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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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Has your son or daughter always wanted to rub shoulders with Queenslands’ elite rugby union players?
Now’s their chance, with the Queensland Reds touring the Central Highlands as part of the 2021 Reds to Regions, a way for the team to connect with the wider Queensland community.
After establishing meaningful and lasting connections in 2020, players will return to the same region they visited last year and will again be billeted with local families.
The pair will host clinics and social outings with aspiring rugby union players across the region. Queensland Reds players Hunter Paisami and Jock Campbell helped with day-to-day duties at Emerald Downs during their three-day visit in 2020.
Gympie Hammers girls Layla Milligan, Stella Crumblin and Georgina Simpson with Gympie Hammers President Jason McPherson
Like last year, there will also be an allocated time for âwork experienceâ as the players partake in manual labour on their billet familyâs farm or property.
Reds head coach Brad Thorn said: âWeâre excited to bring back âReds to Regionsâ in 2021.
âIt was important for us to reconnect with the Queensland community. We got around the state. The communities loved it and so did the players.
âWe want to show it wasnât just a one-off last year. Itâs all about care and connection between us and the people of Queensland.
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QUEENSLAND rugby union royalty has locked in their long-awaited Warwick arrival date, with their visit to set the stage for the Water Rats’ 2021 season.
Thirty-five players from the Queensland Reds will visit Warwick on January 21 in one 28 stops on the Reds to Regions tour.
It marks the first time Warwick has been included in the tour, with the Rose City the only Southern Downs town to score a visit.
Nearby stops will include Goondiwindi and Toowoomba.
The Warwick Water Rats will host the Reds at their Risdon Oval home ground, where club secretary Tess Enchelmaier said local rugby fans young and old would get involved.