Rugby lures young talent
SPECIAL dispensation for teenagers to play in the FNQ Rugby competition is drawing talented athletes back to the game as the code is struggling nationally to lure new talent.
The injection of young blood has added excitement this season with Southside’s multi-sport star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow headlining the talented batch of new recruits showing their class and often outplaying grown men. Queensland Rugby development officer Russell Todd said allowing top-flight teenagers the chance to push themselves at a higher level is a positive move.
“I can think of 10-plus players that are 16 or 17-year-old players that have been signed off to play in the senior grade this season,” Todd said.
“It’s never really happened before and now people are seeing that the idea has merit. If that’s one way to capture the talent then I think it’s a good idea. I think it’s been done the right way and so far no one’s looked out of place or had any nasty injuries.”
Before a player can be signed off, parental consent must be provided and a leveltwo coach must assess the player’s technical competence and physical capacity to play with men.
“If there’s any shade of doubt, the player doesn’t get signed off on,” Todd said. “I like the stance FNQ Rugby has taken with younger players. We were losing them after under 17s to other codes.”
The code is also attracting fresh young talent including former Gold Coast Suns academy prospect Damien Burke. Burke, 19, is currently starring for Barron Trinity Bulls at fullback.