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Subscriber only AFTER such a promising Barber Cup campaign last season, Ipswich Rangers coach Paul Faapo was hoping to retain a similar group of players. However, like many teams returning after the COVID disruptions, Ipswich s top rugby side has undergone some major off-season changes. We ve had an 80 per cent reshuffle of our backline and probably an 60-70 per cent reshuffle in the forward pack, Faapo said. We ve got new faces this year which is making it a little bit challenging but we ll get there. That was probably one of the biggest things that we were going to have to cross because we knew that a lot of the players from last year were rugby league players (with that sport coming to a halt).
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The Queensland Reds of today are getting hands-on with our stars of the future as part of the Super Rugby club’s Reds to Regions program.
Reds stars Richie Asiata and Josh Flook are in the Mackay Whitsunday region for the next few days for various meet and greets with local rugby fans, beginning this evening at the Bowen Mudcrabs Rugby Union Club.
Asiata said getting to regional areas and interacting with the stars of tomorrow was one of the best parts of being a professional athlete.
“I really enjoy this part of the game. For me personally, I think it’s important to give back to the kids – they’re the future,” the 24-year-old prop said.
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Subscriber only IPSWICH Rangers officials, coaches, players and supporters have an extra reason to enjoy their Christmas break as the champion Queensland Suburban Rugby Union (QSRU) senior club this year. Rangers were awarded the QRSU Sydney Cup for having a premiership-winning team, a runners-up women s combination and a fourth-place finish. It was the first time since the early 1990s Rangers had secured that champion club honour. That s a big achievement for us, club president Rohan McPhail said. Despite the COVID challenges, Rangers also had a boost in player numbers and celebrated three junior teams winning their grand finals.