-SAUTIA, Chris 2 10 10 14 14 22 22 2 23 23 13 13 21 (DNP) 21 21 21 (DNP) 21 21 (DNP) GENIA, Will 9 9 9 9 9 9 GILL, Liam 7 7 7 7 7 HANSON, James 16 16 HARRIS, Mike 12 HOLMES, Greg 3 HORWILL, James 5 FRISBY, Nick LUCAS, Ben 2 16 16 2 12 12 12 12 3 3 3 3 3 5 5 5 5 22 (DNP) 5 23 McDULING, Dave O'DONOGHUE, Ed 19 19 19 19 19 19 OWEN, Jono 18 (DNP) 18 18 18 18 18 QUIRK, Eddie 6 6 6 6 6 6 ROBINSON, Beau 20 20 20 20 20 7 SCHATZ, Jake 8 8 8 8 8 8 SHIPPERLEY, Dom 11 11 11 23 23 11 SIMMONS, Rob 4 4 4 4 4 4 SLIPPER, James 1 1 17 1 1 1 TAPUAI, Ben 13 13 23 22 13 13 TOUA, Aidan 15 15 15 15 15 TURNER, Lachie 14 14 11 11 TAULAGI, Jamie-Jerry 15 ENEVER, Blake KEREVI, Samuela KURIDRANI, Chris PARAKA, Pettowa 17 (DNP) PLACID, Jonah READY, Andrew FAAGASE, Sef BANKS, Tom BUCHANAN, Tim GUNN, Michael JOHNSON, Sam SITAUTI, Kimami GALE, Scott GENIA, Nigel GREENE, Sam KITE, Phil MATAITINI, Veresa MCINTYRE, Jake SEUTENI, UJ KEY: 10 Captain Queensland Debut WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU Western Force Brumbies Hurricanes Blues Crusaders Rebels Highlanders 5/04/2014 11/04/2014 26/04/2014 2/05/2014 11/05/2014 17/05/2014 30/05/2014 Suncorp Stadium Suncorp Stadium Westpac Stadium Eden Park Suncorp Stadium Suncorp Stadium Suncorp Stadium Brisbane Brisbane Wellington Auckland Brisbane Brisbane Brisbane 27,024 30,004 10,405 34,010 23,820 24,490 32-29 Force 23-20 Brumbies 35-21 Hurricanes 44-14 Blues 57-29 Crusaders 30-27 Rebels 38-31 Reds Position Position Position Position Position Position Position 16 17 17 17 17 20 20 20 6 6 6 10 10 10 10 10 10 1 17 1 1 14 14 23 14 23 23 11 22 12 22 12 12 12 12 16 2 2 16 16 11 14 14 21 (DNP) 21 (DNP) 21 21 21 21 (DNP) 9 9 9 9 9 9 7 2 2 12 21 (DNP) 9 20 16 16 2 2 2 12 15 15 15 15 3 3 3 17 3 3 3 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 15 15 15 22 22 22 10 20 20 (DNP) 19 19 19 (DNP) 19 19 19 19 18 18 18 18 18 18 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 20 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 14 14 14 4 4 4 22 (DNP) 7 4 4 4 4 1 1 3 1 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 11 23 11 23 11 11 23 (DNP) 1 22 17 (DNP) 23 16 (DNP) 18 (DNP) Cont. ››› Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 11 Rebels Western Force Waratahs 27/06/2014 5/07/2014 12/07/2014 AAMI Park nib Stadium Suncorp Stadium Melbourne Perth Brisbane 10,473 11,762 36-20 Reds 30-20 Force 34-3 Waratahs Position Position Position ANAE, Albert 17 17 18 BROWNING, Curtis 6 6 6 DALEY, Ben 18 1 17 DAVIES, Rod 14 14 14 FAINGA'A, Anthony 12 FAINGA'A, Saia 16 16 9 9 Opposition Date Venue City Crowd Final Score SR Points Qld Caps 27 5 27 5 11 10 10 10 120 100 728 102 730 5 68 10 69 10 13 20 58 95 58 95 12 0 74 25 71 25 12 0 107 40 79 40 7 15 23 30 23 30 8 10 26 25 27 30 13 7 99 92 100 92 20 8 0 50 25 49 25 COOPER, Quade 16 FEAUAI-SAUTIA, Chris FRISBY, Nick GENIA, Will 2014 Points SR Caps 9 5 9 10 12 10 Qld Points GILL, Liam 20 HANSON, James 2 2 2 15 10 66 35 66 35 HARRIS, Mike 15 15 15 13 67 45 268 45 268 HOLMES, Greg 3 3 14 5 119 35 120 40 HORWILL, James 5 5 5 15 5 103 35 106 40 LUCAS, Ben 10 10 10 10 10 73 71 73 71 McDULING, Dave 19 19 19 4 0 5 0 4 0 O'DONOGHUE, Ed 11 0 47 0 55 0 OWEN, Jono 11 0 29 0 13 0 QUIRK, Eddie 10 5 39 5 40 5 ROBINSON, Beau 7 7 7 15 5 74 10 53 5 SCHATZ, Jake 8 8 8 15 5 65 25 65 25 SHIPPERLEY, Dom 11 10 10 45 65 46 65 SIMMONS, Rob 4 4 4 15 10 81 15 80 15 SLIPPER, James 1 3 1 13 5 65 20 64 20 TAPUAI, Ben 13 12 12 15 5 56 40 56 40 TAULAGI, Jamie-Jerry 22 23 (DNP) 22 7 5 8 5 7 5 5 5 10 5 10 5 7 20 79 145 7 20 0 0 1 0 1 0 13 3 5 3 5 3 5 23 1 0 1 0 1 0 TOUA, Aidan TURNER, Lachie 23 11 11 ENEVER, Blake KEREVI, Samuela 21 13 KURIDRANI, Chris PARAKA, Pettowa 0 0 0 0 0 0 PLACID, Jonah 1 0 1 0 1 0 READY, Andrew 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 FAAGASE, Sef 18 (DNP) BANKS, Tom BUCHANAN, Tim 20 GUNN, Michael JOHNSON, Sam 22 21 SITAUTI, Kimami GALE, Scott 12 2014 Caps 21 9 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 GENIA, Nigel 0 0 0 0 0 0 GREENE, Sam 0 0 0 0 0 0 KITE, Phil 0 0 0 0 0 0 MATAITINI, Veresa 0 0 0 0 0 0 MCINTYRE, Jake 0 0 0 0 0 0 SEUTENI, UJ 0 0 0 0 0 0 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 13 NATIONAL RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: McINNES WILSON LAWYERS BRISBANE CITY McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City defeated Perth Spirit 37-26 to claim the inaugural Buildcorp National Rugby Championship title at Ballymore Stadium on 1 November, 2014. A crowd of 7,889 gathered at the home of Queensland Rugby for the historic event in which the home side claimed a five tries to four win in the first-ever NRC Grand Final. Following 10 weeks of competition, 50 tries and not a single attempt at a penalty goal - due to the NRC’s exciting law variations – head coach Nick Stiles and his team had saved their best performance for last. Brisbane City finished the season where it had all began, after Ballymore also played host to the first-ever match of the NRC against the Sydney Stars in August. After coming together as a squad just four days before the first match, City had a strong showing with six regular season wins and just two losses, followed by a win over NSW Country Eagles in the elimination semi-final. The City side was a mix of contracted St.George Queensland Reds players and up-and-comers from club sides, with 38 players wearing the blue and gold jersey. In all, 20 club players were exposed to this higher level of competition, supported by 12 Reds with Super Rugby experience and seven capped Wallabies. The competition also allowed Reds stars Quade Cooper and Will Genia to return from injury and earn Wallabies recalls, while Number 8 Jake Schatz had one of his best performances of the NRC in the City v Country match before being called into the Wallabies squad and making his Test debut against Argentina. 14 They also enjoyed cameos from Wallabies James Horwill and James Hanson. City won all but one of its matches at Ballymore, including a triumphant 29-13 victory in the inaugural Andy Purcell Cup clash against Bond University Queensland Country, in front of a crowd of more than 5,000. The Grand Final was a spirited contest, with a tantalising mix of power up front and speed out wide, as Brisbane City’s forward pack dominated the Perth side in the set piece. City’s power play earned four tries from set piece, including a penalty try, but it was the home side’s last try which sealed the win. With six minutes to go, replacement winger Junior Laloifi of Sunnybank received the ball with room to move and burst down the left touch line. The former Australian Sevens speedster burned his way past two lagging defenders before diving into the corner to score. As is tradition at Ballymore, the fans were allowed onto the field following the match as Brisbane City captain Dave McDuling raised the NRC trophy, before the team sang its victory song “Glory, Glory Brisbane City”. The NRC was introduced in 2014 to help bridge the gap between club Rugby and Super Rugby. Queensland Rugby’s strategy of managing the two Queensland NRC teams - Queensland Country and Brisbane City - was successful. As well as claiming the inaugural title, 46 non-contracted players in Queensland were exposed to this higher level of competition in 2014, along with 20 contracted Reds players and eight Reds Wider Training Squad members. WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU NATIONAL RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: BOND UNIVERSITY QUEENSLAND COUNTRY Bond University Queensland Country’s 2014 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship campaign, under the guidance of head coach Steve Meehan, unearthed some of Queensland’s brightest young Rugby talents and provided an opportunity for club players to experience the demands of a professional environment. A total of 37 players represented Queensland Country throughout the inaugural NRC, including seven St.George Queensland Reds, two Reds Wider Training Squad members and a total of 28 players from Queensland Premier Rugby and Queensland Country Rugby. Twenty players from the squad trace their roots to Queensland Country regions or had played country Rugby, including the two Parker brothers Andrew and Michael, who were selected to play from the local Townsville competition. The team secured two wins over the Greater Sydney Rams in Round 5 (24-13) and the Sydney Stars in Round 8 (53-29), falling short in a number of close encounters. After losing a number of Reds to injury, the Country side had to rely on the depth of its club Rugby player base for the majority of the competition and a number of players shone and were rewarded for their efforts. The young GPS duo of Campbell Magnay, who was just 17 at the time of the competition, and James Tuttle (18) racked up significant game time for the Country side in just their first year out of school and showed great potential as prospects for the future. Following the season Magnay signed a three-year contract with the Reds while Tuttle and centre Sam Johnson (originally from Dysart) both signed to the Reds Elite Development Squad. Former Slade Point junior and current Sunnybank Number 8 Ben Adams, who captained the Country side for its final three games, was a standout for the side and started in all eight matches throughout the NRC. His club teammate Haydn Hirsimaki, former Sunshine Coast Stingrays representative, also showed great capability at the scrum and in open play as Country’s first-choice loosehead prop. University of Queensland flanker Jack de Guingand finished the season strong, starting in Country’s final three matches after Beau Robinson was ruled out due to injury. He scored a hat-trick in his starting debut against the Perth Spirit. Outside of young up-and-coming players, Queensland Country also provided seasoned Premier Rugby veterans such as Easts flyhalf Matt Brandon and Bond University lock Rubin Fuimaono, the opportunity to play at a higher level. The NRC was introduced in 2014 to help bridge the gap between club Rugby and Super Rugby. Queensland Rugby’s strategy of managing the two Queensland NRC teams – Bond University Queensland Country and Brisbane City - was successful. While a number of Queensland Country players progressed through the program to join the Reds ahead of 2015, a large contingent of players to their respective clubs with greater experience and knowledge which they can pass on to their teammates, further strengthening the code in Queensland. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 15 BRISBANE CITY STATS Opposition Date Sydney Stars Perth Spirit Melbourne Rising NSW Country Eagles Queensland Country Greater Sydney Rams 21/08/2014 31/08/2014 6/09/2014 14/09/2014 28/09/2014 3/10/2014 Venue Ballymore Stadium University of WA Ballymore Stadium Oakes Oval Ballymore Stadium Pirtek Stadium City Brisbane Perth Brisbane Lismore Brisbane Sydney Crowd Final Score 3,400 2,300 2,387 1,300 5,000 1,600 45-20 Brisbane 26-21 Brisbane 79-18 Melbourne 34-26 Brisbane 29-13 Brisbane 56-29 Rams Position Position Position Position Position Position 6 4 22 3 17 6 8 10 1 BROWNING, Curtis 8 BUCHANAN, Tim 4 COOPER, Quade 17 FAAGASE, Sef FEAO, David 16 9 16 15 9 7 7 FEAUNATI, Matthew FRISBY, Nick 15 9 21 6 GENIA, Will GUNN, Michael 3 1 21 9 9 23 9 7 HANSON, James 5 HORWILL, James KEREVI, Samuela KITE, Phil KORCZYK, Adam KOTZE, Marco KURIDRANI, Chris 12 18 6 4 14 17 5 10 21 1 11 2 6 10 21 1 11 2 8 3 18 8 3 23 12 23 LALOIFI, Junior MAFI, Matt 12 18 19 4 14 3 20 4 14 23 17 16 MAHINA, Chazz McDULING, Dave McINTYRE, Jake MULLINS, Jack PARAKA, Pettowa PARKER, Harry READY, Andrew 5 10 1 11 2 ROCHESTER, Sam SCHATZ, Jake TALAKAI, Sam 12 12 6 INJ 14 23 17 20 5 10 22 16 19 14 23 16 20 5 10 21 1 2 19 8 18 12 18 19 4 14 11 16 5 22 17 2 2 8 18 3 TAPUAI, Ben TAPUAI, Rex 13 21 THOMPSON, Will TURNER, Lachie VA'AULU, Brando WHITE, Toby WILKIN, Brad GORMAN, Daniel DALGLEISH, James 15 13 20 19 22 13 19 13 20 22 22 7 GILL, Liam GREENE, Sam KEY: 16 Captain WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU 11 15 13 11 15 13 15 20 7 7 Semi Final Grand Final North Harbour Rays Canberra Vikings NSW Country Eagles Perth Spirit 11/10/2014 18/10/2014 24/10/2014 1/11/2014 Brookvale Oval Suncorp Stadium Central Coast Stadium Ballymore Stadium Sydney Brisbane Gosford Brisbane 1,852 13,700 Not Announced 7,889 77-26 Brisbane 37-16 Brisbane 32-26 Brisbane 37-26 Brisbane Position Position Position Position 8 4 10 3 1 15 9 6 6 6 19 7 12 18 6 19 14 16 20 5 23 22 17 11 2 3 17 11 9 21 7 2 3 17 11 9 3 17 11 9 20 12 18 19 4 14 23 16 18 20 4 14 23 16 20 5 10 12 1 5 10 21 1 5 10 12 1 16 2 2 18 19 4 14 8 8 8 21 13 21 15 23 13 22 15 13 7 22 15 13 22 7 2014 Caps 2014 Points 6 6 3 8 8 7 10 3 6 1 1 7 8 9 9 10 5 8 4 10 10 7 10 4 10 1 7 6 0 4 2 3 7 9 5 1 4 4 1 10 30 39 0 0 5 0 5 10 0 0 20 5 5 5 30 10 0 0 5 79 10 25 5 10 0 25 0 0 0 0 5 10 20 0 0 0 10 3 BROWNING, Curtis BUCHANAN, Tim COOPER, Quade FAAGASE, Sef FEAO, David FEAUNATI, Matthew FRISBY, Nick GENIA, Will GUNN, Michael HANSON, James HORWILL, James KEREVI, Samuela KITE, Phil KORCZYK, Adam KOTZE, Marco KURIDRANI, Chris LALOIFI, Junior MAFI, Matt MAHINA, Chazz McDULING, Dave McINTYRE, Jake MULLINS, Jack PARAKA, Pettowa PARKER, Harry READY, Andrew ROCHESTER, Sam SCHATZ, Jake TALAKAI, Sam TAPUAI, Ben TAPUAI, Rex THOMPSON, Will TURNER, Lachie VA'AULU, Brando WHITE, Toby WILKIN, Brad GORMAN, Daniel DALGLEISH, James GILL, Liam GREENE, Sam Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 17 QUEENSLAND COUNTRY STATS Opposition Date Venue City Crowd Final Score ADAMS, Ben NSW Country Canbera Vikings North Harbour Rays Greater Sydney Rams Brisbane City Perth Spirit 30/08/2014 6/09/2014 13/09/2014 18/09/2014 28/09/2014 4/10/2014 Bond University Viking Park Cbus Super Stadium Ballymore Stadium Ballymore Stadium Rockingham RUFC Gold Coast Canberra Gold Coast Brisbane Brisbane Perth 2,000 2,500 3,090 1,027 5,000 912 37-13 NSW Country 26-21 Vikings 32-29 Rays 24-13 QLD Country 29-13 Brisbane 68-29 Spirit Position Position Position Position Position Position 8 8 8 8 8 8 11 10 18 23 10 1 10 11 10 11 10 20 19 7 5 BEAUCHAMP, Luke BEVERIDGE, Giles BRANDON, Matt BURKE, Fred DE GUINGAND, Jack 10 18 21 20 ENEVER, Blake FAINGA’A, Anthony 12 12 5 11 19 14 2 4 9 19 2 4 9 5 1 3 1 3 20 13 16 23 20 13 16 FAINGA’A, Saia FATTAL, Sam FITZGERALD, Pierce 12 2 19 12 16 5 2 4 2 4 19 23 17 2 4 4 9 18 3 21 5 9 1 3 5 9 1 9 1 FOTUAIKA, Feao FRENEY, Ryan FUIMAONO, Rubin GALE, Scott GORMAN, Dan GRASSO, Sam HIRSIMAKI, Haydn HOLMES, Greg JOHNSON, Sam KING, Mitch KNOX, Clynton MA’AFU, Tonga MAGNAY, Campbell 13 12 19 22 16 13 12 6 13 23 13 18 16 14 22 7 18 16 14 22 PAIA’AUA, Duncan PARKER, Andrew PARKER, Michael PINCUS, Tom 14 14 14 7 22 7 15 6 21 17 23 15 6 21 17 11 7 23 18 15 6 21 17 PORTER, Herman ROBINSON, Beau 7 SETU, Rota SLIPPER, Will 17 TAULAGI, Jamie-Jerry TURNER, James TUTTLE, James 6 22 WAKELY, Campbell WINKLEY, Todd 15 BRACEWELL, Cameron FAKAOSILEA, Lolo HARRIS, Mike LUCAS, Ben PAYNE, Jack SANDAY, Kirwan SIMMONS, Rob SLIPPER, James KEY: 18 Captain WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU 17 15 6 21 3 15 20 21 3 Sydney Stars Melbourne Rising 11/10/2014 18/10/2014 Mike Carney Toyota Park AAMI Park Townsville Melbourne 1,174 1,924 53-29 QLD Country 47-26 Rising Position Position 8 8 20 23 10 10 7 5 7 5 11 17 2 19 11 17 2 19 4 9 1 4 9 12 20 22 13 18 16 14 15 6 21 3 12 6 22 18 13 23 1 16 14 15 21 3 2014 Caps 2014 Points 8 1 5 8 3 6 4 4 1 4 5 3 8 8 2 7 6 7 4 5 6 5 3 7 1 4 4 7 2 5 1 2 7 7 8 7 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 62 0 20 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 10 0 0 0 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 26 0 5 0 0 25 5 10 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ADAMS, Ben BEAUCHAMP, Luke BEVERIDGE, Giles BRANDON, Matt BURKE, Fred DE GUINGAND, Jack ENEVER, Blake FAINGA’A, Anthony FAINGA’A, Saia FATTAL, Sam FITZGERALD, Pierce FOTUAIKA, Feao FRENEY, Ryan FUIMAONO, Rubin GALE, Scott GORMAN, Dan GRASSO, Sam HIRSIMAKI, Haydn HOLMES, Greg JOHNSON, Sam KING, Mitch KNOX, Clynton MA’AFU, Tonga MAGNAY, Campbell PAIA’AUA, Duncan PARKER, Andrew PARKER, Michael PINCUS, Tom PORTER, Herman ROBINSON, Beau SETU, Rota SLIPPER, Will TAULAGI, Jamie-Jerry TURNER, James TUTTLE, James WAKELY, Campbell WINKLEY, Todd BRACEWELL, Cameron FAKAOSILEA, Lolo HARRIS, Mike LUCAS, Ben PAYNE, Jack SANDAY, Kirwan SIMMONS, Rob SLIPPER, James Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 19 COMMUNITY RUGBY 2014 has seen Queensland Rugby again improve upon its nation-topping participation numbers, reflecting the efforts of the QRU in growing the code in Queensland. In Queensland Country Rugby, North Queensland took out the top honours in the Graincorp Queensland Country Championships, winning both the Open and Under-19 age groups. In total 296,365 Queenslanders played Rugby in 2014, a figure which includes a 49% rise in Sevens participation, a 5.6% rise in Junior Rugby participation, as well as an increase in the participation of women by 13%. The Queensland Country Heelers travelled to New Zealand in June for a two-match tour and went down narrowly to North Canterbury 18-14, before finishing their campaign on a high with a 31-14 victory over North Otago. Support for community Rugby from Queensland’s Rugby’s corporate partners increased by 5.5% in 2014 through our aggregation program, eclipsing $1,500,000. Queensland’s age group representatives achieved a number of highlights in 2014. Shenae Ciesolka, Marioulla Belessis, Amber Pilley, Laura Waldie, and Dominique Du Toit represented Queensland proudly on the world stage in Nanjing as part of the gold medal winning Australian Youth Girl’s Sevens team, becoming the first athletes to capture an Olympic Gold medal for Rugby since 1924. The Try Sevens program experienced growth once again in 2014, with 42,902 students across 171 schools in Queensland participating in the intitiative, an increase of 18,641 from 2013. The strength of Rugby at the grassroots level was emphasised by the successes of the 2014 Queensland Premier Rugby competition. Teams averaged 28 points per game in attack over 18 rounds of fixtures, while the competition’s most dynamic attacking sides met in the Grand Final, hosted at Ballymore Stadium. University of Queensland and Sunnybank delighted spectators as momentum see-sawed throughout the match, but University landed the final blow on full-time, slotting a penalty to claim a 20-18 victory. The Grand Final victory saw University complete their 2014 silverware collection, with the Hospital Cup joining the Welsby Cup, Horsley Trophy and the Doughty Shield in the Red Heavies’ trophy cabinet at St.Lucia. The introduction of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship gave the opportunity for 46 Queensland club Rugby players to play representative Rugby at a higher level. Eleven players from Queensland’s NRC sides went on to earn contracts with the Reds for 2015, 10 named to the newly established Elite Development Squad, and teenage centre Campbell Magnay signed to the main squad. 20 Queensland also contributed seven Under-20 Representatives to the IRB Junior World Championships in New Zealand, coached by Queenslander Adrian Thompson. Eleven of Queensland’s schoolboy Rugby elite were rewarded for their play by earning selection in the 2014 Australian Schoolboys team which toured New Zealand, captained by Anglican Church Grammar Number 8 Harley Fox. St. Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace product Connor Moroney received the Golden Boot award as Australia’s best performer. Queensland’s Women’s Sevens players were rewarded after brilliant 2014 seasons in both domestic and international competition. Queensland Red took out the National Women’s Sevens Championships, defeating NSW Blue 19-0 in the Cup final. Queenslander Charlotte Caslick was named ‘player of the tournament’. Roma’s Emilee Cherry was named Queensland Women’s Sevens Player of the Year, while Shenae Ciesoilka was named Queensland Youth Girl’s Sevens Player of the Year. WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU ST.GEORGE ROOKIES2REDS SEVENS Since its establishment in 2012, St.George Rookies2Reds has gone from strength to strength and 2014 saw the program further expand. The program saw 7,039 participants take part – an increase from 6,000 in 2013. A total of 244 Rookies2Reds centres were established from the Gold Coast to as far as the Mornington Peninsula. QUEENSLAND SEVENS FESTIVAL The Queensland Sevens Festival, which ran from Monday 6 October through to Sunday 12 October, saw growth in Rugby Sevens participation experienced across the State. Rookies2Reds catered for three age groups in 2014: • Little Legends (5-7 years old) • Junior Champs (8-9 years old) • Future Stars (10-11 years old) Rookies2Reds was once again well received amongst the Queensland Rugby community, with a 98.6% participant satisfaction rate. 2015 will be another exciting year for the program. The festival took place in the leadup to the IRB Gold Coast Sevens event, which was held at Cbus Super Stadium on 11-12 October. The week-long festival encouraged aspiring Sevens players from a range of age groups to participate in the sport. QUEENSLAND REDS TRY SEVENS The Try Sevens program provided schools from across Queensland the opportunity to sample Rugby Sevens in a fun and inclusive environment in the lead up to the IRB Sevens World Series on the Gold Coast. Try Sevens saw record growth in participation with 42,902 students participating in the program across 171 schools, compared to 24,261 participants across 123 schools in 2013. Brisbane’s South region had a significant increase from last year’s figures, with a growth of over 50% to 7,692 students participating. The rise of Rugby Sevens in country Queensland was also evident, with 16 schools participating in the program in the Central Highlands region, a 75% increase from last year. CORPORATE TAG SEVENS The Corporate Tag Sevens event, run by Queensland Rugby in partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland, was a unique opportunity for businesses to network and play Tag Sevens under the guidance of experienced coaches and current St.George Queensland Reds players. The day culminated in the grand final which took place on the Cbus Super Stadium pitch at the Gold Coast Sevens, where the ‘United Arab Emirates’ corporate team took out the honours. ALL SCHOOLS SEVENS The All Schools Sevens event is designed to provide opportunities for schools to showcase their best Sevens talent. The event saw schools field team in Under-13, Under-15 and Open age groups. Marsden State High School took out the Under-13 Cup final, while The Southport School came out on top in the Under-15 age group. Anglican Church Grammar School, led by Australian Schoolboys captain Harley Fox, took out the Cup in the open boys pool, defeating The Southport School 56-5. Girl’s Sevens was also included in the tournament, with a range of schools fielding sides in the Under-15 and open age groups. Clontarf Beach State High School took out the Under-15 Cup final, while Merrimac State High School, bolstered by the inclusion of Australian Youth Olympic Gold Medallist Amber Pilley, won the opens Cup final over Sunshine Coast school St.Teresa’s 19-0. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 21 VOLUNTEER EDUCATION Key outcomes for 2014: Queensland Rugby worked hard in 2014 to further educate the volunteers associated with Rugby throughout the state. A total of 170 coaching courses were run throughout 2014, with a total of 2,955 participants. Queensland experienced increases in Coaching Kids Rugby compliance and Foundation Course compliance. QRU development staff also ran Level 1 courses in 2014 and Queensland now boasts 1,421 Level 1 accredited coaches, an increase from 1,343 in 2013. Community Development Program: • Four St.George Rookies2Reds School Attendance Programs – 897 participants • Yarrabah Breakfast Club - 1050 participants - 43% increase on 2013 Future Indigenous Leaders Program: • 52 selected participants in Year 6, 7 or 8 from Cherbourg, Woorabinda and Yarrabah The Inaugural Advanced Coaching Seminar Series was launched in 2014, with one course and 82 participants. • 9600 hours of QRU mentor to participant contact Forty referee education courses took place throughout 2014 with a • Two Indigenous Leadership Camps in Brisbane, one in conjunction with the St.George Queensland Reds Indigenous Round total of 535 participants. QUEENSLAND REDS INDIGENOUS PROGRAM • Semester 1 school attendance percentage of 91.25% (State Indigenous Average 85.7%) The St.George Queensland Reds Indigenous Program (QRIP) continued to grow, evolve and achieve exceptional results in 2014. • 86% of students Grades were C or above in Semester 1 2014, up from 54% in 2013 Learn Earn Legend! Program: This year the QRIP saw five Indigenous Remote Communities (Cherbourg, Woorabinda, Yarrabah, Mornington Island and Thursday Island) benefit from over 74 visits via the Community Development and Future Indigenous Leaders Program, while 72 visits were conducted to the 15 schools involved in the Learn Earn Legend! Program. This year also saw the commencement of the second “REDdy to Work” program in partnership with Mission Australia. • 15 schools across the Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Yeppoon and Central Highlands region In reflection, the greatest achievement for 2014 was the Queensland Government’s acknowledgement of the program in announcing Queensland Rugby Union as a finalist in the Community category of the Queensland Reconciliation Awards held in Townsville on the 27th May. • 100% graduated Year 12 22 • 153 Participants (53 School Leaver, 67 Year 12, 33 Year 11) •Over 3900 QRU mentor to participant contacts • 92.4% successfully transitioned into employment or further education (21.6% above State Indigenous Average) WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU PREMIER RUGBY 2014 With nine teams competing for the Hospital Cup in 2014, the Queensland Premier Rugby competition delivered yet another year of exciting grassroots Rugby which saw a number of talented players identified for further honours. The season was a race between six teams for most of the year with 2013 premiers Easts and Souths chasing the eventual finalists, University, Sunnybank, Brothers and GPS, until the final few rounds of the regular competition. University and Sunnybank contested the Grand Final and a last-minute penalty goal to Tom Pincus secured University a 20-18 victory, crowning the team as 2014 Premiers. The Hospital Cup completed University’s silverware collection for 2014, having already claimed the Welsby and Horsley Cups as well as their fifth straight Doughty Shield for the club championship. In total, 44 Premier Rugby players from outside of the Reds squad and Reds Wider Training Squad participated in the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship, with either Brisbane City or Queensland Country, with 18 of those players part of the Brisbane City squad that claimed the title. Trophies awarded in the 2014 Premier Rugby season: Leading point scorer - Tom Pincus, University (208 points) Leading try scorer - Giles Beveridge, Brothers (16 tries) Alec Evans Medallist - Rex Tapuai, Sunnybank Welsby Cup - University of Queensland Horsley Cup - University of Queensland Doughty Shield - University of Queensland Premier Rugby Colt of the Year - Lolo Fakaosilea Souths 69 University of Queensland 25 Brisbane Colts 1 Major Semi-Final: Bond University 36 University of Queensland 31 Brisbane Colts 1 Minor Semi-Final: GPS 11 Sunnybank 7 Brisbane Colts 2 Major Semi-Final: University of Queensland 1 34 Logan City 26 Brisbane Colts 2 Minor Semi-Final: Sunnybank 29 GPS 23 Women’s Major Semi-Final: University of Queensland 25 Sunnybank 15 Women’s Minor Semi-Final: Norths 5 GPS 5 Finals - Week 2 - 9-10/08/2014 Premier Grade Preliminary Final: Sunnybank 33 GPS 24 Premier Colts Preliminary Final: Brothers 23 GPS 18 Premier Reserve Preliminary Final: University of Queensland 25 Brothers 16 Brisbane 1st Grade Preliminary Final: Souths 17 University of Queensland 11 Brisbane 2nd Grade Preliminary Final: GPS 21 University of Queensland 11 Brisbane 3rd Grade Preliminary Final: Souths 24 Logan City 17 Brisbane 4th Grade Preliminary Final: Souths 27 University of Queensland 1 14 Colts 1 Preliminary Final: University of Queensland 41 GPS 8 FINALS AT BALLYMORE Finals - Week 1 - 2-3/08/2014 Premier Grade Major Semi-Final: University of Queensland 28 Sunnybank 25 Colts 2 Preliminary Final: Logan City 14 Sunnybank 13 Women’s Preliminary Final: Sunnybank 12 Norths 5 Premier Grade Minor Semi-Final: GPS 21 Brothers 13 Finals - Week 3 - 16-17/08/2014 Premier Colts Major Semi-Final: Sunnybank 26 GPS 20 Premier Grade Grand Final: University of Queensland 20 Sunnybank 18 Premier Colts Minor Semi-Final: Brothers 18 University of Queensland 12 Premier Colts Grand Final: Sunnybank 15 Brothers 15 Premier Reserve Major Semi-Final: GPS 33 University of Queensland 24 (Sunnybank won as they were placed high on the competition ladder at the culmination of the regular season) Premier Reserve Minor Semi-Final: Brothers 39 Sunnybank 28 Premier Reserve Grand Final: GPS 20 University of Queensland 14 Brisbane First Grade Major Semi-Final: Logan City 32 University of Queensland 22 Brisbane 1st Grade Grand Final: Logan City 28 Souths 17 Brisbane First Grade Minor Semi-Final: Souths 20 GPS 17 Brisbane 2nd Grade Grand Final: Norths 15 GPS 3 Brisbane Second Grade Major Semi-Final: Norths 27 University of Queensland 11 Brisbane 3rd Grade Grand Final: Souths 9 University of Queensland 6 Brisbane Second Grade Minor Semi-Final: GPS 27 Logan City 17 Brisbane 4th Grade Grand Final: Easts 43 Souths 0 Brisbane Third Grade Major Semi-Final: University of Queensland 15 Souths 5 Brisbane Colts 1 Grand Final: University of Queensland 26 Bond University 20 Brisbane Third Grade Minor Semi-Final: Logan City 24 GPS 12 Brisbane Colts 2 Grand Final: University of Queensland 1 32 Logan City 5 Brisbane Fourth Grade Major Semi-Final: Easts 50 University of Queensland 10 Brisbane Women’s Grand Final: University of Queensland 11 Sunnybank 10 Brisbane Fourth Grade Minor Semi-Final: Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 23 PREMIER RUGBY TABLE P W L D Fft Opp Fft F A Df BP <7p BP 4t Pts University of Queensland 16 14 1 1 0 0 577 285 292 0 12 70 Sunnybank 16 11 5 0 0 0 594 324 270 3 12 59 Brothers 16 12 4 0 0 0 521 314 207 1 8 57 GPS 16 10 5 1 0 0 524 400 124 2 13 57 Easts 16 8 6 2 0 0 458 374 84 2 8 46 Souths 16 7 9 0 0 0 404 461 -57 3 8 39 Bond University 16 5 11 0 0 0 341 559 -218 2 4 26 Wests 16 2 14 0 0 0 356 582 -226 5 5 18 Norths 16 1 15 0 0 0 272 748 -476 1 3 8 Team PREMIER COLTS RUGBY TABLE P W L D Fft Opp Fft F A Df BP <7p BP 4t Pts GPS 16 13 3 0 0 0 472 200 272 2 8 62 Sunnybank 16 12 4 0 0 0 520 256 264 1 7 56 Brothers 16 11 5 0 0 0 421 209 212 2 7 53 University of Queensland 16 9 7 0 0 0 469 272 197 6 8 50 Bond University 16 10 6 0 0 0 371 203 168 3 6 49 Souths 16 10 6 0 0 0 377 261 116 1 7 48 Easts 16 3 13 0 0 0 226 641 -415 0 3 15 Norths 16 2 14 0 0 0 168 596 -428 3 0 11 Wests 16 2 14 0 0 0 145 531 -386 0 2 10 Team 24 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU QUEENSLAND COUNTRY RUGBY 2014 was another successful year for Queensland Country Rugby Union with the Graincorp Country Championships in May and early June and a two-match tour to New Zealand in June. The Graincorp Country Championships began with Sub-Union competitions that spanned across Queensland from May 16-18 and from these matches, players were selected for the Under-19 and Open teams that represented North Queensland, Central Queensland and Southern Queensland in the regional competition from June 6-9. North Queensland took out the top honours in the Graincorp Queensland Country Championships, winning both the Open and Under-19 age groups. The Graincorp Queensland Country Heelers were selected from the regional teams, with 11 North Queenslanders, 10 South Queenslanders and four Central Queenslanders named in the Open team that travelled to New Zealand for its two-match tour in June. The Heelers went down to North Canterbury 18-14 on June 26, but finished the campaign on a high just three days later with a 3114 victory over North Otago on June 29. Townsville brothers Andrew and Michael Parker, who toured with the Heelers to New Zealand, were later called into the Bond University Queensland Country squad for the inaugural Buildcorp National Rugby Championship season. RESULTS FOR GRAINCORP COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS: OPEN AGE GROUP QUEENSLAND COUNTRY HEELERS SQUAD FOR NEW ZEALAND TOUR: OPEN Name Region Name Region Andrew Ahwang NQ Samuel Hogarth SQ Dale Ahwang NQ Matthew Howse SQ Lee Anderson CQ Hayden Makiri SQ Tom Beattie SQ Apaitia Matalau NQ Matthew Blair SQ Jesse McMillan CQ Nicholas Chapman SQ Timoci Nawaibalavu NQ Kele Degei NQ Andrew Parker NQ Paul Doneley CQ Michael Parker NQ Benjamin Douglas NQ Sonny Power SQ John Ellis CQ James Turvey SQ Ken Funnaki NQ Thomas Vinson NQ Cohan Guerra NQ Jason Welburn SQ Terry Harvey SQ U19 QUEENSLAND COUNTRY HEELERS TRAINING SQUAD Name Region Name Region Shaun Arnold-Brown SQ Shane Kennedy NQ Lachlan Bates CQ Luke Kimber SQ Matt Burke SQ Josh Lamb NQ Todd Cooper NQ Hamish McDonald SQ Jamie Deshon SQ Stewy Milne SQ Josh Fletcher NQ Blair Morgan NQ Nic Fordyce CQ Brendan Morgan NQ Will Gilbert SQ Joe Ramsey CQ Kalani Heke CQ Cameron Scott NQ Kendall Heke CQ Zac Shanks CQ Leonard Heron NQ Bryan Spence CQ Jodeci Hodge NQ Malakai Taufa NQ Match Result Far North Queensland vs Townsville T 29 def FNQ 5 Far North Queensland vs Mackay FNQ 30 def M 3 Townsville vs Mackay T 50 def M 12 Brahmans vs Wide Bay B 45 def WB 0 Brahmans vs Western Queensland B 45 def WB 0 Brahmans vs Central Highlands B 28 def CH 15 Western Queensland vs Central Highlands CH 14 def WQ 0 Jack Horton NQ Corey Te Huia SQ Western Queensland vs Wide Bay WB 39 def WQ 17 Dylan Jack NQ Dan Tyson CQ Central Highlands vs Wide Bay CH 43 def WB 10 Josh Johnson CQ Adam Young NQ Sunshine Coast vs Darling Downs SC 28 def DD 17 Sunshine Coast vs Gold Coast GC 24 def SC 20 Name Region Name Region Darling Downs vs Gold Coast GC 36 def DD 27 Northern Queensland vs Central Queensland NQ 43 def CQ 7 Jack Boevink NQ Joe Marshall CQ Northern Queensland vs Southern Queensland NQ 40 def SQ 25 Lachlan Howell CQ Luke Willett SQ Southern Queensland vs Central Queensland SQ 15 def CQ 13 Guy Kirby NQ Shadows: U/19 AGE GROUP Match Result Far North Queensland vs Townsville T 26 def FNQ 5 Far North Queensland vs Mackay M 30 def FNQ 0 Townsville vs Mackay T 46 def M 0 Sunshine Coast vs Darling Downs DD 17 def SC 15 Northern Queensland vs Central Queensland NQ 31 def CQ 26 Northern Queensland vs Southern Queensland NQ 40 def SQ 15 Southern Queensland vs Central Queensland SQ 15 def CQ 12 Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 25 QUEENSLAND SCHOOLBOYS The Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union Championship third place playoff was a rematch from 2013, with Queensland I and Queensland II coming up against each other for the second year in a row. QUEENSLAND SCHOOLS 2 Name School 1 Richie Asiata Anglican Church Grammar School The match ended in a 26-all draw between the two Queensland sides while NSW I claimed the championship for the second year in a row with a 37-24 win over NSW II. 2 Josh Webb Anglican Church Grammar School 3 James McColl Toowoomba Grammar School 4 Dylan Leyland Brisbane Boys College The championship was an opportunity for players to be selected for the Australian Schoolboys team that competed in New Zealand in late September through to early October. 5 Jacob Elordi St Joseph’s Nudgee College 6 Angus Scott- Young Anglican Church Grammar School 7 PJ van den Berg The Southport School 8 Agassi Stowers St Joseph’s Nudgee College 9 Eli Pilz St Joseph’s Nudgee College 10 Liam McNamara Brisbane State High School 11 Tyrone Hussey St Joseph’s Nudgee College 12 Matthew Smit Brisbane State High School 13 Jim Henjak Brisbane State High School 14 Christopher Afamasaga St Francis College 15 Geoffrey Robertson Ipswich Grammar School 16 Jordan Tupai - ui St Columban’s College 17 Johann Koorts Brisbane State High School 18 Luke Peterson Brisbane Boys College 19 Masi Ganita Sunnybank State High School 20 Liam Wright Anglican Church Grammar School 21 Reuben Wall St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace Brock McNulty St Edmund’s College Kailab Coventry Kirwan State High School Queensland produced 11 representatives, including Harley Fox who was awarded the captaincy, along with Brisbane Boys College’s Stephen Phillpotts returning as head coach. Squad: Richie Asiata - Anglican Church Grammar School, Joey Fittock The Southport School, Harley Fox – Anglican Church Grammar School, Gavin Luka - St Joseph’s Nudgee College, Reece Hewat – St. Joseph’s Nudgee College, Alex Mafi - St Joseph’s, Nudgee College, Connor Moroney - St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace, Izaia Perese – Anglican Church Grammar School, Izack Rodda Ipswich Grammar School, Tuaina Tualima – Brisbane State High School and Shambeckler Vui - Ipswich Grammar School. The efforts of some of these players led to even higher honours, as Fittock, Fox, Moroney, Tualima, Perese and Rodda were offered Reds Elite Development Squad contracts. QUEENSLAND SCHOOLS 1 Name School 22 1 Gavin Luka St Joseph’s Nudgee College 23 2 Alex Mafi St Joseph’s Nudgee College 3 Shambeckler Vui Ipswich Grammar School 4 Darcy Taimua-Swain Brisbane Boys College 5 Reece Hewat St Joseph’s Nudgee College 6 Tuaina Tualima Brisbane State High School 7 Connor Moroney St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace 8 Harley Fox Anglican Church Grammar School 9 Harry Nucifora Anglican Church Grammar School 10 Alex Horan St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace 11 Joey Fittock The Southport School 12 Calvin Pritchard St Joseph’s Nudgee College 13 Dean Bender Toowoomba Grammar School 14 Sam Edwards Brisbane Boys College 15 Clifton Setu St Edmund’s College 16 Josvyn Sokimi Ipswich Grammar School 17 Joshua Taylor The Southport School 18 Peter Flitcroft Pacific Lutheran College 19 Daniel Byrne Marist College Ashgrove 20 Jack Farrell Brisbane Boys College 21 Harry Parcell Ipswich Grammar School 22 Fred Dorrough The Southport School 23 Tyrone Southorn Brisbane State High School Manager - Ben Cameron - Kingston State College Coach - David Cooke - Cleveland State High School Asst Coach - Mark Moxon - Ignatius Park College Manager - Noel Gardner - St Edmund’s College Coach - Carl Marshall - Brisbane Grammar School Asst Coach - Michael Crank - Mt Maria College Physio - Ian Astbury 26 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU Physio - Joel McPhee JUNIOR GOLD CUP The inaugural Junior Gold Cup ran from February to April and consisted of 48 teams across 24 centres in five states, separated into under-15 and under-17 age groups. Representative teams from Country Queensland, Brisbane, Western Australian, South Australia, Victoria, regional NSW and Sydney all took part. The competition was a conference-based system, with a Northern and Southern conference. Queensland fielded four teams from Brisbane (separated into Yellow, Purple, Orange and Pink), the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Darling Downs, Townsville and Central Queensland. Brisbane teams had some especially strong performances in the tournament, which eventually led to Brisbane Purple under-17s progressing to the semi-finals, while Brisbane Purple under-15s made it to the grand final, which was played at Suncorp Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Reds Round 6 Super Rugby clash against the Western Force at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, April 5. Brisbane Purple under-15s went down in the hotly contested final to Victoria 30-21. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 27 QUEENSLAND WOMEN’S AND GIRL’S RUGBY In 2014, Queensland experienced success at the National Women’s Sevens Championships through the strong form of the Queensland Red and Queensland White sides. The 2014 Australian Youth Olympic Gold medal-winning Girls Sevens team featured five Queenslanders - Shenae Ciesiolka, Marioulla Belessis, Amber Pilley, Laura Waldie and Dominique De Toit. Queensland Red, which featured Australian Women’s Sevens players Emilee Cherry, Charlotte Caslick and Shannon Parry, along with 2014 Youth Olympics Sevens squad members Shenae Ciesiolka and Marioulla Belessis, won the Cup final beating New South Wales Blue 19-0. Charlotte Caslick was also named ‘Player of the Tournament’. Shenae Ciesoilka was also named Queensland Youth Girl’s Player of the Year. Queensland White finished seventh overall after defeating South Australia 24-0 in the seventh place playoff. Queensland Women’s Red: 1. Charlotte Caslick 2. Evie Everden 3. Karina Brown 4. Maddison McCarthy 5. Emilee Cherry 6. Shenae Ciesiolka 7. Marioulla Belessis Roma’s own Emilee Cherry received a number of individual accolades for her performances for the Australian Women’s Sevens team in 2014 including being named the IRB Women’s Sevens Player of the Year, Queensland Women’s Sevens Player of the Year, RUPA Women’s Sevens Player’s Player, Australian Women’s Sevens Player of the Year and she also received the Shawn Mackay Award - Australian Sevens Player of the Year. Eight Queenslanders were named in the Wallaroos squad that flew to France for the IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup in which the side finished seventh. Queenslander Shannon Parry captained the side throughout the tournament. The eight Queenslanders were: Name Representative Team Tricia Brown Queensland Cheyenne Campbell Queensland Dalena Dennison Queensland Alisha Hewett Australian Services Rugby Union Shannon Parry (c) Queensland Coach: Sione Fukofuka Liz Patu Queensland Manager: Sarah Stibbard Brooke Saunders Australian Services Rugby Union Caroline Vakalahi Australian Services Rugby Union 8. Shannon Parry (C) 9. Lauren Potter 10. Georgina Friedrichs 11. Shaan Waru 12. Liz Patu Queensland Women’s White 1. Toni Wells 2. Natahlia Moors 3. Tayler Ellyatt 4. Megan Ward 5. Catherine Tipene 6. Madison Shuck 7. Hayley Kermond 8. Erica Fowler 9. Asako Ono 10. Melanie Kawa (C) 11. Elianna Suluvale 12. Evelyn Horomia Coach: Jerry Scott Manager: Greig Munro 28 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT Capacity Development delivered financial sustainability and infrastructure expansion across the community game through delivering innovative commercial opportunities and government funding outcomes in 2014. The Queensland Rugby Aggregation Program formed a key element within the Capacity Development strategy. It capitalised on the size and scale of the code to generate discounts, rebates and infrastructure support for clubs and associations in Queensland while supporting partners who support Rugby. In 2014, over $1.5-million in savings, rebates and infrastructure support were achieved across 123 participating Rugby clubs. The benefits enabled clubs to maximise savings and revenue on commonly purchased items and build financial sustainability. This year saw the expansion of the program to include 12 aggregation partners. Existing offers from St.George Bank, Coca-Cola Amatil, LION, Cockfighters Ghost, Streets, Gilbert and Reds Membership Cash Back were joined in 2014 by Pizza Capers, BLK, 2XU Compression, Capital Training Institute and Reds Match and Win. In addition to club benefits, the program provided Queensland Rugby corporate partners with the opportunity to invest in grassroots Rugby while growing market share. Queensland Rugby provides the important link between clubs and corporate partners for the benefit of all. Coca-Cola Amatil acknowledged the benefit of the program by awarding Queensland Rugby with both State and National Coca-Cola sponsorship and marketing awards, recognising grassroots business growth. 2014 saw a significant expansion of Queensland Rugby’s grant funding and government relations strategy to drive increased government investment into Rugby infrastructure, equipment and resources. The expansion of Rugby infrastructure is critical for the growth of the Rugby Economy and the code. Rugby clubs and associations in Queensland secured over $2.4 million of government funding for community infrastructure and resources. A key element of this expansion was the introduction of a customised Club Development Plan for each club in Queensland. Produced in consultation with each club, the document formed a practical plan of how the club and Queensland Rugby can work together to produce growth in four key areas; Infrastructure, Commercial, Participation and Volunteers. In addition to facilitating this planning, Queensland Rugby Development Officers provided a new level of practical assistance to ensure club grant funding applications were completed and submitted, utilising strategic support from the Capacity Development Department. The expanded grant funding program reaped immediate results with the number of grant applications submitted by Rugby clubs rising by 188% during 2014, 45 (2013) up to 85 (2014). As a result grant funding to clubs from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund grew by 309% - $157,178 (2013) up to $487,224 (2014). The addition of a specialised Queensland Rugby Government Relations Manager provided a resource to grow government support. The manager facilitated a range of new initiatives to support club grant applications, secure funding support for major regional Rugby facilities and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders throughout Queensland. In 2015, Capacity Development will continue to grow corporate partner and government infrastructure investment into the code through program expansion and refinement. Six new aggregation partners will be introduced to fill strategic categories with the largest club expenditure to maximise financial benefit for grassroots Rugby. Rugby club participation in the aggregation program will be encouraged through an aggregation offer packaging an incentives strategy, supported by an expanded marketing communications program. The introduction of an online data management system will facilitate club infrastructure development and grant funding applications through accurate tracking and recording of key information across the regions. The system will enable the resources of Queensland Rugby to be leveraged for the benefit of clubs throughout Queensland. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 29 QUEENSLAND RUGBY JUNIOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS U13 Teams The Queensland Rugby Junior State Championships moved to The Southport School (TSS) in 2014. The event saw nearly 1,200 players across 36 teams take to the fields representing their regions, in front of thousands of spectators across the weekend. With the introduction of the Junior Gold Cup earlier in 2014 for Under 15s and 17s, the State Championships was limited to Under 13, 14 and 16 age divisions. Teams from Brisbane, North Queensland, Central Queensland, Northern Territory, Darling Downs, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast took part in the event. The competition also took on the traditional City v Country format, with City and Country representative teams selected in each age division following the finals. The two teams in each age division then faced off at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, 11 July as curtain raisers to the St.George Queensland Reds Round 18 Super Rugby clash with the New South Wales Waratahs. 2014 FINAL RESULTS: U13 U14 U16 1st Place Playoff BJRU Blue 14 def Gold Coast Gold 12 BJRU Green 27 def BJRU Pink 7 Sunshine Coast 7 def Gold Coast 7 (SC finish with more competition points) 3rd Place Playoff BJRU Orange 24 def BJRU Green 21 Bushrangers 17 def BJRU Orange 7 BJRU Blue 12 def North Queensland 7 5th Place Playoff North Queensland 10 def Sunshine Coast 0 BJRU Blue 34 def Gold Coast Gold 21 Bushrangers 17 def BJRU Green 7 7th Place Playoff BJRU Pink 10 def Gold Coast Blue 3 Gold Coast Blue 12 def Sunshine Coast 10 Darling Downs 19 def Northern Territory 5 9th Place Playoff Darling Downs 26 def Bushrangers 0 North Queensland 24 def Darling Downs 15 City Brodyn Tuhimata Jack Brinsmead Sam Finocchiaro 2 Harry Bartram Edward Gunson 3 Zane Nonggorr Luis Plazibat 4 Jock Thompson Ethan Rees 5 Jamieson Poole Daniel Condon 6 Tim Faingaanuku William Roach 7 Ethan Roworth Cayle Manu 8 Sam Williams William Kirk 9 Sam Dalton Jake Pappin 10 Will Grant Christian Brown 11 Hamish Roberts Francis Puna 12 Sam Nimmo Louis Maritz 13 Terakura Heremaia Thomas Macbeth 14 Sireli Raivaroro Saimone Maafu 15 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow Zac Hogan 16 Brodie Scott Trent Todd 17 Kyle Rimmer Ivano Steppa Morgan Prendergast 18 Luke Spreadborough 19 Wilson Blyth Xavier Strickland 20 Connor McKinlay George Tolai 21 Lachlan McInnes James Green 22 Carter Gordon Ethan Robbins 23 Tom Payne Rob Du Pont, Iona Siolo Head Coach Dale Ledger Assistant Coach Adam Wallace Kieran Moffat Manager Sonny Jobe Patricia Alo-Emile Trainer James O’Keefe City v Country: Under-13s: City 26 def Country 21 Under-14s: Country 28 def City 26 Under-16s: City 12 def Country 10 30 Country 1 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU U14 Teams City U16 Teams Country City Garrett Smith Latrell Soli 1 2 Theo Fourie Mitchell Turnbull 2 Kaleb Talbot 3 Isaac Talbot Liam Adams 3 Ben Klaassen Joseph Small 4 Jesse Russell Reece Bamford 4 Joshua Crone Jack Buckley 5 Jack Kearns Whetu Kiwi Kiwi-Moeara 5 Matt Willshire Samuel Hearne 6 Hayden Saltner Michael Wood 6 Carson Dehnert Alex Colvin 7 Willie Venter Benjamin McKenzie 7 Rye Steel Bailey Tautau 8 Tom Wagner Jed Chapman 8 Zac Xenitopolous Moses Alo-Emile 1 Eugene Koorts Emosi Tuqiri Country Lamoni Collins Wolfgang Wallace 9 Jim Chapman Henry Lennon 9 Malachi Reweti Matthew Lo Grande 10 Tyler Wright Tom Orchard 10 Creeden Weir Callum Mathieson 11 Geordie Dalton Ben Navosailagi 11 Charlie Bruce Xavier Soli 12 Fletcher Lyneham Moana Uhatani 12 Sam Cookson James Hartland 13 Tye James Lachlan Vellacott 13 Borore Howton Sietoa Teesi 14 Dennis Waight Carlos Kiwi Kiwi 14 Lawson Dunne Zac Steer 15 Ash Marsh Will Gavin 15 Matt McCarthy Viliami Lea 16 Chanze Anderson Shammah Solomona 16 Daniel Reidy Joshua Smith 17 Keelin Williams Liam Usher 17 Tyler Searle Matthew Durnan 18 Tyrell Kopua Siaosi Lepua 18 Ben Stewart Nicholas Whip 19 Tom Winter 19 Ratu Rotusolia Joseph Faulalo 20 Ben Beatty Akimichi Shimizu 20 Fraser Quirk Ruan Peter 21 Ben Cornish Saula Senituli 21 Josh Vuta William Borger 22 Harry Leerentveld Jackson Tame 22 Jodezhi Gage Joe Ioane 23 Will Harris Lealasa Nua 23 Harry Mohr Michael Prendergast Head Coach Chris Miles George Wilson Head Coach Jason North Graham Silvester Assistant Coach Steven Page Mark English Assistant Coach Lenny McColloch Greig Munro Manager Paul Gist Haydn Hirismaki Manager David Glover Ben Silvester Trainer Daniel Nethery Tom Bower Trainer Ken Dobson Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 31 AFFILIATE & COMMITTEE REPORTS 32 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU 2014 AFFILIATE REPORTS BOND UNIVERSITY RUGBY CLUB The Bond University Rugby Club’s plan in our inaugural year was to bring together the various Rugby stakeholders of our region and make them feel an integral part of the Bond University Rugby Club family. With a huge amount of help from stakeholders including the Breakers, the QRU, the Gold Coast District Rugby Union, as well as a wide and passionate group of sponsors, members, supporters and players, the Club is very pleased with the progress made during the year in achieving this goal. Our relationship with the Gold Coast & Districts Rugby Union continues to grow with the trials of the Junior Gold Program being played at Bond along with the Gold Coast APS Finals and a Southport School trial match against Scots College from Sydney. Our plan on the field was to be competitive with all four teams and we certainly improved on 2013 with our Colts 1 team making the Grand Final. Many thanks to all our coaches and team staff of seventeen, for all their hard work and long hours spent working with the players during the season. Our playing roster is solid and we have some fantastic talent to carry forward into next season and with the appointment of Sean Hedger in November as our full time Director of Rugby/Head Coach, 2015 is shaping as very exciting year. The Club would like to acknowledge the work done by outgoing Head Coach Robert Nowlan (2012-2014) and wish him well in his future endeavors. We had one hundred and thirty eight players register with the Club this year and Matty Langmack joined our illustrious Centurion Club by notching up 100 games mid way through the season. Cameron Bracewell and Rubin Fuimaono were both selected in the Queensland Country NRC team along with Will Slipper. Rubin was awarded the James Slipper Trophy for Premier Player of the Year at our end of season presentation night. We had four players in the Queensland Country Under 20s - Locky Duncan, Adam Gauder, Lucas Goodin and Vincent Quigley. In an amateur club like ours we simply wouldn’t be able to afford to field teams without their support – Bruce Lynton BMW Morgans Gold Coast ASAP Mobile Mechanics All Sports Travel BLK Cheap as Chips Faming Pindara Physiotherapy Bidvest Gold Coast G’rilled Healthy Burgers Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation Labour Solutions Australia Nyholt Constructions Hot Tomato Cross’ Carpets Simon George and Co. Many thanks also for the fantastic support from our members and supporters who all turned out on a regular basis to support the players. To Chairman Tom Ray and the Board of Directors, the club is indebted to your commitment and leadership in building a structure that will allow the Club to move forward with a solid foundation and become one of the leading Clubs in the QRU Premier Competition in the foreseeable future. The club is also indebted to the support of the Vice-Chancellor Tim Brailsford and all the hard working team at Bond who put in long hours to make sure our first year was as enjoyable and successful as possible. Special mention to Club Person of the Year Kerrie Brailsford who spent many long hours putting together our weekly newsletter, the Bond Brief. The facility continues to be upgraded with two new change rooms, a new training field, 200 lux-lighting and a fully landscaped hill all in readiness for 2015. The Bond University Rugby Club wishes to take this opportunity to thank the QRU for their invitation into their Premier Competition and we look forward to the 2015 season with great anticipation. Tim Rowlands General Manager - Bond University Rugby Club Sam Clifton, Douglas McMillan and Adam Gauder have been selected in the Reds Uner-20 squad for 2015. Congratulations also to the John Eales Scholarship recipients Douglas McMillan (Churchie) and Ben Hunt (Riverview). Our inaugural Ladies Day was a great success and will be an ongoing regular event on our Rugby calendar. While we are still working towards premiership greatness on the field, we have made some wonderful leaps forward off the field this year. Our medical team has been a true standout and has been widely acknowledged by the QRU and visiting Clubs. SPONSORS A very special appreciation to our fantastic sponsors – some who came across to us from the Breakers and some who are new to the club. BROTHERS Brothers Rugby Club’s Premier Grade side achieved a place in the finals but was unable to get past the Minor Semi-Final. The team has seen a transition from the older experienced players to a young fresh group of players over the past two seasons and this transition will see the club go from strength to strength. The club’s Premier Colts side worked hard to secure a spot in the Grand Final and after leading for the majority of the match let the game slip, drawing with a very good Sunnybank side. Unfortunately for the side and club, Sunnybank were awarded the Premiership due to their higher position on the ladder at the end of the regular season. The loss will only make the side more determined in 2015. Premier Reserve Grade worked very hard to make the finals from a seemingly impossible position half-way through the season winning nine consecutive games, but the team fell by the wayside in the preliminary finals. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 33 We also had a number of individual players selected to compete in the inaugural National Rugby Championship with Matt Mafi and Sam Greene earning caps for the competition winners Brisbane City. Giles Beveridge, Luke Beauchamp, Pierce Fitzgerald and Clynton Knox also featured for Queensland Country while Ben Suisala was a regular in the front row for NSW Country. Off the field we had to deal with several challenges including the funding of the replacement of field lighting on Jack Ross Oval and the organisation of our home game against Norths held in Roma. The Club was successful in its application for a State Government Grant for the lights project, however a considerable sum of money had to be raised in addition to the grant money to complete the project. There are a number of people to whom we owe great thanks for the work done to raise extra funds and the generous donations made by a number of supporters. The project was completed in October and allows games to be scheduled for evenings if circumstances warrant. An ambitious project for 2014 was to play a competition match in Roma where some of our sponsors are active. Norths generously agreed to play their away match against Brothers in Roma and the local community got behind the event and made it possible and very enjoyable. Such was the success of the event we are committed to build on 2014 and make the 2015 event even more beneficial for all involved. Brothers Junior Rugby Club consolidated their partial move to Windsor Park which has relieved pressure on the Crosby Park facility greatly. Playing conditions for 2014 were excellent right throughout the season. The move makes it possible for the junior club to encourage greater numbers to play the game. Unfortunately senior playing numbers are less than encouraging as we have a number of casual players look to engage in competitions other than Premier Grade. 2015 will be difficult with an introduction of substantial player levies and an earlier start to the season therefore we need consider in depth what the club actually offers. With the cessation of Premier Rugby funding in 2015 the club will be more reliant on sponsorship to ensure we are providing the best possible service to members and the community. Fortunately sponsors continue to generously support club Rugby and we are grateful for their involvement. Brothers Rugby Club would like to thank its sponsors for continuing to support the club, in particular special thanks must go to Imagetec who have signed again for 2015 which marks eight years of sponsorship. Volunteers, in a different sense, are as important as sponsors if the game is to continue. Many people act as volunteers at Brothers coaches, managers, the registrars, staff on game days and the committee and sub-committee. We owe a great debt to these people, some of whom have been donating their time for many years. Brothers Rugby Club is working hard to provide the best possible Rugby program for its members. Both on and off field the club has transformed over the years to a point where there is consistency in the services we provide and we continue to promote our brand as the local community club in the area. At the end of the representative season the focus moved to the juniors who played in the representative development games. This preceded the Bundaberg junior season which runs from April until July on a Friday night to minimise competition from other winter sports. The focus of the junior competition is participation and developing the skills of the players. There has been positive development within the Waves Falcons Junior Rugby club, seeing an increase in participation and coaching from current and past players, which is an example to all local players and clubs. The senior competition played from September through to December continues to attract enough players to support four one-team clubs. The strength of the competition was such that despite the local Rugby League competition completing its final series, the competition continued with little disruption. This season saw the start of the Islander population, who come to assist in picking fruit and vegetables, play Rugby and these players helped increase the standard of local Rugby. Unfortunately they must go back to their home country as part of their Visa requirements, meaning that continuity from season-to-season will be hard. Isis Crushers continued their improvement and with a base of players from last year, and improved skill from some Welsh backpackers, made the semi-final. Due to the improved competition going into the last week of the season, both the Falcons and Isis had a chance of playing the semi-final and the Barbarians and the Turtles had the opportunity to win the minor premiership. Bundaberg Barbarians won the minor premiership in 2014, denying the Turtles the opportunity to claim the trophy for five straight years. Isis Crushers played the Turtles in the semi-final and they were beaten 52–13 by a rampant Turtles side. Good crowd numbers continue to support the games, especially with good weather during the competition. The Turtles won the Grand Final 20-10 with a late try sealing the win. It was the fifth straight win for the Turtles in the Bundaberg Rugby competition, continuing their dominance in the big matches, which was a good reward for a strong season. Many thanks must continue to go out to the volunteers who help out at the Rugby each week, in what for many is long year from February until December. The referees, whether they are local or from other Rugby regions, are much appreciated and many thanks for their efforts throughout the year on Friday nights. For the Spring Cup, special thanks must go to the volunteers who run the barbeque at the games with the proceeds going to the juniors to assist them, and Bruce Cairns who was assistant competition manager and provided all the score sheets and match details to Ken Dobson and the local media. Bruce Dalton President CENTRAL HIGHLANDS Jim Frayne President BUNDABERG The year started with the representative season, which saw matches played against the Fraser Coast Mariners to select a Wide Bay Rugby side to play in the Central Queensland Rugby Championships. Due to increased participation in the 34 representative pathway, Bundaberg won both of the games against Fraser Coast Mariners which led to 15 players being selected for Wide Bay to play in the Central Queensland Country Championships competition against Rockhampton, Central Highlands and Western Queensland. Four players were selected in the Central Queensland side to play North and South Queensland with one player, John Ellis, being selected to play with the Queensland Country Heelers. The 2014 Central Highlands Rugby season was the closest and hardest contested premiership in living memory. A Grand Final score of 6-5 to Emerald over Moranbah was testament to how very little separated the two top teams in our competition. The 2014 season started with the annual Waitangi Day Rugby match which saw the Central Highlands Invitational team victorious for only the second time in the history of the event. The final score was 24-12. WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU The Central Highlands representative season kicked off with a game against Rockhampton and Districts played at Rugby Park in Rockhampton. Despite travelling light, the Highlanders put up a very commendable performance going down 23-15 against the much fancied opponents. Astandout performer for Central Highlands was Jared Bryant from the Moranbah Bulls. Bridgeman Park in Capella was once again the venue for the representative home matches which were played over a weekend against Western Queensland and Wide Bay. The first match was played on the Friday night and Central Highlands were victorious 10-0 over a very spirited Western Queensland outfit. Standout performer for CH was John Simmons from the Clermont Bushpigs. The second match played by CH was against Wide Bay and CH recorded a 43-15 victory against the road weary Wide Bay team. Stand out performer for CH was Wes Grayson from the Capella Cattledogs. At the culmination of the inter-sub union matches, the Central Queensland side was named including: Alec Sutherland (Emerald Rams),Stu Carrington (Emerald Rams), Alex Dixon, (Emerald Rams) Jessie McMillan (Capella Cattledogs) and Sam Fairweather. (Rolleston Roos). Several other players were selected but were unable to attend the Central Queensland training camp to make themselves eligible. At the conclusion of the Country Championships held in Rockhampton, Jessie McMillan (Capella Cattledogs) was named as blindside flanker for the Queensland Country Heelers. The Heelers subsequently toured New Zealand defeating North Otago but went down to North Canterbury. Several Central Highlands Under-19 players represented Central Queensland as well as five players going on to be named in the 35-man Queensland Country squad. These include Kendall Heke, Kalani Heke, Joey Marshall, Josh Johnson and Dan Tyson. The Central Highlands Rugby Ball was hosted by the Capella Cattledogs at the Capella Cultural Centre. The guest speaker was ex-Wallaby Tom Lawton who was very well received by the 140 attendees. Several presentations were awarded on the evening including Central Highlands Player of the Year: Jarod Bryant (Moranbah Bulls). Central Highlands Volunteer of the Year: Stant Talegadi (Moranbah Bulls). Central Highlands Rookie of the Year Kenney Hart (Capella Cattledogs). On the Sponsorship side of operations we had an excellent year with Capella Hotel Motel remaining as Platinum Sponsor and Maraboon Veterinary coming on as a silver sponsor. They were augmented by AMS CQ and Napthali Electrical as Bronze sponsors. Without the continuing support of our sponsors the sustainability of our programs would be in jeopardy. On the public awareness aspect of our game, Central Highlands Rugby has had the highest media profile in the history of our subunion. The advent of the 4HI Rugby Radio Program has significantly grown the public profile of Rugby in the Central Highlands. This has been augmented with the weekly CQ News and Shift Miner articles. Additionally social media has proven to be a very effective communication tool in disseminating information. 2014 has been another watershed year for Central Highlands Rugby with the closeness and competitiveness of the Grand Final epitomising the passion held for Rugby in the Highlands. Moving into 2015, we face the exciting prospect of an expanded six-team competition as we welcome back the Blackwater Basilisks. Eddie Shaw 2014 CHRU President CENTRAL QUEENSLAND 2014 was another good season with many highlights. We had a terrific finals series with Brothers defending their Premiership, defeating Colts to take the A Grade Premiership. We also had some close and exciting matches in Reserve Grade with Frenchville defeating Mt Morgan. Congratulations go to both of our Premiership winners. Pathways Rugby continues to grow and prosper whilst we also had a very successful schools competition. Our open representative team had a mixed season where they lost to Darling Downs, Western Queensland, University of Queensland and Brisbane Norths. We had wins over Mackay, Wide Bay and Central Highlands. Unfortunately it is still a struggle to get a meaningful competition for our Under-19 representative team. We did defeat Bundaberg and lost narrowly to Brisbane Norths and Darling Downs. We also fielded teams at the Country Junior Muster. Lee Anderson had a great year with selection in the Queensland Country Heelers team. We also had a number of players named in the Queensland Country Under-19 team. Sponsorship continued this year with good support from Thrifty to name one. We have continued to grow our sponsorship base with significant support from our Director of Rugby – Mr Steve Anderson. Our Development Officers continue to promote and develop Rugby in our region. We would like to thank all of our volunteers for their efforts during 2014. This not only includes CQRU volunteers but all of the club volunteers and our referees. I would like to also state we appreciated the efforts of clubs to appoint a match official and help control Rugby for your club. A special thanks to our groundsman Mr Wayne Dunstan for maintaining Rugby Park as one of the best grounds in Queensland Country and Mr Athol Backhouse who, in addition to being our chief line marker, also chairs the Judicial Committee. I woud also like to acknowledge the efforts of Steve Anderson who started last year as our Director of Rugby. His professionalism and enthusiasm towards Rugby will ensure our region continues to grow and prosper. I wish to thank all committee members for their efforts in 2014. Finally, thanks to all of our 2014 sponsors with a special thanks to our Major Sponsor Thrifty. Ian Coombe President DARLING DOWNS RUGBY 2014 has been a huge year for Rugby on the Darling Downs with development achieved on all levels of the Rugby spectrum. The following is an overview of the year that has been, and the base on which Downs Rugby Limited staff will work from to facilitate a bigger and better 2015 season. Queensland Reds Pre-season Match – Reds v Chiefs (Over 7,500 spectators – Maximum Capacity) Building off the popularity of the 2013 Reds pre-season in which 6,000 people attended. - The 2014 Reds vs Chiefs pre-season match had a full house in attendance at the Toowoomba Sports Ground with over 7,500 Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 35 fans in attendance to support their State and enjoy some world class Rugby. - The event went off without a hitch, which proves Toowoomba can host events of this level and the support for the game on the Downs is growing rapidly and the passion for the game is definitely alive and well. JUNIOR RUGBY UNION Junior Rugby was one of the big highlights of 2014. - 49 teams (749 players) competed in a full season, which included four very successful Junior Carnivals. - The five clubs from the competition’s first year in 1964 all had relatively successful seasons and hosted 50-year club events which were very well received. DOWNS RUGBY AWARDS NIGHT - This year at the Downs Rugby Awards Night, 50 years of the Risdon Cup was celebrated through naming a team of each of the five decades (60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s) and a 50-year Risdon Cup Darling Downs team announced. - The MVP of the A Grade Competition award was renamed the Mal Eiby Medal in recognition of the first Risdon Cup Premiership captain with Warwick, Mal Eiby. - Junior Carnivals were held by Goondiwindi, Dalby, Toowoomba Bears (Downlands) and Toowoomba Prep School. - On these carnival days all clubs came together and demonstrated the values of Darling Downs Rugby - enthusiasm, passion and commitment. - There are plans for a fifth Junior Carnival in the 2015 season along with more whole club days. - Whole club days have been organised through co-ordination of the 2015 draws with Juniors playing before Seniors at the same venues on more Saturdays throughout the year. DARLING DOWNS RUGBY REFEREES ASSOCIATION (DDRRA) AND WAGNERS JUNIOR REFEREES ACADEMY - The DDRRA this year again was professional in the way they carried out their business and a big thank you must go to all our referees on the Downs who travel such huge distances to make our game happen each weekend. - The Wagners Junior Referees Academy continues to build with our young referees receiving training from the DDRRA and payment for games from our major sponsor Wagners who continue to support the initiative. TEENAGE RUGBY UNION - The teenage season entered its third year of the revamped Sunday competition with 21 teams competing over the Under 13-17 age groups (412 players). - The season culminated in a very successful Grand Final Day at Toowoomba Sports Ground. - Our Teenage Representative Sides travelled to the Gold Coast in July and had mixed results mainly due to the hasty and disjointed preparations. - In 2015 this is being rectified through the Downs Teenage Development Squad Program. This training program began in October 2014 and will run until the State Championships in July. - The boys will receive high level coaching and the squads will be named earlier to facilitate relationship building and continuity between player and coaching groups. SENIOR RUGBY UNION - 23 Senior teams (798 players) competed this year to contest the A Grade (Risdon cup), B Grade and C Grade competitions. - This was the 50th year of the Risdon Cup in which a very interesting finals series saw the undefeated Goondiwindi Emu’s in the regular season lose back to back matches to the Dalby Wheatmen and Toowoomba Rangers. - Toowoomba Rangers took out the 50th year of the Risdon Cup which was fitting as they were one of the founding clubs from the inaugural season in 1964. 36 UNDER-19 REPRESENTATIVE SQUAD - The Under-19 Representative program was co-ordinated superbly by Mike Dillon and his coaching staff as the Downs looked to link up the Senior and Under-19 Representative program. - Some of these boys have now been invited to go to the senior representative training camp early next year, so this is a very positive sign for the Senior Representative sides’ future. SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE SQUAD - The Darling Downs senior representative squad has turned up the professionalism in 2014 under Head Coach Rob Johnston and his coaching staff. - The year began with a two-day training camp, which then led to victories against Queensland Police (38-12) as a curtain raiser for the Reds Trial, Central Queensland Brahmans in Dalby (8-0) and Central Northern New South Wales in Goondiwindi (32-31). - The team then suffered close losses to the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast in the Southern Queensland Championships in Noosa. - Eight Darling Downs players were selected in the Southern Queensland Representative Team and five then went on to be selected for Queensland Country. - The year was then concluded with a tour to New Zealand. Downs played some very high quality opposition and were unlucky to go down in all three games. WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU - The players and coaching staff learnt a lot from this tour and are looking to implement initiatives that were picked up from the high level opposition. SEVENS RUGBY - 2015 is going to be a big year in regards to Sevens Rugby with a schools competition planned for Term three that is aimed at the non-traditional Rugby schools. - The Darling Downs Girls Sevens Development Squad run under QRU Development Officer James O’Keefe was also one of the shining lights of 2014. - After running the training for the majority of the year, eight girls were selected in the Queensland U18 Sevens Squad. EASTS 2014 has been another enjoyable and successful year here at Easts. We had success on the field with our 4th Grade team claiming a Premiership. Our juniors also had success with three teams playing in Grand Finals and Premierships going to the Under-15 Blue and the Under-16 Post teams. I would like to acknowledge and thank our Board for their efforts in 2014. There are many challenges that we face throughout the course of a year and in particular a Rugby season. As the President of this club I see our Board face these challenges and deliver solutions in a timely and professional manner. The members of our Board are: Simon Box - Vice President Kylie Duncan - Junior Rugby Director Sean Mowen - Senior Rugby Director Tony Stoddart - Treasurer/Secretary DOWNS RUGBY VOLUNTEERS - Thanks must go to our tireless volunteers that make Darling Downs Rugby happen each and every year. - In particular our Junior, Teenage and Senior Committees’, the Downs Rugby Judiciary and the High Performance Committee. - Also most importantly the Downs Rugby Board (Chair – Mike Horan AM, Dick Webster, Mark Brownlie, Rod Hohn, Scott Mead, Danielle Birmingham and Barry O’Sullivan) SPONSORS - Our sponsors are the reason we are able to provide such a professional operation out of the Downs Office and we cannot thank them enough on the support they have given us over 2014. - Major Sponsor – Wagners - Gold Sponsors – FKG, BLK and Subway - Senior Rep Sponsors – AWB, Allflex and Workwear Discounts - Event Sponsors – South West Queensland Training, Gessner Industries, Westpac Agribusiness With 2014 behind us it is a very exciting time for Darling Downs Rugby with a change of staffing in the Downs Rugby Office. On behalf of Downs Rugby I would like to thank the General Managers Cam Donaldson (4 years of service) and Chris Bell (2014 General Manager) who have laid a remarkable platform to work from in 2015. The Downs Rugby Office positions are now filled by Mitch Bradbury as the Rugby Support Officer and Mitchell Winter as the General Manager. With this combination of youth and enthusiasm, Darling Downs Rugby looks to be in a great position for the coming years. Mike Horan President - Darling Downs Rugby Andrew Williams - Marketing/Sponsorship/Fundraising Director Andrew Tambakis - Clubhouse Director Thank you to all of you for the time and commitment that you generously donate to the running of this great club. There are two members of our Board who are retiring - Andrew Tambakis as Clubhouse Director and Sean Mowen as Senior Rugby Director. We thank Andrew for the tireless work that he has put in here over the past three years. His knowledge of the Hospitality industry has hopefully rubbed off enough on his fellow Board members so that we can continue what he has put in place here at the club. We thank Sean for the professional and calm way that he has undertaken in his duties as Senior Rugby Director. To our major sponsor “Cromwell” and to Paul Weightman and Jodie Clark, thank you for your support again this year. We are proud and fortunate to have you as our major sponsor, we hope our association continues long into the future. Russell Loane and Eye Lighting have contributed greatly to our Rugby program and the lighting infrastructure at the Club has been pivotal to our success. We also thank Mullins Lawyers and John Mullins for being a major sponsor of our club. Thanks also goes to ‘Gotzinger Smallgoods’ and Antony Van Der Drift. Their support is appreciated and we look forward to the long association continuing. We have many other sponsors here at Easts, thank you to all of you for your support, we would not survive without you. After winning the Premier Grade Premiership in 2013 and two lower grade Easts teams featuring strongly in the finals the club was looking forward with anticipation to the upcoming 2014 season. Premier and first grade players once again under the guidance of Shaun McLean completed a solid pre-season at the Churchie gymnasium in preparation for the start of 2014. Under the guidance of Head Coaches Pat Richards and Tim Sampson the Premier pre-season squad started training as a team early in preparation for the Australian Club Championship on the 22nd March at Bottomley. Easts were unlucky to lose this game to Sydney University in a cliff-hanger after leading then coming from behind at different stages. The Australian Club Championship game was hosted by Easts at Bottomley and played under lights on David Wilson Field attracting one of our largest home game crowds and proving beyond doubt that our home grown talent including coaches could more than match it with the highly fancied Sydney club Premiers Sydney University. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 37 2014 Results were as follows: Lachlan Walker, Brian Kirkup and Solomon Coates. Premier Grade – Fifth (team started well but then as the season progressed missed some key players from the previous year for the reasons stated and were very unlucky not to make the finals) We also welcome new recruits Harley Fox (Australian Schoolboy Captain), Izaia Perese and Izack Rodda to our club for the 2015 season. Harley and Izaia were valuable members of the undefeated 2014 ACGS XV team and Izack hails from Ipswich Grammar and all three were in the 2014 Australian Schoolboys team. They have all been invited to join the 2015 Reds Elite Development Squad along with fellow Easts Premier grade players Michael Gunn, Pettowa Paraka and Brad Wilkin. Premier Reserve – Fifth (big improvement from previous year but also suffered from the player drain from Premier Grade and were considered extremely unlucky not to win through into the final series) First grade – Eighth (played brilliantly at times then disappointed themselves at other times) Second Grade – Ninth (started with promise but then fell away to a disappointing season) Thirds – Sixth (tried hard with a large group of players but had no luck in the season) Fourths – Premiers (strong team started well and finished even stronger with a 43 Nil win in final) Colts Premier Grade finished seventh with Colts 1 finishing sixth, again both teams tried hard and were probably affected by the fact that of their better players Brad Wilkin was injured at the beginning of the season and then featured regularly in Premier grade. We thank Shaun Hourigan and Ati Lui for taking over coaching roles mid-season due to off field commitments to appointed Head Coaches Lachlan Parkinson and Michael Grice (thanks to Lachlan and Michael for their efforts at Easts over the last few years). Thanks also to John Dann for his coaching effort in Colts over the past few seasons. Our target at the beginning of 2014 was again to feature strongly in the Doughty Shield, however, Easts finished in seventh position on 252 points with University the clear winner on 618 points. Easts Players past & present achieving representative honours this year included: Jonah Placid was named QRU 2013 Colts Player of the Year. Queensland Under-20 squad for 2014 – Adam Deck, Sam Fattal, Michael Gunn, Jonah Placid, Sam Richards and Brad Wilkin (Australian Schoolboys Captain, Iona Schoolboy). Australian Under-20 Junior World Cup Championship (NZ) – Jonah Placid. Reds A Squad playing in the Pacific Nations Cup included – Pettowa Paraka, Andrew Ready, Blake Enever, Michael Gunn and Jonah Placid. Reds Players in 2014 included Lachlan Turner (new Reds recruit), Ed Quirk, Jonah Placid, Andrew Ready (Reds uncapped), Pettowa Paraka (Reds uncapped), Blake Enever and Aidan Toua. National Rugby Championship (NRC) was launched this year with our two head coaches Pat Richards and Tim Sampson securing the Brisbane City Forwards Coaching role and the Queensland Country Skills Coaching role respectively. Brisbane City representatives included - Pettowa Paraka, Andrew Ready, Michael Gunn, Brad Wilkin, Jack Mullins, Toby White, and Lachlan Turner whilst Queensland Country representatives were Matt Brandon, Kirwan Sandy, Blake Enever and Sam Fattal. Brisbane City went on to win the inaugural National Rugby Championship so this success not only reflects well on the Easts players but also Pat Richards as the Forwards Coach. Australia – Ben Mowen (past Easts player who made his debut during the British & Irish Lions tour, one of two players from Easts now to have Captained Australia) led the Wallabies on their 2013 European Tour winning four out of their five matches against England, Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Ed Quirk, Lachlan Turner and Andrew Ready will once again be involved in the 2015 Reds campaign with Blake Enever joining past Easts player Jarrad Butler at the Brumbies and Jonah Placid joining the Melbourne Rebels. Aidan Toua and UJ Seuteni have both moved overseas to play professional Rugby in 2015 and we wish them and all other contracted players a most successful 2015 season. 2014 has been a milestone year for the Juniors at Easts Rugby Union as we had the highest number of junior participants ever at the club, a total of 1027, equating to 74 teams. The growth in numbers was mainly in the Under-6 - Under-9 age group with an 8% increase year-on year. Under-10 - Under-12 also grew by 4% and Under-13 - Under-16 age group was consistent with 2013. We also doubled our numbers for the Tiger Cubs (four and / five year olds) and had to cap the program at 40. Our main vision for the 2014 Rugby season was to continue to ensure we remained a well organised, community focussed club, with an emphasis on open communication to all players and families. We wanted to continue the strong alignment between our senior and junior players and continue with the promotion of our one club philosophy. One of the key developments made to the junior structure in 2014 was the employment of a part time Registrar at the club, it was important that we took some of the strain off our volunteers and fulfill our objectives in running the large junior base. The committee also agreed that one of the main areas of focus in 2014 was to ensure our coaches were fully supported and provided with opportunities to develop and grow their skill set. To ensure all of our junior coaches were appropriately qualified, we provided many opportunities to complete the necessary coaching accreditation. I am pleased to report that all of our 74 teams had coaches who were fully accredited. We also provided the opportunity for more of our experienced coaches to attend the Sportacise Coaching courses held in November/December. We have engaged Pat Richards to join us full time next year as our Director of Rugby. Pat will provide leadership and management direction regarding all Junior and Senior Rugby programs. We look forward to working with Pat to improve the delivery of our core product - Rugby. Our members, both junior and senior, will benefit greatly from his full time involvement with the club. We have received approval to go ahead and add the extra lighting to fields 3 and 4. This project will now be completed before the start of the 2015 season. I would like to thank Simon Box and Leo Bertini for their perseverance with BCC and the State Government to get the approvals required. We are looking to upgrade the beer garden in the off season with improved facilities for food, beverage and seating. 2015 should also see a Water Harvesting program supplied by Brisbane City Council put into operation. The water will be used to irrigate our fields, therefore providing a better playing surface for our members. Easts Rugby Union are looking forward to another successful year in 2015. Tim Stoddart President - Easts Congratulations to all Easts players who achieved their 100 caps for the club this year: Matt Brandon, Jack Mullins, Jonathon Wilder, 38 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND RUGBY 2015 PROGRAM 2014 was another successful year for Far North Queensland Rugby as we welcomed two new clubs. This saw an increase in player numbers by 150 with both the Northern Beaches Mudcrabs and the Penrhyn Sharks fielding A Grade and Reserve Grade teams, hopefully both will go further in 2015. In 2015 we look forward to welcoming back the St.George Queensland Reds for their pre-season match on the 31 January against the Melbourne Rebels at Barlow Park. THUNDER Port Douglas will hold the QCRU Country Championships on the June long weekend. VOLUNTEERS Under new coaches John Pirie and David Norton the FNQ seniors and Under-19’s travelled to Townsville for the new carnival format and played against Mackay and Townsville. The matches provided players with the opportunity to impress for selection in the North Queensland side. The Under-19’s didn’t win either fixture but all players got game time to promote their selection. Players selected for North Queensland were Jodeci Hodge (Wanderers), Harley Lyons (Northern Beaches Mudcrabs), Cameron Scott (Northern Beaches Mudcrabs) and Adam Young (JCU Mariners). The seniors were successful in their game against Mackay, but lost against our rivals Townsville. Selected for North Queensland were Dale Ah Wang, Kele Degei and David Sands (Northern Beaches Mudcrabs), Damien Spann (Barron Trinity Bulls) and Andrew Ah Wang and Mafutaga Moevao (Southside Crusaders). QUEENSLAND COUNTRY RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIPS Another successful year for North Queensland at the QCRU Championship in Rockhampton, with North Queensland retaining the senior championship and the Under-19’s taking out their division. FNQ had six players selected in the Queensland Country Heelers representative sides. Seniors – Andrew Ah Wang, Dale Ah Wang and Kele Degei Under-20’s – Cameron Scott, Jodeci Hodge and Adam Young. I would like to show my gratitude to the backing I receive from my members, volunteers, committee and clubs, without whom we would not be able to achieve the success we have. Our success both locally and at a representative level highlights the commitment and dedication of the coaches, managers and volunteers to ensure a successful competition. Thanks again to the Far North Queensland Executive Committee for your support in 2014. Robert Brennan President - FNQ Rugby GOLD COAST & DISTRICT RUGBY UNION LTD Firstly, we would like to thank everyone associated with GCDRU for their efforts that have contributed to a successful 2014 season. We would like to especially thank the following people: • The members of the GCDRU Senior, Junior and Representative Management Groups • GCDRU Clubs • The Gold Coast District Rugby Referees Association • Our sponsors who generously contribute to our various development programs • All District and Club volunteers, coaches, team managers, parents, players, canteen operators and Match Day Officials SENIOR COMPETITION Port Douglas Reef Raiders were successful in winning the A Grade Premiership with a hard fought Grand Final against Minor Premiers JCU Mariners. There were also some close and exciting matches in Reserve Grade, with the Reserve Grade Minor Premiers JCU Mariners winning the Premiership over Wanderers. Congratulations go to both of our premiership winners. Congratulations to JCU Mariners on winning the Club Championship. FNQ JUNIORS A principal goal of FNQ Rugby is to offer an attractive development pathway for young players in our region. With this in mind our players have been involved with the ARU Junior Gold Cup program for Under-15’s and Under-17’s and then as North Queensland in the Under-13s, Under-14s and Under-16s at the Queensland Junior Rugby Union State Championships on the Gold Coast. Far North Queensland was well-represented in all NQ teams at the State Championships with a number selected in the Queensland Country Junior teams to play Brisbane City at Suncorp Stadium. COMMUNITY RUGBY Congratulations must go to the GCDRU clubs, staff and Tom Bower the QRU Development Officer, for continuing their outstanding work in player recruitment and retention. 2014 witnessed 12% growth for the juniors and an 18% growth for the seniors. GCDRU continues and re-highlights our commitment to work with all clubs to continue improving governance, recruitment and development programs into the 2015 season. 2014 1st Grade Senior Premiers- Gold Coast Eagles RFC (back-toback Premiers) QJRU STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS GCDRU hosted the Junior State Championships for the first time in 2014. The event received great support from the clubs as mums and dads volunteered for various roles, which helped make the event the best Junior State Championships to date. A big thank you to all involved. GCDRU will be hosting the QJRU State Championships in 2015/16 and look forward to presenting a bigger and better championships for all competitors, team management and parents. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 39 GOLD COAST CYCLONE PROGRAM In 2014, with the introduction of the ARU Junior Gold Program, the format of the QJRU State Championships was changed to Under-13, Under-14 and Under-16. The QJRU invited GCDRU to enter two teams in the Under-13 and Under-14 ages and one Under-16 team. All teams were competitive with special mention of the Under-13 Gold and Under-16 side which both played tight 1 v 2 finals but unfortunately, both fell just short of taking out the State Championship. Congratulations must go to all competitors and a big thank you to Murray Archibald and all team management for their time and commitment to the player’s performance. The GCDRU senior Cyclone side was again very strong and extremely well led by Joe Faalogo, Derek Todd and their team management. The GCDRU Cyclones, were undefeated at the South East Queensland Championships, once again, and had seven players selected for the South Queensland side and three players were selected for the Queensland Country team that was coached by Garrick Morgan and toured New Zealand. VALE 2014 sadly saw the passing of the GCDRU Chairman, Michael Summers. The Gold Coast Rugby Community thank Michael and his family for their support of Gold Coast Rugby over the last two years, as Rugby would not have been able to bounce back after 2012 in such a quick fashion without their support. The First Grade Premiership trophy has been named in Michael’s honor to acknowledge his legacy. CONCLUSION Gold Coast Rugby had a successful 2014 season. The 2015 season will present a new set of challenges, but with the continued support of the Gold Coast Rugby Community, GCDRU are confident of a bigger and better 2015 season. The major area of focus in 2015 will be: • Continued development of relationships with the Gold Coast corporate partners to ensure the financial viability of the GCDRU Development Programs, with limited cost to participants • Improve recruitment and retention planning for both juniors, colt’s and seniors • Develop a regular Girls intermediate Rugby union competition Our strong playing numbers and membership base continue to provide an irresistible attraction to our sponsors. Our Club enjoys amazing support from our community through its generous sponsors. To all the 2014 sponsors I would like to extend a huge thank to you all on behalf of the Club. I encourage others to become a Club sponsor in 2015 and support our Club. GPS Rugby Club Inc. is first and foremost all about our players, and what we need to be doing to offer the very best environment for them to develop and enjoy their Rugby. In 2014 we had the benefit of two very experienced coaching directors, Michael Cook (Senior Grades) and Michael Crank (Junior Grades) to assist with our player and coaching development. In 2015 we will be increasing our commitment to our junior coaches and players in this area. We are all very proud of the capital improvements that have been made to our facilities over the past 12 months at Yoku Road. These being the new building which contains the new change rooms and storage area, the new toilet amenities, the refurbished change rooms and the upgrading of our canteen facilities, which was completed in November. We thank Hon Campbell Newman, Premier, and Hon Teresa Gambaro MP, Federal Member for Brisbane, for their support with the Grants they provided us to complete all these improvements. A Club our size does not run itself, it requires many to achieve what is achieved each season. I would like to thank our management team, Anthony Herbert (CEO), Matt Turner (General Manager) and Martin Southwood (Operations Manager) for what they have achieved together over the past 12 months. I take this opportunity to thank Premier Grade Coach Shane Arnold for his commitment to our Club over many years and congratulate him on the success he has achieved for our Club. I would also like to introduce Todd Dammers our new Premier Grade Head Coach and his assistant David Miles. I know Todd and David will bring great things to our senior playing group in 2015. To all our volunteers, you are the ones that provide the workforce that gets everything done, week in, week out, without your help our Club could not function. Our sincere thanks go to all of our marvelous volunteers. Finally a Club like ours needs sound management and good direction to ensure the members’ best interests are always met. I would like to thank my fellow board members for their commitment in achieving the above. They are a talented and experienced group who always put the Club and its members’ interest above all. • Improve governance I encourage you all to return in 2015 for what will be an even more exciting season for our Club and I ask you to involve yourselves as much as you can in the many Club activities. After all, it is your Club. • Continue to build the reputation of Gold Coast Rugby in the wider community and particularly amongst the younger player and their parents Peter McWhirter President - GPS Rugby Club Inc. Heath Claydon Rugby Manager - GCDRU GPS OLD BOYS LOGAN CITY RUGBY CLUB Martin Whitu President - Logan City Rugby Club The 2014 Season was the first for the GPS Rugby Club Inc. following the merger of the GPS Old Boys Rugby Club and the Ashgrove GPS Rugby Club. We have become the largest Rugby Club in Australia with over 1,500 players proudly wearing the Gallopers colours each weekend. There are many benefits with this merger, none the least is a direct pathway for an Under-6 player through to our Premier Grade team and beyond. 40 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU MACKAY DISTRICT RUGBY UNION Mackay Rugby has experienced a great year in 2014 with the competition growing to seven clubs. We had a close top-four with Whitsunday Raiders leading the way and finishing the season as undefeated Minor Premiers and Premiers. The highlights of the year was to see an Under-19’s team back on the representative field and three of those players went on to represent North Queensland, with one making the Queensland Country Squad at just 17. We also have seen our best and fairest player of 2014, Casper Turner, go down to join the GPS Rugby Club in Brisbane. Another highlight was to see the return of an annual awards night with the first being held in our clubhouse as a gala black tie event. We are looking forward to building again in 2015, especially across our representative programs. Mick Saunders President - Mackay District Rugby Union MOUNT ISA RUGBY UNION After a close season where all four clubs were competitive the defending premiers (Euros), defeated Cloncurry in a hard fought Grand Final. Euros did not have it all their own way, being down 14-0 after 15 minutes, before scoring 32 unanswered-points to claim a 32-14 win. All clubs were able to attract new players to swell the total players in the competition to over 200, however due to shift workers being unavailable at times we were unable to avoid a small number of forfeits. We upgraded our facilities by adding a deck to the clubhouse and a sponsors area between the grandstands. Our oval is in great condition and even allowing for the drought, we can confidently say we have the best sporting facilities in North-West Queensland. The representative team was unable to travel to Townsville for the North Queensland competition due to a number of players unable to get time off from work. We have addressed the situation and have already put plans in place to ensure we are able to go to Arlie Beach in May 2015. We look forward to a successful 2014/15 next year, with the small but determined group of volunteers ready to ensure that Rugby in Mount Isa continues to grow and thrive. Mick O’Connor President - Mount Isa Rugby Union NORTH BRISBANE RUGBY UNION CLUB 2014 for North Brisbane Rugby Club was earmarked as the beginning of our rebuilding phase. With a rather new and exuberant committee we faced the challenges placed in front of us as they came to hand. Initially the club had secured the continued experienced coaching services of Mr Paul Healy as Head coach of Premier Grade, however Paul was offered a fantastic opportunity to coach in Romania so Mr Tim Grady stepped up to the head coaching role. Tim, along with Matt Quilty as his assistant, worked tirelessly with the squad to get them ready for the 2014 season. our teams took the field. A number of our colts had baptisms by fire in Premier Grade as they made the leap to assist our injury-ravaged side. The quality of Norths players was recognized with both Tonga Ma’afu and Gareth Ryan being called up for representative duties. Overall the highlight of the year was the outstanding performances of both our ladies team who, coached by Liz Ta’ale, made the Semi-Finals in the competition, and our second grade team who, coached by Mick Cronin and with an unlimited amount of experience and talent, went on to an undefeated premiership. After the end of the 2014 regular season the teams at Norths have not rested on their laurels. Taking part in four Rugby Sevens tournaments including the Fiji Sevens day hosted by Norths. The focus for the last month and a half has been community-oriented with our venue being used by the Queensland Tonga community, Kings and Queens of Pacific Rugby community, the Fijian community and the Australian Army’s 7th Brigade inter-unit Rugby competition. I would like to thank all of our sponsors: Platinum sponsors: The Criterion Hotel, Fleet Crew, Bakers and Co and QANTAS Credit Union. Gold Sponsors: Wimmers, HPF, Go Getta Finance, Blitzed and Northside Sports Medicine Silver Sponsors: Ozspy, Relax Pools, DCS group, Trim away and Brissie Plants Bronze Sponsors: Big Dads Pies Commercial Partners: Cooke & Hutchinson Lawyers, Better Finance Brokers, Superior Plumbing services, The House Washer and Kavanaghs Auto Repairs. And last but definitely not least I would personally like to thank all of the volunteers, supporters and players who have made this year what it is. Without all of them Norths Rugby Club would not have been able to achieve the financial goals that we set ourselves earlier this year. Next year for Norths will be bigger and better moving forward. Graham Myers President - North Brisbane Rugby Union Club QUEENSLAND COUNTRY RUGBY UNION The 2014 season marked the commencement of the National Rugby Championship and the participation of a Bond University Queensland Country team. On the playing field, the Queensland Country Heelers toured New Zealand after the proposed Australian Country Carnival in Darwin was cancelled and the Northern region continued its dominance in the Graincorp Country Championships. Queensland Country Representative Program This year’s Queensland Country Representative Program consisted of a tour to New Zealand. The tour included two matches, the first was played against North Canterbury where the Heelers were narrowly defeated by North Canterbury 18 points to 14. The benefits of the tour however were evidenced in the second match in which the Heelers defeated North Otago 31-14. Even though the scores through the year have not reflected it, 2014 was the start of a new era at Norths. Once again all of our players; both our ladies and gentlemen put their bodies on the line week-in and week-out (sometimes in two or three games) to make sure that Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 41 The tour representatives were as follows: Edward Donaldson Central Queensland Jack Finigan Gold Coast Josateki Murray Cairns Lachlan Duncan Gold Coast Lachlan Tulloch Darling Downs Malakai Taufa Townsville Marley Tane Darling Downs Moe Ropeti (Robbie) Faatuga Gold Coast Nick Chapman Sunshine Coast Scott Carter-Lowe Wide Bay Todd Carroll Sunshine Coast Vincent Quigley Gold Coast Wiremu Padlie Gold Coast First Name Surname Region Hayden Makiri SQ Michael Parker NQ Andrew Parker NQ Sonny Power SQ Jason Welburn SQ Jesse McMillan CQ Tom Beattie SQ Leo Pakome NQ Nicholas Chapman SQ Thomas Vinson NQ Paul Doneley CQ Paul McGuire SQ Benjamin Douglas NQ Dale Ahwang NQ Lee Anderson CQ Matthew Howse SQ Cohan Guerra NQ Jack Finigan SQ Matthew Blair SQ Samuel Hogarth SQ John Ellis CQ • Gold Coast (Southern Region Open Championship) James Turvey SQ Apaitia Matalau NQ • Brahmans (Central Region Open Championship) Seamus Huppatz NQ Terry Harvey SQ Garrick Morgan SQ Brett Johnstone SQ Daniel Bowdler SQ Morgan Pratt SQ Mark Brownlie SQ Head Coach - Clint Bullock Assistant Coach - Wilba Urquhart Manager - Mitch Craig Country Championships This year all regions adopted a round robin competition format. The QCRU acknowledge the following subregional champions. • Townsville (Northern Region Open Championship) • Townsville (Northern Region Under-19 championship) • Darling Downs (Southern Region Under-19 Championship) Staff The Country Championships culminated in the regional games between Northern region, Central region and Southern region both at open and Under-19 level. The QCRU congratulate the Central Queensland Rugby Union for the carnival organised in Rockhampton on June’s long weekend. The Northern Regional team retained the Open Championship for the third successive year and the Northern regional team also won the Under-19 championship. Country Administration Country Under-20s The Country Under-20s travelled to Adelaide in February. They played three matches with a victory over NSW Country and defeats to both South Australia and Victoria. That tour group consisted of the following players: In 2014 the Queensland Country delegates for the regions were as follows: Northern Region - Richard Lehmann Central Region - Ian Coombe First Name Surname Region Adam Gauder Gold Coast James Thompson Sunshine Coast Lachlan Penberthy Darling Downs Lucas Goodin Gold Coast Luke Kimber Sunshine Coast Scott McGetrick Sunshine Coast Tom Butcher Townsville 2015 Program Blair Morgan Townsville Brendan Morgan Townsville Cody Muir Townsville Daniel Carmen Townsville Eddie Tuaifo Gold Coast Our current sponsor Graincorp have elected not to continue sponsorship arrangements in 2015 and we sincerely thank them for the financial contribution they have made to the development of Rugby in regional areas in this state. The continuation of a country team in the NRC provides a clear and identifiable pathway for all players in regional Queensland and the continuation of the Queensland 42 Southern Region - Rod Hohn The remaining committee members Eddie Shaw and Greg Dodd are also recognised for their assistance. We also recognise the passing of Michael Summers the President of the Gold Coast Rugby Union and the contribution he has made in regional Rugby. WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU Country representative program will involve the Country Championships being held in Port Douglas on the June long weekend and a resumption of the annual clash with the New South Wales Country Cockatoos. QUEENSLAND RUGBY FOOTBALL SCHOOLS UNION Dan Morton President - QCRU Chair: Damien Barker – Area Supervisor, Brisbane Catholic Education QUEENSLAND JUNIOR RUGBY UNION Though 2014 presented several new challenges for the Queensland Junior Rugby Union (QJRU) to face, the year witnessed positive growth and ultimately built upon the foundations laid in 2013. The QJRU worked hard to actively engage with and improve our working relationship with the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) in 2014, and we would like to thank the QRU for their efforts in supporting Rugby at the grassroots level in Queensland. Though 2014 was a year filled with highlights, the pinnacle of those highlights was the successful QJRU State Championships, hosted by Gold Coast & Districts Rugby Union at The Southport School. With the introduction of the Junior Gold Cup earlier in 2014 for Under 15s and Under 17s, the State Championships were limited to Under 13, 14 and 16 age divisions in 2014, but this did not stem the flow of support from all regions. Teams from Brisbane, Central Queensland, the Darling Downs, the Gold Coast, North Queensland, the Sunshine Coast and the Northern Territory contributed nearly 1,200 players across 36 teams over the weekend. The State Championships again included the selection of age group representative teams under the traditional City v Country format. The 2014 event also saw the introduction of an Under 12s development carnival. Whilst there was no competition standings kept for the Under 12 participants, it was the first time the Under 12s have been included as part of the QJRU State Championships and congratulations must go to all involved in coordinating the introduction of the tournament’s youngest participants. The two teams from each age division faced off at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, 11 July, as a curtain raiser to the St.George Queensland Reds Round 18 Super Rugby derby with the New South Wales Waratahs. Putting on the Championships this year would not have been possible without the help of the QRU’s numerous partners, and I would like to thank all partners who were involved throughout the tournament. EXECUTIVE Deputy Chair: David Cooke –Cleveland & District SHS Secretary: Darren Kayrooz – Kenmore State High School Treasurer: John Brew – Principal, Centenary State High School Other Members: Noel Gardner(AIC) – St Edmund’s College, Ipswich Steve Philpotts(GPS) – Brisbane Boys College STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: 18 Years State Championships Host Region: Darling Downs Host Venue: Downlands College Dates: Thursday 31 May to Sunday 3 June Convenor: Wayne Beeston (RSO) & Mick Jarroush (Convenor) Results: Champions – Sunshine Coast; Runners up: Met West; Final: Sunshine Coast 25 defeated Met West 19 15 Years State Championships Host Region: Peninsula Host Venue: Jones Park, Mann Street Cairns Dates: Thursday August to Sunday August Convenor: Garry Smith (RSO) & Darren Osmond (Convenor), Ewan Pike, Peter Drden Results: Champions – Met North; Runners up: Met East; Final – Met North 17 defeated Met East 3; Country Plate – Capricornia 12 Years State Championships Thanks must go to all committee members, coaches, managers, administrators, volunteers and Gold Coast & Districts Rugby Union as hosts for all their efforts in putting together another successful State Championships. I look forward to building on the successes of the year with you all in 2015. Host Region: Met East Warren Acworth President - QJRU Convenor: John Masters(Assistant RSO); Michael Austen & David Cooke Host Venue: Sunnybank Rugby Club Dates: Friday 21 September to Sunday 23 September Results: Champions – Met East; Runners Up – Met North; Country Cup – Capricornia Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 43 STATE TEAM NATIONAL SELECTIONS Queensland 1: Australian Representatives: Richie Asiata (ACGS), Joey Fittock (TSS), Harley Fox (ACGS, Captain), Gavin Luka (NC), Connor Moroney (GT), Vui Shambeckler (IGS), Reece Hewat (NC), Izaia Perese (ACGS), Tuaina Tualima (BSHS) Gavin Luka (NC), Alex Mafi (NC), Shambeckler Vui (IGS), Darcy Taimua-Swain (BBC), Reece Hewat (NC), Tuaina Tualima (BSHS), Connor Moroney (GT), Harley Fox (ACGS, capt), Harry Nucifora (ACGS), Alex Horan (GT), Joey Fittock (TSS), Calvin Pritchard (NC), Dean Bender (TGS), Sam Edwards (BBC), Clifton Setu (St Edmund’s, Ipswich), Josvyn Sokimi (IGS), Johann Koorts (BSHS), Peter Flitcroft (Pacific Lutheran College), Daniel Byrne (Marist, Ashgrove), Jack Farrell (BBC), Harry Parcell (IGS), Fred Dorrough (TSS), Tyrone Southorn (BSHS), Nikau Te Rupe (GT) Manager - Noel Gardiner (St Edmund’s College, Ipswich) Coach - Carl Marshall (Brisbane Grammar School) Australian Management: Coach: Steve Phillpotts (BBC); Assistant Coach: Mike Wallace(TSS); Assistant Manager: Noel Gardner (St Edmund’s College, Ipswich) Results: Australia 50 defeated Fiji 15; New Zealand Barbarians 39 defeated Australia 21; New Zealand 34 defeated Australia 24 - All games were played in the Wellington area Assistant Coach - Michael Crank (Mt Maria College, Mitchelton) ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES Physio - Ian Astbury Results: Queensland (1) 36 defeated Western Australia 19; Queensland (1) 32 defeated ACT 15; New South Wales( 2) 23 defeated Queensland (1) 21; Queensland (1) 26 drew with Queensland (2) 26 Winners of the various school competitions in 2014 were – AIC: St Edmund’s College, Ipswich GPS: Churchie, East Brisbane (last won 2005) TAS: St Columban’s College, Caboolture Queensland 2: Richie Asiata (ACGS), Joshua Taylor (TSS), James McColl (TGS), Dylan Leyland (BBC), Angus Scott-Young (ACGS), Liam Wright (ACGS), PJ van den Berg (TSS), Agassi Stowers (NC), Eli Pilz (NC), Liam McNamara (BSHS), Tyrone Hussey (NC), Matthew Smit (BSHS), Jim Henjak (BSHS), Chris Afamasaga (St Francis, Crestmead), Geoff Robertson (IGS), Jordan Tupai-ui (St Columban’s College, Caboolture), Sam Keane (The Cathedral School, Townsville), Luke Peterson (BBC), Masi Ganita (Sunnybank SHS), Jackson Evans (NC), Reuben Wall (GT), Brock McNulty (St Edmund’s, Ipswich), Kailab Coventry (Kirwan SHS,Townsville) Manager - BenCameron (Kingston State College) Coach - David Cooke (Cleveland State High School) Assistant Coach - Mark Moxon Physio - Joel McPhee Results: Queensland (2) 19 defeated Combined States 17; Queensland (2) 19 defeated Victoria 17; New South Wales (1) 41 defeated Queensland (2) 10; Queensland (2) 26 drew with Queensland (1) 26 • Connor Moroney (GT) won the Bronze Boot Award for his outstanding performance in the test against New Zealand • Two of our State Championships were held in regional Queensland - Toowoomba and Cairns – and the hospitality extended by the country regions is always exceptional. Given the bleak future for billeting the need to keep our country connections needs to remain strong Acknowledements: • The QRFSU Executives, especially Darren Kayrooz, for their willingness to guide the work of the QRFSU over the past year Host Venue: St Ignatius College Riverview, Sydney Dates: Monday 30 June to Saturday 5 July Convenor: Australian Schools Rugby Union and Andrew Elliot (Administrator) Results: After promising starts to the competition the Queensland teams had to settle for equal third place after playing a tied game in the play-off for third and fourth. The impact of the GPS Rugby season to Term 3 means that many of our state players are not as match fit as in previous years 44 • The Ian MacMillan Memorial Award for the Queensland Schoolboy Player of the Year was won by Harley Fox (ACGS). Harley had an outstanding Rugby season in which he was captain of the Queensland 1 side at the National Championships and then went on to represent and captain Australian Schoolboys in games against Fiji, the New Zealand Barbarians and New Zealand. Harley follows in the footsteps of recent back row recipients in Sean McMahon, Michael Gunn and Brad Wilkin • The members of our teaching staff who gave generously of their time to coach and manage regional and state teams NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR • Volvo and the QRU have been of significant support again this year. It remains our key partnership in growing and developing Schoolboy Rugby especially in areas beyond the AIC and GPS school systems. • Sunnybank Community and Sports Club has been outstanding in their support of the QRFSU program. Sunnybank, beyond what they normally provide, hosted the 12 Years State Championship in September and the Jersey Presentation to the Queensland players before the National championships in late June WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU • All our match officials, especially our student officials for committing their time to assist at all our events • All the staff of the QRU especially Rob Donaghue for their assistance throughout the Rugby season • All the Regional Sports Officers and the staff of Queensland School Sport especially Phil Muller. Phil retired this year from QSS and his contribution to Schools Rugby over many years has been outstanding. Phil’s contribution was acknowledged at the state dinner in Toowoomba Damien Barker Chairman - QRFSU QUEENSLAND RUGBY REFEREES ASSOCIATION The 2014 year has been a challenging one for the QRRA with the season for appointments extending from mid February through to mid December covering some 44 weeks of the year. Traditionally QRRA members are appointed to Brisbane Premier and Grade Rugby, Schools and Junior Age Grade Rugby however there has been a growth in representative fixtures and Sevens Rugby which has added the workload of match officials. The numbers of appointments made totalled 4,764 up from 4501 ( +5.84%) the major area of growth coming from representative and Sevens Rugby up from 793 to 1057 ( +33.29%). The Association membership reached 357 of which 266 were appointed during the season. There were 57 new referees whom joined the Association, 20 of those being school students. The level of Under-20 age membership remains steady at 20%. The Sunnybank club referee program continued its progress and again contributed to the overall increase in school age referee numbers. Using 2007 as the base year the table below clearly illustrates the growth in Rugby and the fact that the Association has been able to respond numerically to this growth. Membership 2007 2014 268 357 Referees Appointed 209 266 Total Matches Appointed 3296 4764 BJRU 1575 2013 School Matches 567 678 Other (Includes Misc. Comp., Sevens and Trials) 188 1057 Compliance with general accreditation and Smart Rugby was again conducted in conjunction with staff from the QRU with 58 (30 were first time accreditations) of the membership being accredited/re-accredited. Smart Rugby compliance was 99% for those referees appointed. One of the significant highlights for 2014 was having the match officials for the French Test Match, Craig Joubert, Chris Pollock, Garratt Williamson and Ben Skeen, address the membership at a function before the match. Such meetings attract interest in match officiating as well as providing valuable insights into referee development at the elite level of the game. The education protocols that were put in place in 2013 were continued into 2014. The Association holds the view that it is of utmost importance that education be offered to the membership as the game is changing all the time with new initiatives designed to increase participation levels of players and spectators. To that end the Association will continue its initiatives in education into 2015. It is of note that for the Game Management Seminar the Association recorded its best ever attendance with 157 attendees. As well as initiatives in education the Association used a new trainer in 2014. This too resulted in more referees attending training and for 2015 training commenced in November. The Association is well represented at panel level by Rohan Hoffmann, Damien Mitchelmore and Matt O’Brien. This year Rohan was appointed to his first International, Fiji v Tonga, and awarded by the Association the Kerry Fitzgerald Medal in recognition of that achievement. He also was appointed to the Grand Final of the inaugural National Rugby Championship and Queensland Premier Rugby Grand Final. Matt continued with his appointments to the IRB Sevens Circuit and was appointed to several finals matches, including the highly prestigious appointment to the Commonwealth Games final. In addition a highlight of Matt’s year was his first appointment to a Super Rugby match and as a Referee for the Junior World Cup Championship. Also included in the panel are Damien Mitchelmore as a Match Official and Steve Leszczynski as a TMO. At panel level in women’s Rugby, Rachel Horton and Chyna Howlett are our representatives and it is of particular note that Rachel was appointed to a Premier Grade match and has the honour of being the first female to receive such an appointment. Both received local and national representative appointments and additionally Chyna attended the IRB Women’s Sevens in China. Andrew Cole has continued in the role of ARU High Performance Manager and National Selector as well as being a member of World Rugby’s Referee Selection Panel. Scott Young holds a position with the Australian Rugby Union as Pathway Services Manager – Officating. Rohan Hoffman has recently taken up the position of Match Official Development Manager also with the Australian Rugby Union. To closer align with current Queensland and Australian Rugby policies for match officials the Association has restructured its Management Committee and defined the functions and roles for all positions that go to make up the administration. This will come into effect in the 2015 season. Our thanks go to our flag sponsors Laudiston’s Valuers Auctioneers, and Volvo whom support us through the Queensland Rugby Union. Paul Heath Executive Officer - QRRA QUEENSLAND SUBURBAN RUGBY UNION I would like to start by acknowledging and thanking the players, coaches, supporters, sponsors and most importantly the volunteers for your contributions to the 2014 QSRU season. Without your invaluable commitment of time and money there would be no competition and my committee is most indebted to each and every one of you. The Semi-Finals and Preliminary Finals series were again hosted by suburban clubs and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Logan, Redcliffe and Redlands clubs for their hospitality and the extraordinary efforts they put in to make these days the success they were with record numbers at all finals games, despite inclement weather. This concept of taking the finals back to the clubs has been enthusiastically embraced by the members and we look forward to this tradition continuing in the years ahead as clubs continue to invest in their infrastructure and enjoy the spin-offs it creates off the field. My thanks also to the QRU for their support of our Grand Final days at the home of Queensland Rugby – Ballymore. The standard of the fields was first rate and despite the inclement weather disruptions over the Grand Final weekend, the fields were in impeccable condition for a fantastic Grand Final weekend as reflected in the high standard of play, in particular the Barber Cup Grand Final between Wynnum and Caboolture. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 45 I am pleased to report that player numbers increased this year from 2013, albeit nominal, competing over four divisions. Some tough decisions made a number of years ago have now borne fruit and I am particularly pleased to see a strong Barber and Pegg Cups competition emerge with nine clubs now having the depth and quality to register both an “A” and “Reserve” Grade squad, and some even registering a third team across the various competitions. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Caboolture back to the QSRU fraternity after an absence of a number of years. Their professionalism, enthusiasm and club ethos has certainly raised the competition bar as evidenced by the exceptional quality of the Barber Cup Grand Final against Wynnum. I would like to congratulate all clubs and teams in the way they conducted themselves both on and off the field throughout the season and acknowledge the Minor Premiers and Premiers in each division. Division Premier Runner Up Minor Premier Barber Cup Wynnum Caboolture Wynnum Pegg Cup Pine Rivers Boars Goodna Wynnum Scotney Cup Riverside Redcliffe Riverside Brothers 1 Logan City Normanby Cup Logan City REPRESENTATIVE PROGRAM The Barraclough Shield, the symbol of interstate supremacy between Queensland and New South Wales suburban competitions, was contested as the main curtain raiser to the third Test Match between the Wallabies and Wales at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. This year saw 11 players make their Queensland debut with another six playing only their second or third representative match, thus continuing the player renewal process commenced last year. Whilst the squad may have lacked in experience, it certainly didn’t lack heart or passion. Whilst commencing confidently and displaying a high level of skill and effort in patches, Queensland was simply no match for a top quality New South Wales side and went down 60 – 19. With the processes and structures put in place and an experienced and enthusiastic coaching staff, we are confident that we are on the right track for success on the field. To this end, I would like to thank our captain Alex Macklin for his leadership and professional example, coaching staff led by Paul Davey and Steve Inwood and ably supported by Manager Sean O’Neill, Trainer Andrew Bradford and Physio Matt Thompson. I would also like to acknowledge and thank Reds and Wallabies representative Saia Fainga’a for taking time out of his busy schedule to address the squad and present their jerseys. The 2014 Barraclough Shield squad was as follows: Henry Brown (Wests), Alex Mahoney (Wests), Jay Forrester (Caboolture), Niki Kennard (Redlands), Dean Young (Redlands), Dugald Struss (Wests), Isaac Creedy (Ipswich), Hofeni (Fizz) Matamua (Springfield), Simon Rowe (Redlands), Luther Robinson (Redlands), Jared Holland (Caboolture), Tom Dwyer (Ipswich), Brandon Vitale (Wynnum), Moea Niha (Redlands), Daniel Power (Wynnum), Alex Macklin (Wynnum), Daniel Tape (Wynnum), Phil Croucamp (Wynnum),David Good (Wynnum), Shannon Fullen (Wynnum), Matt Myers (Wynnum) and Aaron Savage (Wynnum). I would also like to thank the QRU for their support with the running of our competitions. Finally, I would like to thank my committee – Cam Leggat, Sean O’Neill, Shane Robbie, Craig Eason, Brendan Alexander, Cath McDonald and Karl Shrubsole - who volunteer their valuable time for no other reason than the love of the game. Thank you for your invaluable support in 2014. Noel Rafter President - QSRU Inc. 46 SOUTHERN DISTRICTS RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB INC The 2014 season finished with three of our nine teams competing at Ballymore in the first week of the finals. Premier Grade started the year positively with three good wins, and whilst competing well all year, finished out of the finals in sixth place. Of the three Souths teams that competed in the finals, Third Grade went on to win their Grand Final defeating University 9-6 with a successful penalty kick after the final siren. The other two finals contenders were First Grade and Fourth Grade. Congratulations to all of the players and thank you to all of the coaches, managers and support staff for another great year. The combined effort of all teams this year saw the club finish fourth in the Doughty Shield. The Doughty Shield is awarded annually to the champion Brisbane club, based on competition points won across all participating teams. I am pleased to announce that our 2014 Premier Grade head coach will be Brett Piccone. He will be ably assisted by Van Humphires and Elia Tuquiri. We wish Brett and his team all the best for season 2015. The club was honoured to have three Queensland Reds in our playing ranks in 2014: Quade Cooper, Chris Feauai-Sautia, and Beau Robinson. Quade Cooper represented Australia during 2014. In addition we had five players: Feleti Kaitu’u, David Hennaway, Ben Tarr, Marcus Van Zati, and Nigel Tanuvasa selected in the Queensland Under-20 squad. Feleti Kaitu’u went on to be selected in the Australian team. Congratulations to them all. In the first season of the National Rugby Competition we had three players in the successful Brisbane City side that went on to win the competition. They were, Quade Cooper, David Feao, and Chris Feauai-Sautia. In the Queensland Country side we had our Premier Grade Captain, James Turner, and Beau Robinson. During 2014 Adam Bligh, Paul Keene and Simon Lindop all played their 200th game for Souths. Joining the 100 game ranks for the club were David Feao, David Gall, Alex, Kelly, Stephen Mewing, Stephen Prosser, and Paul Stowers. Perpetual award winners at this year’s Magpie awards were: Howard Southgate Memorial Club Aggregate Best & Fairest Ged O’Hare Index Group Trophy for Best Player in a Grand Final Todd Pepper Ripper Doyle Memorial Trophy for Best Defensive Player Simana Halaifonou Gregg “Goofy” Forster Memorial Trophy for Player with Most Potential Nigel Tanuvasa Graeme Constant Memorial Trophy for Most Promising Under Age Player Jake Lyon Dan Egan Memorial Trophy for Most Improved Under Age Player Michael Siaki Bert Cottrell Memorial Trophy for Most Improved Player Alex Kelly President’s Trophy for the Outstanding Club Member who is a Player David Feao WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU Neil “Tiny” Betts Medal for Outstanding Achievement Alifeleti Kaitu’u Eddie Bonis Memorial Trophy for Club Captain Jock Kent Jo Agresta Damien Drew Memorial Trophy for Outstanding Service Anthony Ongolea “Chipsy” Wood Memorial Trophy for Clubmen of the Year Greg Taylor Bob Bergin Memorial Trophy for Magpie of the Year Jock Kent Thank you all for your great service to the club. I would like to offer my thanks to all of the members of the 2014 management committee. The club is truly fortunate to have all of you give of your time and skills so generously. The Souths Committee wishes to thank all coaches, managers, volunteers and club staff who gave freely of their time during the 2014 season, and to Souths Junior Rugby Club for their support and the use of their facilities and the supply of Ball Boys for our home games. At Souths we continue to enjoy the support of some great sponsors. Our Principal Club Partner The Index Group. Our Elite Sponsors FTI Consulting, and Nelson Australia, and our Major Sponsor Alceon. We thank them all for their contribution to our club and look forward to their support in 2015. Anthony Shepley President - SDRUFC Inc SUNNYBANK 2014 was another successful year for Sunnybank with the club finishing third in the Doughty Shield. 309 players in 10 teams took the field and contested 128 games. 81 of these were won for a percentage of 63%. Six teams qualified for semi-finals with our Women’s team again claiming the Minor Premiership. Three of these teams progressed to Grand Final day. All three games were decided on the result of goal kicks after full time. Our Premier Colts were successful to deliver the third Premier Colts Premiership in the club’s history. Premier Grade and the Women both lost narrowly with the women failing to make a conversion, while Premier lost the lead with a penalty goal. The club welcomed another Wallaby with Jake Schatz progressing from Sunnybank Juniors all the way through the club to gain his first Wallabies cap against Argentina. Sadly the club farewelled a number of Reds, with Albert Anae, Ben Lucas and Nigel Ah Wong all accepting professional opportunities elsewhere in the Rugby world. This however, opened up opportunities for other players and they were rewarded. Jake McIntyre, Lolo Fakaosilea and Conrad Quick all represented Australia Under-20, maintaining Sunnybank’s strong record of representation at this level. Eighteen Sunnybank players were selected in teams in the inaugural National Rugby Championship. Twelve of these players were non-contracted, amateur players, demonstrating the quality of the pathway opportunities that the club offers. This was further supported by 12 of our Under-19 players selected for Brisbane South in the Under-20 trial match. The club again provided a strong Sevens program for both men and women. The club was successful in winning the Emmanuel Sevens and made a number of other finals including Noosa and Byron Bay. The men’s team again qualified for the Final 8 at the Singapore Cricket Club Sevens and are one of only three teams to do so every year since 2011. In 2014 the club launched a Membership Program and over 800 people joined. The program will be continued in 2015 with a focus on retaining members and providing a quality range of events at discount prices as well as special home game experience in dedicated member licensed and non-licensed areas. We would like to show our gratitude to the backing we receive from our members, volunteers, staff and supporters, without whom we would not be able to achieve the success we have. The Sunnybank Community and Sports Club continue to provide generous support, not only to Sunnybank Rugby but to many other Rugby groups and the community in general. Dan McConaghy Chair – Sunnybank Senior Rugby Club Inc. SUNSHINE COAST RUGBY UNION The Sunshine Coast Rugby Union in 2014 saw continued excitement, with our cornerstones of Rugby the Schools, Junior, and Senior Club competitions played with the passion and effort we have come to expect from them. The SCRU will continue to build upon these foundations for the coming years. Once again the finals series of these competitions were played with great intensity, and we commend all players and coaches for the passion displayed. The SCRU continues to follow its Strategic Plan and continued to act fiscally responsible as we continue to address previous debts, and limit spending. This has affected programs and events that would ideally be available for our members however, such decisions have been made in the best interests of the game locally. SCRU formed a valued partnership with the SGQ (formally Sunstate Group Queensland) who came on board as our major competition sponsor. We would like to thank them for their contribution in 2014. We would also like to thank our other partners Ferguson Cannon, Rettore Notley, Fencescape, and Curry & Jorgensen Dental for their support this season. Our Junior competition was again a very well participated contest involving 106 teams across 10 clubs, with a total of 1,560 participants. We fielded four teams in the QJRU State Championships which included an under 12 development team. Our Under-16s were crowned State Champions. A total of 14 boys went on to represent Queensland Country Juniors against Brisbane City at Suncorp Stadium. Schools Rugby continued to grow with 49 teams participating in local competitions. Sunshine Coast Grammar were successful in defending their 2013 First XV title. The Sunshine Coast Opens won the combined Queensland Secondary Schools Championships held in Toowoomba earlier in the year. This saw a further 10 players go on to reach representative honors including four Queensland II representatives. The Sunshine Coast teams also dominated the Ballymore Cup with Sunshine Coast Grammar taking out the Under-17 title and Sienna won the Under-15 competition. In the Senior Competition Noosa won both the A Grade and Reserve Grade Competitions. Noosa also took out the Club Championship trophy. The 2014 Spirit of Rugby Award was deservedly awarded to Glen Gamble from Fraser Coast. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 47 Representative fixtures saw our Seniors and Colts play both Darling Downs and Gold Coast. A total of eight open players went on to represent South Queensland and a further four to the Queensland Country Heelers. In the Under-19s 12 players went on to represent South Queensland and four to the Queensland Country Under-19s. The SCRU saw a successful introduction to the ARU Junior Gold Program in both the Under 15 and 17 age groups and our women’s Sevens continued to thrive. We look forward to a successful 2014 season. Glen Ferguson President - SCRU Junior Brolgas The representative honours for the juniors started with the TDRU Japan Tour. The team won all five of their tour games, which is a great achievement. This then lead on to the selection of Brolgas sides from Under-12s through to Under-17s. Unfortunately the TDRU were not invited to participate in the QJRU State Championships this year, so we participated as part of a North Queensland side selected from Townsville and Cairns based players. All the boys played exceptional Rugby both in Cairns and in the return leg in Townsville. Congratulations to those boys who were selected for North Queensland and had the opportunity to play at the State Championships. North Queensland and Queensland Country Heelers TOWNSVILLE The 2014 season was again a year of great success for Townsville Rugby. From the growth of our recently formed Women’s and Under-8 competitions to the success of the Japan Tour, the strength of Townsville Rugby continues to be a benchmark for all Unions. Juniors and Seniors This year we fielded a total of 79 teams in our competition, which included our first full season of Under-8s and the increasingly popular Women’s Competition. Five of our 11 clubs secured Premiership honours this year and all clubs featured in the finals series. The strength of our competition was evidenced by the five premierships from Under-19 and Open Women through to A Grade being won by five different clubs. Although a few clubs dominated in the juniors, the level of competition and sportsmanship on display throughout the finals was exemplary. After such a closely contested A Grade final in 2013, the floodgates opened up this year when Ross River took on the competition favourites Brothers. This was a high scoring game and congratulations goes to Brothers in what was probably the most entertaining final in some time. Congratulations to all clubs and players who participated throughout the season. Eighteen Townsville players were selected to play for the Graincorp Queensland Country Heelers and Colts (Under-20s) in 2014. The Under-20s had a carnival in February to kick-off the representative season, consisting predominantly of players from last year’s side. The 1st grade and Colts were then selected after the Country Championships with the senior side touring New Zealand and the Under-20s chosen for a development squad. Special mention must go to Michael and Andrew Parker from Brothers who were then selected to be a part of the Queensland Country side that competed in the inaugural nation-wide National Rugby Championship competition. Townsville hosted Queensland Country’s game against the Sydney Stars on October 11, which was a great showcase of Rugby talent in regional Queensland. Queensland Country won the main game 52-29, in what was a big highlight for 2014. Sponsors Thank you again to our corporate partners - Mike Carney Toyota, Troy Williams the Good Guys and A. Gabrielli Constructions. Their continued support underpins the success and sustainability of the Rugby community. Administration and Supporters Senior Brolgas The Brolgas had another successful year in both the Under-19 and Senior Divisions, as neither side dropped a game all season. This year’s Brolgas home game was a massive day of representative Rugby with Cairns playing Townsville from Under-12s through to the seniors. To add to this big day, Mackay also competed in the Under-19s and seniors to compete for the North Queensland Championship, which was won by the Brolgas in both grades. It was also great to see an increase in representative duties for our Women. The growth of the TDRU competition can be seen through the Women’s competition as they continue to develop in all aspects of the game. The Brolga and Army rivalry continued this year with the two teams facing off twice throughout the year. Once again the entertaining ANZAC Day match took place with the Brolgas overcoming a brave Army side in both the 1st Grade and Women’s matches. The Remembrance Day game was also played this year with the Brolga team playing the North Queensland Army side on this very special day. The Brolgas made it two-from-two on the night and everyone is looking forward to next year’s fixtures. 48 After a successful Regional Championship, Townsville dominated selection in the North Queensland teams to play Central Queensland and South Queensland in the Country Championships in Rockhampton. Both sides were undefeated throughout the weekend and were crowned Country Champions. Finally, a huge thanks to our Administration and supporters who make each and every season an overwhelming success. Townsville has a very proud Rugby history and I believe we have again demonstrated the spoils and successes of hard work and dedication both on and off the field. Thanks again to the TDRU Executive Committee for your support and direction throughout 2014. Lachlan Bell President - TDRU UNIVERSITY The 2014 season was a successful year for the Red Heavies highlighted by the retention of the Doughty Shield for a fifth consecutive season. In order to achieve this feat we had all hands on deck including players, coaches, managers, trainers, medical staff and many more. We had 11 teams finishing in the top four of their respective competitions which is very pleasing and we are very lucky to have a fantastic group of volunteers who give up a lot of time to ensure the success of our club. WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU The Premier Grade Grand Final was a tightly contested affair against the Sunnybank Dragons. The Red Heavies needed every second of the 80 minutes and secured victory after the siren when Tom Pincus landed a long range penalty conversion to hand UQRFC its third Hospital Cup in five years. It capped off an amazing season for the Premier Grade side claiming the Welsby Cup and Horsley Trophy (Minor Premiers). Congratulations to Mick Heenan and his coaching staff for an excellent year. Congratulations must also go to the Women, Colts 1 and Colts 2 for winning their respective Grand Finals in wet conditions. It was a very special win for the Women who broke an eight-year drought to claim the silverware. Colts 1 continued their hot streak adding a fourth trophy in as many years while Colts 2 put on an excellent display to win their Grand Final. The Red Heavies finished off the 2014 season entering into a number of Sevens tournaments in Queensland and Northern New South Wales. The team produced some great results highlighted by winning the Bowl at the Noosa International Sevens. Thank you to the Club Committee for your contributions behind the scenes this season. The work of the committee largely goes unnoticed however it is integral for the club to function at full capacity. The University of Queensland and UQ Sport have again been vital to our success providing much needed support. It is a pleasure to boast some of the best sporting facilities in Brisbane and we really appreciate all of the work put in to achieve this high standard. Club sponsorship is the life blood of our club so I sincerely thank all of our current club sponsors for their generous support throughout the year. I look forward to seeing players, coaches, managers and trainers of the Red Heavies down at St Lucia in 2015. Bruce Brown President - University Rugby WESTERN QUEENSLAND RUGBY The 2014 Western Queensland Rugby Union season started with three teams competing for the ‘Ringrose Button’ premiership trophy, but sadly the Longreach Rustlers were unable to see the season out due to a lack of player numbers. The Barcaldine Boars went through the home-and-away season undefeated and continued their winning run beating the 2013 premiers, Longreach Jumbucks 29-7, on a chilly night at the Barcaldine Show Grounds. Barcaldine Boars, coached by Paul Doneley were determined to win after losing the previous three Grand Finals. The Boars had not held the trophy since 2006. Player of the Match was awarded to Barcaldine Boars’ lock Alex Fietz for his bruising defence and strong ball carrying. Acknowledgement and thanks has to go to Tony O’Regan for officiating the game. The Western Queensland (WQ) Representative season started with WQ defeating Rockhampton 8-0 at the Barcaldine Show Grounds. It was the first time in over 25 years that WQ had defeated Rockhampton. WQ then traveled to Capella to take on Central Highlands and Wide Bay. Central Highlands defeated WQ, 10-0 in a closely contested game and the following day Wide Bay defeated an under strength WQ team 36-18. The stand out performers over the three games were Anthony Pearce and Cameron Heath. The team was strongly lead by playing coach Paul Doneley. Paul went on to represent Central Queensland at the Country Championships in Rockhampton and then Queensland Country Heelers on their tour of New Zealand. Western Queensland player George Skuthorp was selected and participated in the Queensland Outback Barbarians tour of the USA. The 2014 Rodney Button ‘Spirit of Rugby’ Trophy, was deservingly awarded to Barcaldine Boars President, Andrew Pearce, for his long-standing dedication and passion, towards ensuring Rugby union continues in WQ. Western Queensland Rugby Union would like to thank their 2014 sponsors - Bayer Animal Health and Ringrose Button Chartered Accountants. Through local representative Dave Richards, the Bayer Community Support program has been an immense support to WQRU over the past two seasons while Bill and Prue at Ringrose Button have been longtime supporters of the Rugby Union competition in Western Queensland. WQRU are truly grateful for their continued support. A big thank you to Western Queensland Secretary Meg Cook, Vice President Hugh Button, Referees Coordinator Dean Workman along with the Committee for all their work throughout 2014. WQ would also like to acknowledge the contribution Longreach Jumbuck President Cameron Heath has made to Rugby in Western Queensland. Cameron is leaving the area and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors. I look forward to the 2015 season and hope see the Longreach Rustlers return to our revamped Western Queensland Rugby Union night competition commencing early February. Michael Campbell President - Western Queensland Rugby WESTS We had a very disruptive start to the season as we lost six Premier Grade players and it was a season that was truly going to test our depth. Premier Grade had a very competitive first round but injuries and a lack of depth saw us overwhelmed by our opposition in the second round. The injuries and our lack of depth played havoc throughout the grades resulting in no Senior teams making the finals. The season could be considered a disappointment but those who worked with the players know that at times they played well above their experience and skill level. I would like to thank all the Senior Coaching staff especially Pat Byron and Evan Willis for doing a fantastic job during the season and I wish them luck for 2015. Our Colts had another interesting season, at times we fielded three teams but as the university holidays and injuries rolled in the third team disappeared and we struggled to get numbers. I would like to thank Tim West, Wayne Carter and all the Colts Coaching staff for their efforts during the year. I know we have been working hard during the season to attract players to Wests hopefully it will pay off in the 2015 season. Our Saturday Junior teams had a lot of fun and I was happy to witness great friendships being made and the amazing improvement in skills and love for the game over the year. It’s nice to see the game still strong at this level with lots of little ones running around. The Sunday Junior side were very competitive, this is where the boy’s skills start to really develop and we were excited to see some talented players running around. With this said, we had team in finals from Under-13s to Under-16s, winning the Under-16 pre-season competition the Under-15 season competition and losing the Under-14 season competition in the Final. On the representative front, Ed O’Donoghue (Queensland Reds) and Will Genia (Queensland Reds and Australia) represented Wests during the season. It was nice to see Will back at the club where he played most of his junior Rugby and our old favourite Ed who has been a great club man over the years. On the Women’s front Liz Patu was selected in the Wallaroos World Cup squad and Queensland side along with Lucy Lockhart who was a shadow player for the Wallaroos. Club members may or may not be aware that Wests have supported the establishment of specialist Sevens club Tribe7s. Our contribution Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 49 has been by way of providing training facilities and the involvement of key personnel. We are receiving a return on our investment by exposing the club to new players. Buckley and Seitoa Teesi - and three boys from the Under-16s Will Gavin, Ben Navosailaga and Saula Senituli -were selected in the Brisbane sides to play Queensland Country. Tribe7s was established by Don Caslick to provide a pathway for non-Rugby playing women to be able to compete at an elite level in Sevens in Australia and around the world, to enhance their chances for represent Australia in the new Olympic sport of Rugby Sevens. They played their first tournament in late September 2013 with immediate success, winning Emmanuel Sevens held annually at UQ. An elite men’s team was established and in late October, lead by Wests Premier Grade assistant coach Evan Willis, the team were finalists at Byron Bay Sevens, before traveling to China where they beat the Chinese national team in the final of the Shanghai Sevens. A special mention to our Club administrator and club medic, Jo Staples. Jo has worked tirelessly for Wests and also for many teams in the greater Brisbane Rugby community as a medic. Jo was awarded the BJRU Person of the Year. In wrapping up our season Jo also won our Clubs most prestigious award, “The Rose Bowl”. Thank you for your outstanding efforts Jo, and congratulations as these awards were very well deserved. On the same weekend, the Tribe 7s women, coached by Wests stalwart Cassidy Holland, won Australia’s most prestigious Sevens title at the Central Coast 7s starting an incredible run of success which saw them dominate arch rival Sunnybank in every major tournament in the summer of 2014 to be crowned Queensland Champions, Ballymore Summer Series Champions and Kiama 7s Champions (beating the NSW representative team). In May they embarked on an ambitious three-week, four tournament tour of the UK and Europe where they won Europe’s most prestigious women’s title at the Amsterdam Sevens. They beat the Welsh national team 42-5 in the Cup Final. They won the Centrale Sevens title in Paris (disposing of national teams from Brazil, Ukraine and the French Development team). I would like to thank all our Major Sponsors, Sedgman, Xradiology and Sci-Fleet for all their help with our car raffle and Precinct sponsorship. I would also like to thank all the other generous businesses that sponsor our Club or have chosen to associate themselves with Wests. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank all the wonderful volunteers, Coaches, Managers and parents who give up their time to help the Club to be the success that it is. My sincere thanks also goes out to the Wests Committee for all their long hours they put in behind the scenes, and of course their families who support them. Tony Buckley President - WRUFC There are seven of the 21 contracted full-time Australian Sevens squad who came through the Tribe 7s system. Five of the 12 girls who won the gold medal for Australia in the Youth Olympic Games, held in Nanjing in August, were Tribe 7s players who were part of the successful Ballymore Summer Series squad. This spring Tribe 7s set their sights on winning the Dubai Sevens International Invitational to complete the ‘grand-slam’ of Women’s Rugby Sevens (Central Coast, Amsterdam, Dubai). The Tribe 7s men won the International Open tournament at Dubai in 2013, and returned in 2014 to compete in the elite international invitational event. The club fielded two women’s teams with 50 per cent of the players wanting to be part of the Tribe 7s success story traveling from various European countries to compete, including players of the stature of Maggie Alphonsi MBE, former England Sevens captain Sonia Green and current Scottish captain Dr. Stephanie Johnston. The Tribe 7s women, led by Maggie Alphonsi and coached by Cassidy Holland, won the International Open Women’s title and were runners-up to the Irish national team in the international invitational played in front of 40,000+ spectators on 5 December, 2014. The following night the men played their way through to the final where they were beaten by South Africa A (playing as Samurai International), the game again played in front of a full house before the World Series semi-finals. An important aspect of the Tribe 7s system is the women’s exchange program that has been established with various European partners. The club has hosted elite players from Scotland, England, Malta, Germany and Holland in the last 12 months. The Tribe 7s ladies traveled to Dubai via Dublin where they trained with the Irish national squad. In the summer of 2015, players from Scotland, Netherlands and Germany will be hosted. We thank Lachlan Parkinson of the QRU for his continued support of the program and women’s Rugby Sevens in general. Reciprocal opportunities are now available for Tribe 7s players to be hosted in Europe during their peak Sevens season (May to August). A huge congratulations to Don Caslick and the coaches and players involved the Sevens program. The Junior front had various representative sides from under 12 development squads to Under-13, Under-14 and Uner-16 rep teams and the ARU Junior Gold program in Under-15’s. It was nice to see Wests well represented in these squads with three of our boys from our Under-14’s team playing in the winning State Championship side. Wests also supplied winning coaches at the State Championship, Steve Cohen Under-13 and Brenden Jones Under-14 both coached title winning teams. Two boys from the Under-14s - Jack 50 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU 2014 COMMITTEE REPORTS QRU JUDICIAL APPEALS COMMITTEE In 2014 the QRU Judicial Appeals Committee dealt with six (6) matters, which coincidentally was the same number of matters dealt with in 2013. Again most matters dealt with finals dispensation. We again did not hear any appeals from players in relation to suspensions or penalties handed down by Judicial Panels. This is the second year in a row. This would suggest that the penalties whilst not always agreed with, are being accepted. Not all appeals in relation to eligibility for finals were form the Brisbane competition and we dealt with two (2) matters from a Country Union. Of the six (6) matters, three (3) appeals were upheld and three (3) were dismissed. It was notable that one matter related to the issue of racial vilification, which is not a subject matter which has given rise to an appeal previously. I thank the members of the Committee for their dedication to what at times can be difficult matters. John Mullins Chairman - Queensland Judicial Appeal Committee QRU JUDICIARY COMMITTEE Features of the 2014 season were: • The continuation of the mandatory regime, in that it is a minimum requirement for referees to send off players who have transgressed either Law 10.4(a) “punching or striking” or 10.4(b) “stamping or trampling”, save for Premier matches and finals. This system has worked well in the past and continues to ensure as far as possible a safe environment for playing. The policy is clearly maintained and policed well by the referees. • This year saw a slight decrease in the number of Colts players being sent off compared to 2013. Colts players have traditionally been seen frequently before the Judicial Committee, particularly in relation to striking. There were 11 Colts players ordered off in the 2014 year, down from 21 in 2013. • However, the total number of players ordered off for 2014 has increased on past years. In 2013 63 players were ordered from the field for foul play, whereas in 2014 82 players have been ordered from the field. This total number of players however is not a true indication of the Brisbane club competition as there were eight players who appeared before the Committee for QRU sanctioned under age tournaments, four from a similarly sanctioned university competition and two from a Pacific Island competition. It is clear then that the total number of players ordered off for foul play has not increased substantially, but has remained relatively constant and the increased number is explained by the increased competitions over which the Judicial Committee must preside. • It is pleasing to note that the number of Premier Grade players has decreased slightly this year from six to four. • The good behaviour of those not directly associated with the on field game continues. Both in 2013 and 2014 there have been no code of conduct breaches relating to pitch invasions, abuse of match officials and the like by coaching and support staff personnel. It would appear as if the clubs have ensured that this blight on the game has been eliminated, at least for the time being. • The Committee wish to acknowledge the cooperation of clubs in ensuring that players attend with representatives. The Judicial Committee has a view that a player represented by officials, coaches and managers assist the process greatly and are ideal conduits to pass to their respective clubs the position the Committee takes on illegal/foul play. • The Committee particularly wishes to acknowledge the assistance of Mr Michael Backstrom of the QRU for his diligent record keeping, preparation of Committee papers and advice to clubs of Committee decisions. • I also wish to acknowledge the assistance of my fellow Judicial Committee members, Mr Geoff Gardiner and Mr Timothy Conroy and reserve Committee Member, Chris Newton. STATE REFEREE COMMITTEE QRU Board Appointed Chairman: Lachlan Parkinson (QRU Game Development Manager - Education, Pathways & Rugby Services) Committee Members: Dick Byres (QRU Appointed) Peter Gofton (QRU Appointed) Geoff Pegg (QRU Referee Development Coordinator) Mark Hogan (QRRA (Brisbane) Inc President) Peter Buchanan (Country Appointed Delegate) The QRU’s State Referee Committee (SRC) achieved the following planned objectives in 2014: • Advanced Training and Education programs for the Premier Development and Talent Identification Squads • Continued Education and Development of the State’s Referee Coaching Panel • Development of Junior Refereeing and Coaching across the State • Provision of Match Officials for all SRC - Designated Matches The QRU State Referee Committee operated for the early months of 2014 under the Chairmanship of the QRU Game Development Manager – Education, Pathways and Rugby Services which allowed the activities and objectives of the SRC to be further aligned with the QRU’s Game Development programs across the State in respect of Referee Recruitment, Development and Education. Education courses were conducted with Regional Country Referees Associations in conjunction with the allocation of ARU Junior Gold Cup matches where Regional Referees were appointed to matches and were able to have their performance reviewed by QRU Development Officers who were conducting the Education courses. Development of referees was also undertaken in a number of Country centers throughout the year in conjunction with courses that were conducted by the QRU Community Rugby Education Department. The Queensland Country Championship format for Regional Unions remained unchanged from 2013 although the Regional Championships were conducted on one weekend in Rockhampton for the Under-19 and Senior teams. With Regional Unions hosting internal Country Championship matches, this provided the opportunity to continue with the appointment of Host Regional Referees and Referee Coaches to inter-regional Matches as part of their ongoing Referee and Referee Coach development. The referee coaches appointed to review the performance of the referee were required to submit coaching reports to the SRC for assessment in respect to Regional Match appointments. The SRC were requested to appoint referees to all Regional Under-19 and Senior Matches. This was undertaken after reviewing coaching reports and through liaison with Country Associations to ensure the referees were up to the required standard. One Regional and Two QRRA (Brisbane) inc. Referees were appointed to control the six Under-19 and Senior Regional Matches Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 51 with the Rockhampton Referees Association providing the Assistant Referees for the Championships as well as a Referee Coach to work with a QRRA (Brisbane) Inc Referee Coach as part of her development. The SRC continued with their Advanced Training and Education program for 26 Referees that were selected in the Senior Development and Pathway Identification Squads. Ten of these Referees were then included to participate in the ARU Training Squad joining up with Queensland’s four ARU Panel Referees. All 26referees undertook additional strength and conditioning training, attended key education sessions that included programs covering subjects such as tactical communication, game analysis, referee interaction and decision making under pressure. These Referees were also allocated Mentors with all Referees being selected to Referee in the Brisbane Grade Competition season Finals. Referees selected in the Development programs were also selected to referee at the various Championships and Rugby Events listed below as part of their Referee Development process. Queensland based Referee Coaches were also selected as Referee Coaches at these Championships listed below. Over the year, the SRC made 1,876 appointments of Match Officials to Matches in the following competitions: • Premier Rugby • Appointed as Referee Coach Queensland Schools 15 Years State Championships • Appointed as Referee Coach ARU Women’s Sevens Championships • Appointed as Referee Coach ARU Women’s National Championships • Appointed as Referee Coach QJRU State Championships • Appointed as Referee Coach ARU Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Citing Commissioner IRB Junior World Cup • Appointed as Citing Commissioner Pacific Rugby Competition • Appointed as Citing Commissioner National Rugby Competition • Appointed as Citing Commissioner Noosa Sevens and Gold Coast IRB Sevens Alec Camplin • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 12 Year State Championships • Queensland Country Championships • City v Country John Christophersen • Queensland Schools 18 years Championships • Queensland Schools 15 years Championships • Appointed as Assistant Referee NSW Under-20s v Fiji Pacific Rugby Competition • Queensland Schools 12 years Championships • Appointed as Referee Brisbane Premier Colts Grand Final Tim Clough • Queensland Schools Schoolboy Trials • Queensland Junior Rugby Union State Championships • Appointed as Assistant Referee Super 15 Trial • QRU Queensland Primary School Under-12 Q 7s • Appointed as Referee Australian Southern States Championships • QRU Queensland Schoolboy 7s • Appointed as Assistant Referee 2 for Three Pacific Rugby Competition Matches • ARU Junior Gold Cup • Other Requested Appointments Following are the achievements of Queensland Referees and Referee Coaches during 2014: Tim Aistrope • Appointed as Referee ARU Under-17 Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed Referee NT Hottest Sevens Andrew Cole • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schoolboy Trials • Retained as ARU National Referee Coach • Appointed as Referee ARU Australian Schools Championships • Appointed as Referee Coach for nine Super 15 Matches • Appointed Referee ARU Under-17 Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Referee Coach for Seven Pacific Rugby Competition Matches • Appointed Assistant Referee Queensland Under-20s v Junior Japan Pacific Rugby Competition • Appointed as Referee Coach for ten National Rugby Competition Matches Robert Andrews • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 12 Year State Championships Will Bailey • Appointed as Performance Reviewer for Four International Test Matches • Appointed as ARU Referee Coach IRB Sevens Gold Coast Dean Collett • Appointed as Referee QJRU State Championships Peter Buchanan • Appointed as Referee ARU Under-17 Junior Gold Cup Matches Peter Buchanan (Senior) • Appointed as Referee Coach Queensland Schools 18 Year State Championships 52 Dick Byres • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 12 Year State Championships Brett Cronan • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 18 Year State Championships • Appointed as Referee Queensland Country Under-19 State Championships WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU • Appointed as Referee ARU Under-17 Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Referee ARU Under-15 Junior Gold Cup Semi Final • Appointed as Referee ARU Under-15 Junior Gold Cup Final Rupert Dingle Greg Hinton • Appointed as Development Coach National Rugby Competition Match Rohan Hoffman • Retained as Referee on the ARU National Referee Panel • Selected as SANZAR Super 15 Referee • Appointed as Referee Coach ARU Junior Gold Cup Matches Ben Dorrington-Plumb • Appointed as Assistant Referee for nine Super 15 Matches • Appointed as Referee for 13 Super 15 Matches • Appointed as Referee ARU Under-17 Junior gold cup Matches • Appointed as Referee Pacific Rugby Competition Final • Appointed as Referee QJRU State Championships • Appointed as Referee Fiji v Tonga – First Test Appointment • Appointed as Assistant Referee for two International Test Matches Paul Evans • Appointed as Referee Coach Queensland Schools 12 Years State Championships • Appointed as Referee Coordinator QJRU State Championships • Appointed as Referee Coach ARU Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Referee Coach Queensland Country State Championships • Appointed as Referee for Four National Rugby Competition Matches • Appointed as Referee National Rugby Competition Semi-Final • Appointed as Referee National Rugby Competition Final • Appointed as Referee Brisbane Premier Grade Grand Final • Appointed as Match Official Number four Australia v New Zealand Test Match Cameron Foley • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 18 Years State Championships • Appointed as Referee QJRU State Championships • Appointed as Referee ARU Under-15 Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Referee City Under-16 v Country u16 Representative Match Ian Foster Mark Hogan • Appointed as Referee Coach ARU Junior Gold Cup Matches Rachel Horton • Appointed as Referee ARU Women’s Sevens Championships • Appointed as Referee ARU Women’s National Championships • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 18 Years State Championships • Appointed as Assistant Referee Junior Japan v Fiji Pacific Rugby Competition Match • Appointed as Referee ARU Under-17Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Assistant Referee for three ARU National Rugby Competition Matches • Appointed as Referee Central Coast Sevens Peter Gofton • Appointed as Referee Coach ARU Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Referee NT Hottest Sevens Chyna Howlett Paul Haydock • Appointed as Assistant Referee St George Reds v Chiefs Super 15 Trial • Appointed as Referee ARU Women’s Sevens Championships • Appointed as Assistant Referee for Three Pacific Rugby Competition Matches • Appointed as Referee ARU Women’s National Championships • Appointed as Referee ARU Southern States Championships • Selected as Development Referee IRB Women’s Sevens Referee Panel • Appointed as Referee National Club Championship Match • Appointed as Assistant Referee for Five National Rugby Competition Matches • Appointed as Referee ARU Under-17 Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Referee Central Coast Sevens • Appointed as Match official Number five for Australia v Argentina Test Match • Appointed as Referee NT Hottest Sevens • Appointed as Referee Brisbane Premier Reserve Grand Final • Appointed as Referee IRB China Sevens Liam King Paul Heath • Appointed as Referee Coach ARU Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Referee QJRU State Championships • Appointed as Referee QJRU State Championships Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 53 Ruben Kriel • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 12 Years State Championships Declan Lane • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 18 Years State Championships • Appointed as Referee ARU Under-17 Junior Gold Cup Matches Jayden Leavers Bob Nicol • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 12 Years State Championships Joshua Noon • Appointed as Referee QJRU State Championships Matt O’Brien • Retained on the ARU National Referee Panel • Appointed as Referee QJRU State Championships Harrison Lee • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 12 Years State Championships Steve Leszczynski • Selection as Referee on the IRB’s Sevens International Referee Panel • Appointed as Referee IRB Sevens Gold Coast, Wellington, Hong Kong, Japan, China, Las Vegas and World Cup Sevens • Appointed as Referee NT Hottest Sevens • Appointed as TMO for nine Super 15 Matches • Appointed as Referee Commonwealth Games Sevens Final Neill McCann • Appointed as Referee Coach ARU Junior Gold Cup Matches Stuart McKinnon • Appointed as Referee QJRU State Championships Drew Meehan • Appointed as Referee QJRU State Championships Greg Milne • Appointed as Development Coach for Two National Rugby Competition Matches • Appointed as TMO for four National Rugby Competition Matches Damien Mitchelmore • Retained as Referee on the ARU National Referee Panel • Appointed as Assistant Referee for eight Super 15 Matches • Appointed as Referee NSW Under-20’s v Tonga u20’s • Appointed as Referee Combined States Under-20’s v NSW Under-20’s • Appointed as Referee for Two Pacific Rugby Competition Matches • Appointed as Number four Match Official Australia V Argentina Test Match • Appointed as Assistant Referee for five National Rugby Competition Matches • Appointed as Referee for four National Rugby Competition Matches Luke Moloney • Appointed as Assistant Referee for two Pacific Rugby Competition Matches Richard Nagle • Appointed as Referee ARU Under-15 Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Referee Queensland Under-20s v Combined States Under-20s • Appointed as Referee ACT Under-20s v Pampas XV Under-20s • Appointed as Referee for two Pacific Rugby Competition Matches • Appointed as Assistant Referee for one Pacific Rugby Competition Match • Appointed as Assistant Referee for eight Super 15 Matches • Appointed as Referee for two Super 15 Matches • Appointed as Assistant Referee for two National Rugby Competition Matches • Appointed as Match official Number 4 Australia v New Zealand Test Match Eamon O’Sullivan • Appointed as Referee QJRU State Championships Geoff Pegg • Appointed as Referee Coordinator Queensland Schools 18 Years State Championships • Appointed as Referee Coordinator Queensland Schools 15 Years State Championships • Appointed as Referee Coordinator Queensland Schools 12 Years State Championships • Appointed as Referee Coordinator Queensland Junior Rugby Union State Championships • Appointed as Referee Coordinator QRU All Schools Sevens • Appointed as Referee Coach ARU Junior Gold Cup Matches Pat Rae • Appointed as Referee Coach ARU Schools National Championships • Appointed as Referee Coach QJRU State Championships • Appointed as Referee Coach ARU Junior Gold Cup Matches Liam Neyland • Appointed as Referee QJRU State Championships 54 • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 12 Years State Championships • Appointed as Development Coach for Two National Rugby Competition Matches WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU • Appointed as Referee Coach for Three National Rugby Competition Matches Sam Rasmussen • Appointed as Referee North Queensland v Central Queensland Country Championship Match • Appointed Referee Queensland Schoolboy Trials • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 15 Years State Championships • Appointed as Referee ARU Under-15 Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Referee QJRU State Championships John Raukete • Appointed as Referee Coach QJRU State Championships Jordan Way • Appointed as Referee QJRU ARU Under15 Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 18 Year State Championships • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 15 Year State Championships • Appointed as Referee Central Coast Sevens Reimon Raukete • Appointed as Referee QJRU State Championships • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 12 Years State Championships • Appointed as Referee City Under-13 v Country Under-13 Representative Match Shaun Rigby • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schoolboy Trials Mitchell Ross • Appointed as Referee Queensland Schools 12 Years State Championships • Appointed as Referee NT Hottest Sevens Michael Wills • Appointed as Referee Coach QJRU State Championships Chris Woodhouse • Appointed as Assistant Referee Junior Japan v Fiji Pacific Rugby Competition Match • Appointed as Assistant Referee Reds A v Australian Barbarians Pacific Rugby Competition Match • Appointed as Referee ARU u17 Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Referee Coach QJRU State Championships Scott Young Jordan Ryan • Appointed as Referee ARU Under-15 Junior Gold Cup Matches Tom Ryan • Appointed as ARU Liaison Officer Queensland Jordan Schuck • Appointed as Referee ARU Under-15 Junior Gold Cup Matches Cameron Stanfield • Appointed as Referee ARU Under-17 Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Assistant Referee Queensland v Junior Japan Pacific Rugby Competition Match Felix Strong-Fick • Appointed as Referee QJRU State Championships Craig Taylor • Appointed as Referee Coach ARU Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Referee Coach Queensland Schools 12 Years State Championships • Appointed as Referee Coach QJRU State Championships Andrew Twist • Retained as ARU National Referee Selector • Appointed as Pathway Services Manager - Officiating Australian Rugby Union • Appointed as Referee Coach for seven Pacific Rugby Competition Matches • Appointed as Referee Coach for seven Super 15 Matches • Retained as IRB’s International Sevens Referee Coach • IRB Sevens Referee Coach Gold Coast, Dubai, Las Vegas, Wellington and Hong Kong. • Appointed as Development Coach for Brisbane City v Perth National Rugby Competition Final With the initial implementation of the Australian Rugby Union’s National Match Official Strategic Plan occurring in March 2014, the QRU State Referee Committee was dispended on the basis that there was no longer any separate requirement for that body to operate although specific responsibilities such as Premier Rugby and State Championships Match Officials appointments continued to be undertaken by QRU representatives for 2014. Referee and Referee Coaching Development Strategy for Queensland Referee Associations will now be the responsibility of the newly created Match Officials Development Manager for the State of Queensland in line with the National Match Official Strategic Plan. Geoff Pegg Administration Officer - QRUSRC • Appointed as Referee ARU u17 Junior Gold Cup Matches • Appointed as Assistant Referee Junior Japan v Fiji Pacific Rugby Competition Match • Appointed as Referee Brisbane First Grade Grand Final Kevin Twomey • Appointed as Referee South Queensland v North Queensland Country Championship Match Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 55 2014 OFFICE BEARERS DELEGATES TO THE AUSTRALIAN RUGBY UNION PATRON Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley AO Governer of Queensland Paul McNicholl, Rod McCall, Michael Arnett JUDICIARY COMMITTEE VICE PATRONS Paul Tully (Chairman), Geoff Gardiner, Tim Conroy The Honourable Campbell Newman Premier of Queensland JUDICIAL APPEALS COMMITTEE The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Brisbane Cr Graham Quirk John Mullins (Chairman), Chris Newton, Noel Rafter, Ian Scotney OAM PRESIDENT Tony Shaw VICE PRESIDENTS Bill Ross, Andrew Slack BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rod McCall (Chairman), Jim Carmichael, Michael Arnett, Mark Connors, Damien Frawley, James Horwill, Paul McNicholl, Mark Thompson, Chris White EXECUTIVE STAFF Chief Executive Officer Jim Carmichael Chief Operating Officer David Hanham Chief Commercial Officer Daniel Herbert Chief Financial Officer Ashley Selwood General Manager of Game Development Robert Donaghue General Manager of Communications Philip Pope Head Coach Richard Graham 56 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU FINANCIAL REPORT Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 57 FINANCIAL REPORT Attached is the formal Financial Report for the year ended 31 December 2014 together with the associated Directors Report, Audit Report and Directors Declaration. As the attached is the formal presentation to be provided under the Law, it may be helpful to Members to include a deeper analysis of the financial results for the year and the position at the end of December. As provided in previous years below is a general ‘Sources and Application of Funds’. It shows the main areas of revenue and expenditure and where the funds flow throughout the organisation. One important point to note in reviewing this presentation this year compared to previous years is the effect of the 10 month year in 2014. Many of the Revenue and Expenditure lines have been affected by the shorter year whereas many others remain similar to a normal 12 month year such as Gate Takings and Corporate Hospitality revenue and associated expenditure. As can be seen at the heart of the diagram is the Reds and the net funds that Reds operations generate are then used in other parts of the business such as Game Development and Premier Rugby. The Surplus for the year is also a by-product of the Reds operations. Having said that it should be noted that the Game development part of the QRU is generating significant revenue in its own right through commercial operations, Government Grants as well as the ARU Grants that have been in existence for some time. This shows that the Community side of the business is becoming less dependent on the success of the Reds albeit that there are many non-financial benefits that flow to the Community game as a result of a successful Reds operation. ARU $3.7M $12.6M $150k Premier Rugby Expenditure $390k Commercial and Other Revenue $2.0M $240k Reds Expenditure* $15.3M $0.4M Game Development Expenditure $4.0M $0.3M Surplus Government Grants $0.7M $0.9M *Includes Player Payments, Coaching and Support Staff, Team Servicing plus Reds related Commercial, Marketing and Media costs plus an allocation from Ballymore and Corporate costs Turning now to the attached Financial Statements the following provides further information in relation to the Statement of Profit and Loss and the Statement of Financial Position. STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME The Statement of Profit and Loss shows a bottom line surplus of $355k for the year, however the more important result is the Profit before Depreciation which indicates a result for the financial year of $936k. This result illustrates the effective net cash result for the year, notwithstanding the more accurate cash flow position shown in the Statement of Cash Flows. As mentioned above it should be noted that the 2014 financial year is for 10 months only as the QRU moves from a December year end to October 31 commencing in 2014 and hence many of the direct comparatives to 2013 need to take this change into consideration.. Some of the other major points to note from the Statement of Profit and Loss are: • Sponsorship has been maintained at similar levels to 2013 however due to the 10 month financial period in 2014, a number of sponsorship agreements have been brought to account only for the 10 months; 58 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU • Corporate Hospitality for 2014 was less than 2013 due principally to the general reduction in match attendances this year caused principally by the overall performance of the Reds in 2014; • Gate Takings held up quite well compared to 2013 considering the team performance this year. The 2013 figure includes the match fee of $500k from the one off Reds v Lions match. Therefore Gate Takings were slightly up on 2013 mainly due to the underpinning of revenue from the Membership program. This further illustrates the strategic importance of Membership on the overall revenue risk position; • Grants were down by approximately $300k in 2014 with the bulk of this coming from the 10 month year and the resulting treatment of some of the ARU Grants. • Other Revenue was down again with the bulk caused by the reduced period and also due to some lesser results from Reds Events in 2014. Therefore overall revenue is down by approximately $1.8m with much of this to do with the change in the financial period. However not all of the reduction as caused by this change as some of the revenue streams were affected by the team performance in 2014 such as Corporate Hospitality and Events. Expenditure has tracked very much in line with the reduction in revenue and the change in the accounting period with an overall reduction of $1.8m. Much of this is to do with the change in the financial period as many of the costs such as employment costs are brought to account on a monthly basis. There were also some reductions in expenditure directly tied to the lower results in Corporate Hospitality and Events. Therefore overall it is a difficult year in which to draw meaningful outcomes from the comparatives due to the reduced accounting period. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AND CASHFLOW The Statement of Financial Position shows Total Members Equity of $14,880,167 principally represented by the investment in Ballymore including the Administration Building. More importantly the Report shows that the negative working capital position of $3,645,681 at the end of 2013 has declined to $3,220,770 at the end of 2014. It should be noted however that due to the loan with St.George Bank being represented in Non-Current Liabilities, its reduction of $375k during 2014 is not represented in the working capital position. In reality the working capital deficit reduced further. As reported last year the Term Loan with St.George Bank will reduce to nil in the early part of 2015 leaving the overdraft of $2m to finance the business. The Board will be considering new financing strategies in due course once there is finality to the new broadcasting agreement and Super Rugby competition structure from 2016. At the time of finalising this report, the Board is continuing discussions with the State Government regarding the granting of freehold title on Ballymore and if this is achieved the value of the land may significantly increase. Members may recall that the land valuation was reduced by $5.3m to $12.7m in 2013 as a result of a new valuation undertaken at that time. One other important matter to note from the financial position and the associated Statement of Cash Flows is the cash flow position during the year. Overall the cash position reduced by $633k however due to the Balance Sheet now constructed as at 31 October the cash position will be less than the previous balance date of December 31 due to the ongoing sales of Memberships and Corporate Hospitality that normally occur in November and December each year for the following season. As can be seen from the Balance Sheet the amount of Deferred Revenue reduced from $4.7m as at December 2013, to $2.2m as at October 2014 hence reducing the cash position at year end. THE FUTURE In terms of the future financial position the Budget for 2015 is indicating another positive surplus however a forecast for 2016 has been delayed until further information is known on the structure of the Super Rugby season and the associated broadcast agreements from 2016. At this point it would seem that the competition will expand to 18 teams from 2016 however due to the construction of the competition it will mean the current eight home match program reducing to seven home matches in each alternate year. There will also be the potential of a reduced quality program due to a reduction in the number of local derby matches and the introduction of a sixth team from South Africa and teams from Japan and Argentina. It is too early at this stage to speculate on how this new competition will impact financially on the QRU from 2016. Another key ingredient in the future of the QRU’s financial position will be the financial environment at the national level. Much has been said and written about the ARU’s position and again its financial future will very much depend on the broadcasting agreement and the impact of future competitions. It is believed that these outstanding issues will be resolved in the coming months allowing for a much clearer position for the future direction of the ARU and as a result the QRU as well. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 59 DIRECTORS’ REPORT The Directors of Queensland Rugby Union Ltd, except where otherwise stated, present their report on the Company for the financial period ended 31 October 2014. As resolved by the Company the financial year is changed to conclude on October 31 and as a result the 2014 period is for 10 months. DIRECTORS The name and particulars of the Directors of the Company in office at any time during or since the end of the period are: Mr R J McCall Mr M C Thompson Mr J Carmichael Mr C G White Mr P B McNicholl Mr J Horwill Mr M N Arnett Mr M Connors Mr D Frawley INFORMATION ON DIRECTORS Mr. R.J. McCall - Chairman Mr Rod McCall joined the QRU Board as Chairman in 2009, having previously served as a Director of the ARU in 1996 as RUPA appointed Director and again from 2007 to 2009. Rod had an extensive Rugby playing career, representing Queensland and Australia from 1986 to 1995. He played 107 games for Queensland and 40 Tests for Australia, including winning the 1991 Rugby World Cup. Rod is currently the Managing Director of successful print and logistics company IPG Connect. Mr J Carmichael Mr Jim Carmichael became Queensland Rugby CEO in November 2009, with almost 25 years experience as a senior executive, board member and executive management consultant within a range of business types, including local and international, private and publicly listed start-up and established organisations. The industries Mr Carmichael has experience in include multi-media, technologies, entertainment and major sports industries. More recently Mr Carmichael was a senior executive with the Australian Football League in various roles including Director of Major Projects and Head of New Business and Enterprise, developing major strategic initiatives to produce sustainable growth, profit and brand value for the AFL, State league bodies and clubs. Mr M N Arnett B.Com, LLB Elected to the Board on April, 17 2010 Mr Michael Arnett is a former partner of law firm Norton Rose. Michael is a director of a number of public and private companies, including New Guinea Energy Ltd, Seqwater, Queensland Energy Resources Ltd and NRW Holdings Limited in the mining and energy sector. Michael has been involved in significant corporate and commercial legal work for the resource industry for over 25 years. Mr P B McNicholl B.Sc(Hons), B.Econ, GAICD Mr Paul McNicholl has more than 27 years of experience in senior executive roles in major public companies in both the industrial and consumer retail markets and has built up a wealth of business skills and commercial acumen. Paul’s directorships have included Delta Australia, Valmont Australia, Donhad Pty Ltd and Webforge Australia Pty Ltd, Voca Communications Pty Ltd and the Australian Steel Institute. Paul played for Queensland in 71-72, served on the Committee of the University of Queensland Rugby Club for 10 years and was a referee for several years whilst residing in Sydney. He was elected to the Board on April 17, 2010. Mr M C Thompson BBUS CPA A partner at Whytes Accountants and Business Advisors Mr Mark Thompson provides Specialised Taxation Advice with a significant focus on the Professional Sport industry. Mark’s client base spans numerous participants within this sector including sportspeople, media executives, coaches, talent management companies, sport organisations and their executives. In addition to Mark’s role as a Director on the Board of Queensland Rugby Mark is a current Director of Bulls Masters Ltd and his community rugby involvement has included posting as Chairman of Brothers Rugby Club. Mark was elected to the Board on April 17, 2010. Mr Chris White A sports and event management specialist, Mr Chris White is the Managing Director of talent and sponsorship management company, International Quarterback. Chris has previously been on the Board of Events Queensland and Tourism Queensland. He was the Chair of Gold Coasts Events Company, which was responsible for the V8 Races on the Gold Coast and in Townsville. Through Chris’s many years experience in the sports industry he has built up exceptional contacts across corporate, sports, media and government. Chris was elected to the Board on April 17, 2010. Mr James Horwill Mr James Horwill was appointed to the Board in April 2011 as the Rugby Union Players Association nominee. James captained the St.George Queensland Reds from 2008 - 2014 and is a member of the Qantas Wallabies. James led the Reds to the Super Rugby title in 2011, the first in the professional era. Mr Mark Connors LLB PS 146 Accredited Mr Mark Connors was elected to the Board in March 2012. Mark represented Queensland and Australia between 1991 and 2006, and is currently the second highest capped player for Queensland with 134 caps. Mark was previously a Member of the Board of the Australian Rugby Union from 2007 - 2012 having been nominated by the Rugby Union Players Association. He is a former practising Lawyer now working as an Investment Advisor. Mr Damien Frawley Damien has a distinguished playing career in Rugby, representing both Queensland and NSW as well as playing 10 Tests for the Wallabies. Damien is currently the CEO of institutional investment manager QIC, having taken up the role in 2012. Previously, Damien was 60 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU the country head of BlackRock Australia and his career has also included roles at Merrill Lynch Investment Management, Barclays Global Investors and Citibank. Damien is a member of a number of other bodies including CEDA State Advisory Council (October 2012), Financial Services Council Investment Board Committee (December 2012), Queensland Government’s Ministerial Health Infrastructure Advisory Council (December 2013) and the Queensland Government’s Trade and Investment Executive Roundtable (March 2014). Mr Ashley Selwood B.Bus, MBA, FCPA, FGIA (Company Secretary) Ashley Selwood was appointed Company Secretary on 19 May 2011 as part of his role on the Special Executive Committee and took up the position fulltime in September 2011. Ashley has formal Company Secretarial qualifications including Grad. Dip in Corporate Governance and was previously the Company Secretary of the Australian Rugby Union. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES The Company’s principal activities in the course of the financial period were the control and operation of Rugby Union in Queensland. During the financial period there was no significant change in the nature of these activities. LIKELY DEVELOPMENT AND RESULTS Likely developments in the operations of the company and the expected results of those operations (such as the redevelopment and the future of Ballymore), have not been included in this report as the Directors believe, on reasonable grounds, that the inclusion of such information would be likely to result in unreasonable prejudice to the Company. AUDITOR’S INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION A copy of the auditor’s independence declaration as required under section 307C of the Corporations Act is set out following the Directors’ Report. MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS During the financial period, nine meetings of the Board of Directors of the Queensland Rugby Union Ltd were held. The number of meetings attended by each Director during the financial period is as follows: QRU BOARD MEETINGS Number eligible to attend Number attended Mr R.J. McCall 8 8 Mr J Carmichael 8 7 Mr M.N. Arnett 8 8 Mr C.G. White 8 6 Mr P.B. McNicholl 8 7 Mr M.C. Thompson 8 6 Mr J Horwill 8 4 Mr M Connors 8 7 Mr D Frawley 8 5 During the financial period two meetings were held of the Ballymore Committee. The number of meetings attended by each committee member is as follows: BALLYMORE COMMITTEE MEETINGS Number eligible to attend Number attended Mr M C Thompson 2 2 Mr R J McCall 2 2 Mr J Carmichael 2 2 Mr C McCluskey 2 1 During the financial period three meetings of the Audit and Risk Committee were held. The number of meetings attended by each committee member is as follows: AUDIT & RISK COMMITTEE MEETINGS Mr P McNicholl (Chairman) Number eligible to attend Number attended 3 3 Mr M Arnett 3 3 Mr D Frawley 3 3 Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 61 During the financial period one meeting of the Life Members Nominations Committee was held. The number of meetings attended by each committee member is as follows: LIFE MEMBERS NOMINATION COMMITTEE MEETINGS Number eligible to attend Number attended Mr A Shaw (Chairman) 1 1 Mr P McNicholl 1 1 Mr A Taylor 1 1 Mr J Carmichael 1 1 During the financial period two meetings of the Nominations Committee were held. The number of meetings attended by each committee member is as follows: NOMINATION COMMITTEE MEETINGS Number eligible to attend Number attended 2 2 Mr R McCall (Chairman) Mr M.N Arnett 2 2 Mr A Shepley 2 2 Mr B Curran 2 2 OPERATING RESULTS The company’s surplus for the financial period after income tax was $354,624 which compares to a 2013 Surplus of $287,492. The Company’s surplus includes a depreciation charge of $580,894 (2013 - $666,623). DIVIDENDS The Company is a Company limited by guarantee and is prohibited under its Constitution to declare dividends. REVIEW OF OPERATIONS Details of the Commercial, Game Development, Professional Rugby and Corporate activities of the Company for the year have been outlined under those operational headings in the previous pages of the annual report. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN STATE OF AFFAIRS No significant changes in the Company’s state of affairs occurred during the financial period, other than the Boards discussion to change the financial year end applicable in 2014. MATTERS SUBSEQUENT TO THE END OF THE FINANCIAL PERIOD There are no matters or circumstances which have arisen since the end of the financial period which significantly affected or may significantly affect the operations of the Company, the results of those operations, or the state of affairs of the Company in subsequent financial years. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT The Corporate Governance Statement of the Company is now available on the Company’s website and as such is not included in the Annual Report as has been the case in previous years. A copy of the Statement can be found at redsrugby.com.au 62 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU OFFICERS AND AUDITORS INDEMNIFICATION The Company has not, during or since the end of the financial period, in respect of any person who is, or has been, an officer or auditor of the Company or of a related body corporate: • indemnified or made any relevant agreement for indemnifying against a liability incurred as an officer or auditor, including costs and expenses in successfully defending legal proceedings; or • paid or agreed to pay a premium in respect of a contract insuring against a liability incurred as an officer or auditor for the costs or expenses to defend legal proceedings; with the exception of the following: - During or since the financial period the Company has paid premiums to insure each of the Directors and the Company secretary against liabilities for costs and expenses incurred by them in defending any legal proceedings arising out of their conduct while acting in the capacity of director or Company secretary of the Company, other than conduct involving a wilful breach of duty in relation to the Company. Further details are prohibited by a confidentiality clause. PROCEEDINGS ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY No person has applied for leave of court to bring proceedings on behalf of the Company or intervene in any proceedings to which the Company is a party for the purpose of taking responsibility on behalf of the Company for all or any part of these proceedings. The Company was not a party to any such proceedings during the financial period. Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Directors made pursuant to Section 298(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 on behalf of the Directors. R.J. McCallJ. Carmichael Chairman Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Dated in Brisbane this 18th day of March 2014 Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 63 Tel: +61 7 3237 5999 Fax: +61 7 3221 9227 www.bdo.com.au Level 10, 12 Creek St Brisbane QLD 4000 GPO Box 457 Brisbane QLD 4001 Australia DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE BY D P WRIGHT TO THE DIRECTORS OF QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD As lead auditor of Queensland Rugby Union Ltd for the period ended 31 October 2014, I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been: 1. No contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit; and 2. No contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit. D P Wright Director BDO Audit Pty Ltd Brisbane, 11 December 2014 BDO Audit Pty Ltd ABN 33 134 022 870 is a member of a national association of independent entities which are all members of BDO Australia Ltd ABN 77 050 110 275, an Australian company limited by guarantee. BDO Audit Pty Ltd and BDO Australia Ltd are members of BDO International Ltd, a UK company limited by guarantee, and form part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation, other than for the acts or omissions of financial services licensees. 64 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 Ten Months Ended 31 October 2014 Year Ended 31 December 2013 $ $ Sponsorship 6,848,024 7,064,273 Corporate Hospitality 1,726,212 2,057,708 Match Day 7,006,420 7,419,106 Grants 5,722,112 6,055,760 8,079 15,574 Other 1,096,223 1,583,590 TOTAL REVENUE 22,407,070 24,196,011 Match Day Operational Expenses 2,765,190 2,674,404 Commercial 1,799,655 2,189,889 Marketing and Memberships 1,991,321 1,906,298 Game Development and Operations 3,490,138 3,873,802 Reds Team Expenses 7,540,489 8,413,412 449,507 291,824 Corporate 2,628,132 2,763,055 Ballymore 807,120 1,129,212 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 21,471,552 23,241,896 Profit before Depreciation 935,518 954,115 580,894 666,623 354,624 287,492 - - 354,624 287,492 Note REVENUE Interest Received EXPENDITURE Communications and Media Depreciation 2 Profit After Depreciation Income Tax Expense 1(f) PROFIT FOR THE PERIOD ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE MEMBERS The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 65 QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 Note Ten Months Ended 31 October 2014 Year Ended 31 December 2013 $ $ 354,624 287,492 - (5,300,000) - - - (5,300,000) - - - - - (5,300,000) 354,624 (5,012,508) Profit for the period attributable to the Members OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss Gain/ (loss) on revaluation of Land Income tax relating to items that will not be reclassified subsequently 1(f) Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss Other comprehensive income for the period (net of tax) TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE PERIOD The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. 66 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 OCTOBER 2014 Note October 2014 December 2013 $ $ 1,717 33,687 CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents Trade and other receivables 3 3,046,267 3,047,230 Consumables 4 83,106 188,637 Other current assets 5 101,336 248,858 3,232,426 3,518,412 18,785,044 19,272,084 TOTAL NON CURRENT ASSETS 18,785,044 19,272,084 TOTAL ASSETS 22,017,470 22,790,496 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS NON CURRENT ASSETS Property Plant & Equipment 6 CURRENT LIABILITIES Trade and other payables 7 2,446,805 1,312,958 Borrowings 8 1,557,400 952,838 Provisions 9 270,995 232,108 Deferred revenue 10 2,177,996 4,666,189 6,453,196 7,164,093 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES NON CURRENT LIABILITIES Borrowings 8 257,392 680,014 Provisions 9 80,880 25,606 Deferred revenue 10 345,835 395,240 684,107 1,100,860 TOTAL LIABILITIES 7,137,303 8,264,953 NET ASSETS 14,880,167 14,525,543 Retained Earnings 12,180,167 11,825,543 Revaluation Surplus 2,700,000 2,700,000 TOTAL MEMBERS’ EQUITY 14,880,167 14,525,543 TOTAL NON CURRENT LIABILITIES MEMBERS EQUITY Capital, leasing and contractual commitments 12 Contingent liabilities 16 Members Liability 14 The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 67 QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 Retained Earnings Revaluation Surplus Total Equity $ $ $ 11,538,051 8,000,000 19,538,051 287,492 - 287,492 Other comprehensive income - (5,300,000) (5,300,000) Total comprehensive income 287,492 (5,300,000) (5,012,508) Balance at 31.12.13 11,825,543 2,700,000 14,525,543 Balance as at 1.1.14 11,825,543 2,700,000 14,525,543 354,624 - 354,624 Other comprehensive income - - - Total comprehensive income 354,624 - 354,624 12,180,167 2,700,000 14,880,167 Balance as at 1.1.13 Net profit attributable to Members Net profit attributable to Members Balance at 31.10.14 The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. 68 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 Ten Months Ended 31 October 2014 Year Ended 31 December 2013 $ $ 19,851,641 23,077,094 8,079 15,574 (19,882,512) (24,332,172) (107,980) (124,674) (130,772) (1,364,178) Payments for property, plant and equipment (93,852) (446,247) Member Loan Repayments 10,715 17,857 Net cash (outflow) from investing activities (83,137) (428,390) Net repayments of St.George Facility (375,000) (500,000) Net proceeds (repayments) from leasing facility (44,349) 76,341 Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities (419,349) (423,659) Net increase (decrease) in cash held (633,258) (2,216,227) Cash at beginning of the financial period (865,642) 1,350,585 (1,498,900) (865,642) - Cash On Hand 1,500 1,500 - Cash At Bank 217 32,187 - Bank Overdraft (1,500,617) (899,329) (1,498,900) (865,642) Note Receipts from patrons, sponsors etc Interest received Payments to suppliers, wages etc Interest paid and other financial costs Net cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities (b) CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Cash at end of the financial period (a) Note (a) For the purposes of Statement of Cash Flows Cash Comprises:- The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 69 QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED) FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 Ten Months Ended 31 October 2014 Year Ended 31 December 2013 $ $ (130,772) (1,364,178) (580,894) (666,623) 9,752 504,127 - Increase /(Decrease) in prepayments (147,522) 36,943 - Increase/(Decrease) in inventories (105,531) 107,597 - (Increase)/Decrease in provisions (94,160) (70,800) - (Increase)/Decrease in deferred revenue 2,537,598 1,260,481 - (Increase)/Decrease in payables (1,133,847) 479,945 354,624 287,492 Note Note (b) Reconciliation of Cash Flow provided by Operating Activities to Profit from ordinary activities Net Cash (used)/provided by operating activities Non cash flows in Profit from ordinary activities - Depreciation Changes in assets and liabilities - Increase/(Decrease) in receivables Profit from ordinary activities for the period The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. 70 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 NOTE 1 - STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES The financial report is a general purpose financial report that has been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards - Reduced Disclosure Requirements, other authoritative pronouncements of the Australian Accounting Standards Board and the Corporations Act 2001 The directors have determined that Queensland Rugby Union Limited is permitted to apply the Tier 2 reporting requirements (Australian Accounting Standards – Reduced Disclosure Requirements) as set out in AASB 1053 Application of Tiers of Australian Accounting Standards because it is a not-for-profit private sector entity. As such, the directors have adopted AASB 2010-2 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards Arising from Reduced Disclosure Requirements from 1 January 2011. AASB 2010-2 only mandatorily applies to annual reporting periods commencing on or after 1 July 2013. The adoption of AASB 2010-2 has had no impact on amounts recognised in the financial statements and related notes because it merely requires less disclosures for these general purpose financial statements, which have been prepared using Australian Accounting Standards - Reduced Disclosure Requirements, than if these financial statements were prepared using Australian Accounting Standards. The financial report covers the entity, Queensland Rugby Union Ltd as an individual entity. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd is a Company limited by guarantee, incorporated and domiciled in Australia. The financial report has been prepared on an accruals basis and is based on historical costs and does not take into account changing money values or, except where stated, current valuations of non-current assets. Cost is based on the fair values of the consideration given in exchange for assets. The following is a summary of the material accounting policies adopted by the Company in the preparation of the financial report. The accounting policies have been consistently applied, unless otherwise stated. (a) Going Concern The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis which contemplates the continuity of normal business activities and the realisation of assets and discharge of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. At 31 October 2014 the statement of financial position shows there is a deficiency of net current assets of $3,220,770 (2013 $3,645,681), and net cash outflow from operating activities of $130,769 (2013 $1,364,178 outflow). The Company however reported an operating surplus for the period of $354,624 (2013 $287,492). The Directors have reviewed profit and loss forecasts, cash flow forecasts and related assumptions which indicate the QRU has the ability to pay its debts as and when they fall due. Not withstanding the above financial position, the Directors have therefore prepared the financial statements on a going concern basis. The Directors believe that with profitability forecast in 2015 plus the financial result achieved in previous years, the QRU will be able to generate positive operating cash flows and be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due. The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 71 QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 NOTE 1 - STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued (b) Property, Plant and Equipment Each class of property, plant and equipment is carried at cost less, where applicable, any accumulated depreciation. Land Land was initially measured at deemed cost based on the fair value of the land granted to the Company by the Queensland Government, being the amount for which an asset could be exchanged between knowledgeable willing parties in an arm’s length transaction. The land was first recognised in the financial statements in 2001 at $10,000,000 on the basis of an independent valuation. The valuation took into account the specialised nature and restrictions placed on the Land. A subsequent valuation of the Land was undertaken on 22 December 2010. This valuation was $18,000,000 and was taken up at 31 December 2010. A subsequent valuation was undertaken at 31 December 2013 which indicated a reduction in value to $12,700,000. This latter value has now been taken up in the Financial Statements. Details relating to the most recent valuation are included in Note 6. It is important to note the QRU has an interest in the land at Ballymore through a Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT) issued by the State Government. There are associated restrictions over the transfer and commercial use of the property. Buildings Buildings are measured on the cost basis less depreciation and impairment losses. The carrying amount of buildings is reviewed annually by Directors to ensure that it is not in excess of the recoverable amount from the buildings. The recoverable amount of the buildings is the higher of the buildings fair value less costs to sell or value in use. In relation to the Ballymore Buildings and Stadium, value in use is determined by reference to depreciated replacement cost. This value has been determined by reference to an independent assessment of the deemed replacement cost of land and buildings at Ballymore. A valuation has been undertaken for the year ended 31 December 2011 of Ballymore and its improvements for purposes of assessing impairment to the value of the assets. No impairment of the asset has been identified and hence the asset continues to be recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. (c) Plant and Equipment Plant and equipment are measured on the cost basis less depreciation and impairment losses. The carrying amount of plant and equipment is reviewed annually by Directors to ensure it is not in excess of the recoverable amount from these assets. The recoverable amount is assessed on the basis of the expected net cash flows which will be received from the assets employment and subsequent disposal. The expected net cash flows have not been discounted to their present value in determining recoverable amounts. (d) Depreciation The depreciable amount of all fixed assets including buildings and capitalised lease assets, but excluding freehold land, is depreciated on a straight line basis over their useful lives to the Company commencing from the time the asset is held ready for use. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of either the unexpired period of the lease or the estimated useful lives of the improvements. The depreciation rates used for each class of depreciable assets in the current and previous financial years are: Class of Fixed Asset Depreciation Rate Buildings and Improvements 2.5 - 10% Plant and Equipment 10 - 33.3% Depreciation rates in relation to the above classes of fixed assets are regularly reviewed by Directors (e) Consumables Consumables are valued at cost and are utilised in the business in the following financial year. The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. 72 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 NOTE 1 - STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued (f) Income Tax The Company is exempt from income tax pursuant to the Income Tax Assessment Act. (g) Contra Sponsorships The Company is in receipt of sponsorships in the form of contras for travel, playing gear, advertising, car leasing etc. These contras have been recognised in the financial statements as both income and expenditure unless the contra has not been fully realised or expended. (h) Leases Lease payments for operating leases, where substantially all the risks and benefits remain with the Lessor, are expensed in the periods in which they are incurred. This basis reflects the pattern of benefits derived from the use of the leased assets. Leases of property, plant and equipment where the Company has substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as finance leases and capitalised at inception of the lease at the fair value of the leased property, or if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease payments. Lease payments are apportioned between the finance charges and reduction of the lease liability so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance charges are charged to profit or loss over the lease period so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period. Capitalised leased assets are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the lease term. (i) Employee Benefit Provisions Wages and Salaries, Annual Leave and Sick Leave Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non-monetary benefits, annual leave and accumulating sick leave expected to be settled within 12 months of the end of the reporting period are recognised in other payables in respect of employees’ services rendered up to the end of the reporting period and are measured at amounts expected to be paid when the liabilities are settled. Liabilities for non-accumulating sick leave are recognised when leave is taken and measured at the actual rates paid or payable. Long Service Leave Liabilities for long service leave are recognised as part of the provision for employee benefits and measured as the present value of expected future payments to be made in respect of services provided by employees to the end of the reporting period using the projected unit credit method. Consideration is given to expected future salaries and wages levels, experience of employee departures and periods of service. Expected future payments are discounted using national government bond rates at the end of the reporting period with terms to maturity and currency that match, as closely as possible, the estimated future cash outflows. Regardless of when settlement is expected to occur, liabilities for long service leave and annual leave are presented as current liabilities in the statement of financial position if the entity does not have an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least 12 months after the end of the financial period. Retirement Benefit Obligations Contributions are made by the entity to employee superannuation funds and are charged as expenses when incurred. The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 73 QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 NOTE 1 - STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued (j) Revenue Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised upon delivery of goods to customers. Interest revenue is recognised on a proportional basis taking into account the interest rate applicable to the financial assets. Revenue from the rendering of a service is recognised upon the delivery of the service to the customers. Rental income is accounted for on a straight line basis over the term of the lease. Contingent rentals are recognised as income in the periods when they are earned. Grants from government are recognised at their fair value where there is reasonable assurance that the grant will be received and the QRU will comply with all the attached conditions. Government grants relating to costs are deferred and recognised in profit or loss over the period necessary to match them with the costs that they are intended to compensate. Similarly Grants from the ARU are recognised in profit or loss over the period necessary to match them with the revenue, commitments and costs that they are intended to represent. (k) Goods and Services Tax (GST) Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of GST, except where the amount of GST incurred is not recoverable from the Australian Tax Office. In these circumstances the GST is recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of the asset or as part of an item of expense. Receivables and payables in the Statement of Financial Position are shown inclusive of GST. (l) Interest Bearing Liabilities All loans and borrowings are initially recognised at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. Borrowings are subsequently measured at amortised cost. Any difference between the proceeds (net of transactions costs) and the redemption amount is recognised in the statement of profit and loss over the period of the loans and borrowings using the effective interest method. (m) Trade receivables Trade receivables are recognised at original invoice amounts less an allowance for uncollectible amounts and have repayment terms between 30 and 90 days. Collectibility of trade receivables is assessed on an ongoing basis. Debts which are known to be uncollectible are written off. An allowance is made for doubtful debts where there is objective evidence that the QRU will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms. Objective evidence of impairment includes financial difficulties of the debtor, default payments or debts more than 90 days overdue. On confirmation that the trade receivable will not be collectible the gross carrying value of the asset is written off against the associated provision. (n) Trade payables Trade and other payables represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the QRU prior to the year end and which are unpaid. These amounts are unsecured and have 30-60 day payment terms. (o) Impairment of Assets At the end of each reporting period the QRU assesses whether there is any indication that individual assets are impaired. Where impairment indicators exist, recoverable amount is determined and impairment losses are recognised in profit or loss where the asset’s carrying value exceeds its recoverable amount. Recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value in use. For the purpose of assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. 74 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 NOTE 1 - STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued (p) Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements The Directors evaluate estimates and judgements incorporated into the financial statements based on historical knowledge and best available current information. Key Estimates Impairment – details of the accounting policy relating to the impairment of assets are disclosed in Note 1(o). Specific notes relating to the impairment assessment of the land at Ballymore are disclosed in Note 1(b). Key Judgments Provision for doubtful debts – details of the policy relating to the provision for doubtful debts are disclosed in Note 1(m). The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 75 QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 Ten Months Ended 31 October 2014 Year Ended 31 December 2013 $ $ 107,980 124,674 Buildings and improvements 446,500 529,442 Plant and equipment 119,384 122,111 Leased Plant & equipment 15,010 15,070 580,894 666,623 Bad and doubtful debts 29,958 25,000 Remuneration of the auditors for the audit of financial statements 48,500 49,599 Rental expense on operating leases 300,195 208,461 October 2014 December 2013 $ $ Trade Receivables 1,589,086 1,946,087 Less Provision for Doubtful Debts (111,853) (81,895) 1,477,233 1,864,192 1,440,463 1,043,752 128,571 139,286 3,046,267 3,047,230 Opening Balance 81,895 193,625 Provisions for doubtful receivables 29,958 25,000 - (136,730) 111,853 81,895 NOTE 2 – PROFIT FROM ORDINARY ACTIVITIES Profit from ordinary activities before income tax has been determined after: (a) Expenses: Interest paid or payable to: - other persons Depreciation of non-current assets: NOTE 3 – TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES CURRENT Other Receivables Loans to Members (Note 17 (c)) Analysis of Allowance Account Receivables written off during the financial period Closing Balance The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. 76 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 October 2014 December 2013 $ $ Team Playing Kits 21,006 29,498 Merchandise 62,100 159,139 83,106 188,637 October 2014 December 2013 $ $ 101,336 248,858 101,336 248,858 NOTE 4 – CONSUMABLES CURRENT NOTE 5 – CURRENT OTHER ASSETS CURRENT Prepayments The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 77 QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 October 2014 December 2013 $ $ 12,700,000 12,700,000 12,700,000 12,700,000 Buildings Stadium Infrastructure - at cost 26,586,924 26,566,924 Accumulated Depreciation (13,113,057) (12,666,557) Recoverable Amount Write Down (7,851,929) (7,851,929) 5,621,938 6,048,438 Plant and Equipment - at cost 1,298,198 1,224,344 Accumulated Depreciation (954,412) (835,028) 343,786 389,316 Leased Plant and Equipment - at cost 149,683 149,683 Accumulated Depreciation (30,363) (15,353) 119,320 134,330 18,785,044 19,272,084 NOTE 6 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT Land at independent valuation Total Property, Plant and Equipment An independent valuation of Land was undertaken as at 31 December 2013 by Mr Paul Robbins, AAPI certified, Registered Valuer No. 2094, of FPD Savills. The revaluation was undertaken to enable Directors to assess whether there was any impairment to the asset values at 31 December 2013. This valuation indicated a value of the Land as $12,700,000, and as a result the directors determined that an amount of $5,300,000 was included as impairment against the value of the land and set against Asset Revaluation Reserve as at 31 December 2013. The Valuation approach adopted is a Direct Comparison Approach, and takes into account both the specialised nature of the Land, and the restrictions placed on the use of the Land by the State Government. Movements in Carrying Amounts Movement in carrying amounts for each class of Property, Plant and Equipment and Intangibles between the beginning and the end of the financial period are set out below. Freehold Land Buildings & Improvements Plant & Equipment Leased Plant & Equipment Total $ $ $ $ $ 12,700,000 6,048,438 389,316 134,330 19,272,084 Additions - 20,000 73,854 - 93,854 Disposals - - - - - Depreciation Charge for the financial period - (446,500) (119,384) (15,010) 580,894 12,700,000 5,621,938 343,786 119,320 18,785,044 Carrying amount at 1 January 2014 Asset Reallocation Carrying amount at 31 October 2014 The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. 78 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 October 2014 December 2013 $ $ - Trade payables 707,909 447,007 - Other payables 883,593 733,252 - GST Liability 517,930 18,854 - Annual leave entitlements 337,373 113,845 2,446,805 1,312,958 October 2014 December 2013 $ $ 1,500,617 899,329 56,783 53,509 1,557,400 952,838 250,000 625,000 7,392 55,014 257,392 680,014 NOTE 7 – TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES CURRENT NOTE 8 – BORROWINGS CURRENT - St.George Overdraft - Lease Liability NON-CURRENT - St.George Loan - Lease Liability The facility with St.George Bank consists of a fully drawn loan of $2,000,000 repayable over four years plus an overdraft of $2,000,000. These facilities are secured as a ranking first priority situated at 231 Butterfield Street, Herston including the land. Interest on both facilities is paid on a monthly basis. As at 31 October 2014 the Fully Drawn Loan had been repaid to a level of $250,000 with the repayments due in 2015 being prepaid in 2014. The overdraft had a balance of $1,500,617 at 31 October 2014 The carrying amounts of assets pledged as security for current and non current interest bearing liabilities are as follows: CURRENT - Floating Charge - Cash and cash equivalents 1,717 32,187 3,046,267 3,047,230 3,047,984 3,079,417 - Freehold Land 12,700,000 12,700,000 - Buildings 5,621,938 6,048,438 Total non-current assets pledged 18,321,938 18,748,438 Total assets pledged as security 21,369,922 21,827,855 - Receivables - Total current assets pledged NON-CURRENT - First and Second Mortgages The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 79 QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 October 2014 December 2013 $ $ 270,995 232,108 270,995 232,108 80,880 25,606 80,880 25,606 - Administrative and Coaching Staff 76 69 - Players Super Rugby 30 35 106 104 NOTE 9 – PROVISIONS CURRENT Long service leave NON-CURRENT Long service leave Number of employees at the end of the year LONG SERVICE LEAVE Long term employee benefits comprise amounts payable for long service leave which are not vested at balance date and the amount and timing of payments to be made when leave is taken is uncertain. Refer to accounting policy on Note 1 (i) for more details. The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. 80 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 October 2014 December 2013 $ $ - Sponsorship 71,493 987,706 - Memberships 1,542,045 2,889,853 - Red Pass - 30 years (a) 49,405 49,405 - Other including Government Grants 20,833 - - Corporate Hospitality Facilities 494,220 739,225 2,177,996 4,666,189 197,620 197,620 148,215 197,620 345,835 395,240 2,523,831 5,061,429 NOTE 10 – DEFERRED REVENUE CURRENT NON-CURRENT - 2-5 years Red Pass - 30 years (a) - After 5 years Red Pass - 30 years (a) TOTAL DEFERRED REVENUE (a) Red Pass – 30 years Red Pass Subscribers to seats in the Eastern Stand at Ballymore purchased these seats for a period of 30 years. The Red Pass deferred revenue disclosed as a current liability represents income which will accrue to the Company in the period ended 31 October 2015. Red Pass deferred revenue disclosed as non-current liability represents the income value that will accrue to the Company after 31 October 2015. The accounting treatment for deferred revenue has been disclosed in Note 1(j). The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 81 QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 October 2014 December 2013 $ $ Within one year 179,439 120,327 Later than one year but not later than five years 102,683 40,366 Total future minimum operating lease payments 282,122 160,693 Within one year 58,987 58,987 One to five years 7,759 56,915 Total commitment 66,746 115,902 Less: Future finance charges (2,571) (7,379) Net commitment recognised as liabilities 64,175 108,523 Lease liability – current (note 8) 56,783 53,509 Lease liability – non-current (note 8) 7,392 7,392 64,175 108,523 October 2014 December 2013 $ $ NOTE 11 - LEASE COMMITMENTS (a) Operating Leases – non-cancellable (b) Lease commitments – finance Committed at the reporting date and recognised as liabilities, payable: Representing: NOTE 12 - CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS As at 31 October 2014, the Company had entered into contractual obligations with certain players and support staff for the balance of the 2014 and subsequent seasons. This will result in payments as follows: - Not later than one year 6,465,229 6,412,696 - Later than one year but not later than five years 3,995,029 3,815,000 10,460,258 10,227,696 The Queensland Rugby Union Ltd has signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement on 23 December 2004 together with the Australian Rugby Union Limited, the New South Wales Rugby Union Limited, the Australian Capital Territory Rugby Union Incorporated, Western Australian Rugby Union Inc and the Rugby Union Players Association Incorporated which provides amongst other things minimum remuneration requirements for contracted players. A new Terms Sheet has been executed for 2014 and 2015 to replace the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. 82 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 NOTE 13 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT The following assets and liabilities are recognised and measured at fair value on a recurring basis: - Land and buildings Recognised fair value measurements The following table sets out the QRU’s assets and liabilities that are measured and recognised at fair value in the financial statements: October 2014 $ December 2013 $ - Land 12,700,000 12,700,000 - Buildings (carrying value net of depreciation) 5,621,938 6,048,438 18,321,938 18,748,438 Recurring fair value measurements Non-financial assets NOTE 14 – MEMBERS’ LIABILITY The Company is a Company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. If the Company is wound-up the Constitution states that each member is required to contribute a maximum of $100 each towards meeting any outstanding obligations of the Company. At 31 October 2014 the number of members was 25 (31 December 2013-25) NOTE 15 - KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL COMPENSATION Total Income paid or payable, or otherwise made available, to the most senior executives of the Company. October 2014 $ Total Benefits $ 2014 Total Compensation (10 Months) 1,358,792 2013 Total Compensation (12 Months) 1,635,994 NOTE 16 - CONTINGENT LIABILITIES The Company is currently in dispute with a former employee in respect of the cessation of the individual’s employment. The Company is unable to disclose any further details of this ongoing matter as it could be expected to seriously prejudice the case. There are no other contingent liabilities to be reported as at balance date. The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 83 QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 NOTE 17 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (a) During the financial period the following Directors held office: Mr R.J. McCall Mr C.G. White Mr M.N. Arnett Mr P.B. McNicholl Mr M.C. Thompson Mr M. Connors Mr J. Horwill Mr D. Frawley Mr J. Carmichael (b) Director Related Entities Transactions between related parties are on normal commercial terms and conditions no more favourable than those available to other parties unless otherwise stated. 1. During the 2014 financial period, Messrs, R.J. McCall. M.N. Arnett and J. Carmichael were the three Queensland Rugby Union Ltd delegates to the Australian Rugby Union Limited. The Australian Rugby Union Limited distributes grants to the Company. 2. Director related parties paid the Company for sponsorships, match day hospitality and use of Queensland Rugby Union’s facilities on the same terms offered to non-related parties. These amounted to $9,922 (2013: $9,922). The Director involved was R.J. McCall. 3. During the 2014 financial period the Company made payments in the amount of $307,888 to IPG for services (2013: $177,711). IPG is a printing company owned by Director R.J. McCall. IPG have had a long standing supplier relationship with the Company and all transactions entered are under normal commercial terms. There have been no substantial changes in the value or terms of this agreement during the reporting period. (c) Associated and Other Entities 1. Australian Rugby Union Limited provided the Queensland Rugby Union Ltd with grants totalling $4,897,291 (2013: $5,108,000). 2. Brisbane Junior Rugby Union Inc. is not charged rent. 3. Queensland Suburban Rugby Union Inc. is not charged rent. 4. Queensland Rugby Referees’ Association (Brisbane) Inc is not charged rent. 5. GPS Old Boys Rugby Union Club Inc. reduced its loan by $10,715 to $3,572 (2013: $14,287). 6. Mackay District Rugby Union loan remained at $125,000 plus interest (2013: $125,000). The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. 84 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 NOTE 18 - ECONOMIC DEPENDENCY Income to support the contractual obligations of players and support staff for the 2014 season comes from the participation in the Super Rugby Competition. Participation in this competition is governed by a Participation Agreement with the Australian Rugby Union with this agreement setting out rights and responsibilities for the Company. NOTE 19 - COMPANY DETAILS The Company’s registered office and principal place of business is located at: 231 Butterfield Street Herston QLD 4006 NOTE 20 – SEBSEQUENT EVENT There are no material events after the reporting date. The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 85 QUEENSLAND RUGBY UNION LTD A.C.N. 055 120 217 DIRECTORS’ DECLARATION FOR THE 10 MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2014 The Directors of the Company declare that: 1. 2. the financial statements and notes, as set out on pages 65 to 85, are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001: a) comply with Accounting Standards and the Corporations Regulations 2001; and b) give a true and fair view of the financial position as at 31 October 2014 and of the performance for the period ended on that date of the Company; in the Directors’ opinion there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Company will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable. This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors. R.J. McCallJ. Carmichael Chairman Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Dated in Brisbane this 11th day of December 2014 86 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU Tel: +61 7 3237 5999 Fax: +61 7 3221 9227 www.bdo.com.au Level 10, 12 Creek St Brisbane QLD 4000 GPO Box 457 Brisbane QLD 4001 Australia INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT To the members of Queensland Rugby Union Ltd Report on the Financial Report We have audited the accompanying financial report of Queensland Rugby Union Ltd, which comprises the statement of financial position as at 31 October 2014, the statement of profit or loss, statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and statement of cash flows for the period then ended, notes comprising a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information, and the directors’ declaration. Directors’ Responsibility for the Financial Report The directors of the company are responsible for the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards – Reduced Disclosure Requirements and the Corporations Act 2001 and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view and is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. Auditor’s Responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial report based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Those standards require that we comply with relevant ethical requirements relating to audit engagements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report is free from material misstatement. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial report. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the company’s preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial report. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion. BDO Audit Pty Ltd ABN 33 134 022 870 is a member of a national association of independent entities which are all members of BDO Australia Ltd ABN 77 050 110 275, an Australian company limited by guarantee. BDO Audit Pty Ltd and BDO Australia Ltd are members of BDO International Ltd, a UK company limited by guarantee, and form part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation, other than for the acts or omissions of financial services licensees. BDO Audit Pty Ltd ABN 33 134 022 870 is a member of a national association of independent entities which are all members of BDO Australia Ltd ABN 77 050 110 275, an Australian company limited by guarantee. BDO Audit Pty Ltd and BDO Australia Ltd are members of BDO International Ltd, a UK company limited by guarantee, and form part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. Liability scheme approved under Professional Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120limited 217)by| aANNUAL REPORT 87 Independence In conducting our audit, we have complied with the independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001. We confirm that the independence declaration required by the Corporations Act 2001, which has been given to the directors of Queensland Rugby Union Ltd, would be in the same terms if given to the directors as at the time of this auditor’s report. Opinion In our opinion the financial report of Queensland Rugby Union Ltd is in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including: (a) giving a true and fair view of the company’s financial position as at 31 October 2014 and of its performance for the period ended on that date; and (b) complying with Australian Accounting Standards – Reduced Disclosure Requirements and the Corporations Regulations 2001. BDO Audit Pty Ltd D P Wright Director Brisbane, 11 December 2014 BDO Audit Pty Ltd ABN 33 134 022 870 is a member of a national association of independent entities which are all members of BDO Australia Ltd ABN 77 050 110 275, an Australian company limited by guarantee. BDO Audit Pty Ltd and BDO Australia Ltd are members of BDO International Ltd, a UK company limited by guarantee, and form part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation, other than for the acts or omissions of financial services licensees. 88 BDO Audit Pty Ltd ABN 33 134 022 870 is a member of a national association of independent entities which are all members of BDO Australia Ltd ABN 77 050 110 275, an Australian company limited by guarantee. BDO Audit Pty Ltd and BDO Australia Ltd are members of BDO International Ltd, a UK company limited by guarantee, and form part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU HONOUR BOARD 2014 WALLABY SQUAD REPRESENTATIVES Quade Cooper, Saia Fainga’a, Will Genia, James Hanson, James Horwill, Jake Schatz, Rob Simmons, James Slipper. QUEENSLAND 2014 DEBUTANTS Lachie Turner, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi, Jonah Placid, Samuela Kerevi, David McDuling, Tim Buchanan, Scott Gale, Sam Johnson, Chris Kuridrani. AUSTRALIAN SEVENS (MEN’S) Con Foley, Pama Fou, Liam Gill, Tom Lucas, Nick Malouf, James Stannard. AUSTRALIA SEVENS (WOMEN’S) Charlotte Caslick, Emilee Cherry, Rachel Crothers, Gemma Etheridge, Nikki Etheridge, Shannon Parry, Evania Pelite, Amy Turner, Brooke Walker. AUSTRALIA YOUTH OLYMPICS (WOMEN’S) Marioulla Belessis, Shenae Ciesiolka, Dominique Du Toit, Amber Pilley, Laura Waldie. AUSTRALIA UNDER-20 Tom Banks, Scott Gale, Michael Gunn, Jake McIntyre, Alifeleti Kaitu’u, Jack Payne, Jonah Placid, Conrad Quick. QRU LIFE MEMBERS T.H. Welsby*, F.C. Lea*, W.T. Evans*, D.S. Carter*, J.P. Flynn*, E.J. Beard*, J.J. Walsh*, A.W. Venamore*, J.E. Ross*, E.T. Bonis*, W.J. Renwick*, K.C. Proctor*, J. Kane Maguire*, T. Watson*, R. Hayward*, T. McCormack*, J.P. French*, K. Percy*, P. Barnes*, R.A. Wood*, K.J. Hodda*, B.P. Abotomey*, J.F. Isley*, H.F. Edwards*, H. Courtney*, W.H. Bickley*, K.C. Hardy*, T.N. Betts, B.M. French*, E.A.N. Byrne, T.P. Mooney*, R.I. Templeton*, J.R. Gibson*, J.H. Lucey, J.G. Ryan, L.A. Crowley, D.W. Jowett*, C.A. Lacaze*, A.J. Muir, R.R. Harrison, J.J. Breen*, R.J. Park*, F.R. Wilson, A.G. Purcell*, R.J.O. Herring*, K.J. Crowe, A.R. Taylor, R.B. McGruther, G.J. Core, R.D. Sinclair*, R.J.P. Marks, T.P. Doyle*, D. Bedgood, R.A.C. Evans, L.G. Williams*, P.J. Daley, A.A. Shaw. *Deceased Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 89 VALES Sadly in 2014, we farewelled several members of the Queensland Rugby community: JOHN CORNES DR CONRAD PRIMMER John Cornes played for Queensland and the Wallabies between 1969 and 1972. Dr Conrad Primmer made his debut for Queensland against NSW in 1951. Cornes represented the Wallabies on four occasions (one Test cap and three Non-Test caps), on a tour to Fiji and the country of his birth, New Zealand, in 1972. Originally born in Brisbane, Conrad served in the Navy during the Second World War alongside his brother Jack, who was regrettably one of the 645 who lost their lives when the HMAS Sydney was sunk on the 11 October 1941. John was also a life member of the Goondiwindi Emus Rugby Union Club where he served the club as both a player and coach. KEVIN BOURKE Kevin Bourke, a former Queensland and Wallabies representative, will famously be remembered as Downlands’ first Wallaby. Kevin represented Queensland during the 1940s and earned selection in the Wallabies following strong performances in the centres against the 1947 touring All Blacks. His club Rugby days were spent at Brothers. Kevin was part of the Wallabies historic world tour of Britain, Ireland, France and North America, which ran from July 1947 through to March of 1948, and consisted of five Test matches and 36 minor tour matches. Making his debut for Queensland in 1951, Primmer was selected to play for Australia in June of the same year, representing his country in two Test matches. Later in life, after years of working abroad, Primmer moved to Rockhampton to practice as an obstetrician. With the revival of the Queensland Rugby Union in the 1960s, Primmer was instrumental in re-starting Rugby in Rockhampton. NEV COTTRELL Nev Cottrell played hooker for Queensland between 1947 - 1955. Playing his club career at YMCA and Souths, Cottrell’s first break in representative Rugby came when he was 20 years old, playing for Queensland against the All Blacks. GEOFF HINES Geoff Hines was a notable Rugby personality in the Queensland Rugby Community. In recent years, Geoff’s passion for Rugby saw him take the role of Chairman of the Brisbane Club Rugby Supporters Group. While studying at Oxford Geoff gained two blues for Rugby and also trialled to play for England. Later, Geoff played for Rhodesia in the Currie Cup. MICHAEL SUMMERS Michael Summers, served as chairman of the Gold Coast & Districts Rugby Union. He also served as chairman and later committee member for the Gold Coast chapter of Financial Planning Australia. Michael oversaw the advancement of Rugby on the Gold Coast from juniors through to the representative level. The Gold Coast First Grade Premiership trophy has been named in Michael’s honor to acknowledge his legacy. RICK TYRRELL Rick Tyrrell played a total of three Super Rugby matches for the Reds in 2001 against the Crusaders, Blues and Waratahs. Rick also played for the Queensland President’s XV side against the British & Irish Lions in Townsville in the same year. Playing the majority of his club Rugby at Easts, Rick was involved in the club’s first-ever Premier Grade win in 1997 and helped the side to another premiership two-years later in 1999. 90 At the conclusion of the War, Primmer was accepted into University of Queensland Faculty of Medicine, where his love of Rugby flourished. In 1949, Cottrell received his first Test cap when he was given the chance to play for Australia in a three-match series against a touring New Zealand Maori side. Later the same year, Cottrell went on his first Rugby tour to New Zealand. This Australian side has gone down in Rugby history as the first to wrestle back the Bledisloe Cup to Australian shores, with the Wallabies winning 11 of their 12 matches, including two Test matches. MAX HOWELL OA Max Howell was a notable Rugby historian who began his playing career at Randwick Rugby Club in Sydney. Max played five Tests and 27 non-Test caps for Australia between 1946 and 1948. After his playing days, he became a highly qualified and respected Physical Education teacher and Professor where his teaching and academic studies took him to the USA and Canada. He even found time to coach the Canadian Rugby side during their 1959 tour of Wales. In 1981 he was invited back to Australia as Foundation Professor in the Department of Human Movement Studies at the University of Queensland. He retired from the role in 1992 and was made an Emeritus Professor in 1993. Max wrote more than 50 books and had more than 300 other articles published throughout his life. In 2003, Howell was awarded an Order of Australia for service to Education as a pioneer in the development of sports studies and sport science, as academic disciplines both in Australia and overseas and to the study of sports history. WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU Queensland Rugby Union Ltd (ACN 055 120 217) | ANNUAL REPORT 91 FRONT ROW: Peter Wilkins (Reds Wider Training Squad Coach) | Steve Meehan (Attack Coach) | Beau Robinson | Rod Davies | Chris Feauai-Sautia | Greg Holmes | James Slipper | James Horwill (Captain) Will Genia (Vice-Captain) | Quade Cooper | Rob Simmons | Ben Tapuai | Richard Graham (Head Coach) | Nick Stiles (Forwards Coach) SECOND ROW: Chris Kuridrani | Samu Kerevi | Mike Harris | Curtis Browning | Eddie Quirk | David McDuling | Blake Enever | Ed O’Donoghue | Jake Schatz | Jono Owen | Lachie Turner | Dom Shipperley | Ben Lucas BACK ROW: JJ Taulagi | Nick Frisby | Ben Daley | Albert Anae | Saia Faingaa | Anthony Faingaa | Aidan Toua | James Hanson | Liam Gill 2014 ST.GEORGE QUEENSLAND REDS WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU Office Address: St.George Rugby House, 231 Butterfield St, Herston, QLD 4006 | Postal Address: PO Box 205, Kelvin Grove DC, QLD 4059 Telephone: (07) 3354 9333 | Fax: (07) 3856 6333 | Website: www.redsrugby.com.au 92 WWW.REDSRUGBY.COM.AU