https://soundcloud.com/green-and-gold-rugby/rugby-report-card-57-heaaart
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Reds CEO Steps Down
We kick off today’s news with something of a downer, Richard Barker, Reds’ CEO has today stepped down from the position, effective immediately, so he can spend more time with his wife who is fighting breast cancer.
In a press release the QRU confirmed the role of CEO will pass from Barker to current COO David Hanham for the time being while the search continues for Barker’s replacement.
QRU Chairman Jeff Miller had nothing but kind words for the departing Barker, “On behalf of the QRU Board, I thank Richard for his significant contribution to the ongoing health of the code in Queensland. We wish Richard and his family the very best in the coming months and years.”
Echoing the sentiments expressed by Miller, Barker has made sure his departure is on the best terms it can, be heaping praise on the people and organisation he’s helped lead over the past two years. “I thank Damien Frawley, Jeff Miller and the QRU Board for giving me the opportunity to lead the organisation over the last two years. Those who know me well, know there’s a bit going on my life right now aside from Rugby. Rugby is incredibly important to people in this state. The organisation has worked hard to ensure that game continues to grow and is enjoyed by all Queenslanders. I acknowledge the wonderful work done by the hardworking staff of the QRU and by the enormous group of volunteers who provide opportunities for girls and boys to play Rugby in this state.”
Barker’s tenure could be remembered for a number of things, returning the Reds to profitability, re-signing St. George as naming rights sponsor but he will probably be most remembered for overseeing the appointment of rookie coach Brad Thorn.
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Folau and Pocock Put Differences Aside
With the very different, and very public stances on one particular social matter there had been some concern that pro marriage equality advocate David Pocock and code-hopper Israel Folau would not see eye-to-eye when they came together this week.
The pair are in camp with the Wallabies in the lead up to this weekend’s first test against Ireland and it’s fair to say that both players are integral to the Wallabies’ chances of success.
Folau has publicly spoken about what transpired at a meeting between the pair last month and given what he’s said, fans of the Green and Gold can breathe a little easier.
Speaking today Folau summed up his approach when he takes to the ground, “It won’t change anything when we step out on the field – I’ll be there to cover him and so will he – we’re 100 percent behind each other.”
At the time of the earlier meeting Cheika said of the looming dilemma, “Even if we don’t all agree, you can still all get on. If anything, it allows them to have more of a connection in the fact that they can discuss whatever they’re talking about and getting on with it … that’s what they’ve been able to do.”
A take on the situation backed by Folau today, “I’m more than happy to talk to my teammates or anyone within the team one on one or even in front of the group”.
David Pocock has so far remained schtum on the matter and Wallaby (and probably Irish) fans live in hope that he’s not waiting until Saturday night to pull off a Merlinesque protest.
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Bingham Cup Kicks Off
This year’s Bingham Cup kicks into full swing with the official opening ceremony on Thursday night.
Named in honour of September 11 Flight 93 hero Mark Bingham, the tournament’s previous nine iterations have seen the games played in cities as far apart as New York, Dublin and Sydney.
This year the tournament heads to mainland Europe for the first time with Amsterdam hosting 74 teams from around the world.
The top-three ranked teams in the men’s draw are all from Australia. Defending champions Melbourne Chargers are heading up tier 1 ahead of the Sydney Convicts and the Brisbane Hustlers who are ranked 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Like the Reds, the Brisbane Hustlers are backed by St. George bank. Ross Miller, General Manager spoke of the relationship between the two, “We currently support three codes of sport across Australia, and we are very proud to partner with another organisation that shares the same common goals of inclusiveness, community, family and a love of sport.”
Adding, “Partnering with The Hustlers is very much an extension of that – anyone should be able to participate in rugby and we believe this is a partnership that will help more Queenslanders do just that”.
Given the events that have happened in recent times the Bingham cup, rugby as a game and more specifically, inclusive rugby clubs should be highlighted for the positive impact they can play in people’s lives. Convicts player David Wang, speaking recently summed up what rugby has provided him, “For me personally it makes such a huge importance in terms of having that kind of platform, being able to provide that support for people who are going through that experience themselves or who might be in a traumatic experience”.
We wish all the Aussie teams the best of luck.
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Kickin’ back with some stats
In the words of Michael Hutchence, “sometimes you kick” (and sometimes you get kicked) but let’s just have a look at the “sometimes you kick” bit, specifically the kicking form of the Aussie Super Rugby teams this week.
With the spectre of Ireland and specifically their ‘half man/half missile guidance system’ Johnny Sexton looming this Saturday it’s high time we looked at how the various Aussie kickers went over the weekend.
In short, abysmally.
While breaking their New Zealand hoodoo against the Blues the Rebels managed to only kick 1 out of their 3 conversions but given their 1/1 (and therefore 100%!!!) penalty kick count the Rebels’ kicker Reece Hodge just scraped a pass mark.
In contrast, the Brumbies failed their goal-kicking assignment, only landing 3 out of 7 attempts, although, it was a group effort between Christian Leali’ifano and Wharenui Hawera which could be argued is either better or worse.
Up in Brisbane it was a case of a little from column A and a little from column B with Hamish Stewart spraying them all over the place bumbling his way to 2 out of 6, while Bernard Foley managed 6 from 8 in stark contrast to Bledisloe game 2 last year where he thrice hit the woodwork but couldn’t buy a goal.
(Things might have been different in Brisbane without the late withdrawal of Jono Lance but this isn’t the place to speculate on “what ifs”).
What is concerning for Aussie rugby fans is that Ireland are about to run out (well, in 4 days’ time) onto to the field and release their 88.4%-success-rate-kicking-and-hyphen-generating-machine Sexton. Will the Wallabies’ seeming obsession with running rugby be their undoing even if they score more tries? I certainly hope not, but if it comes down to a kicking duel you might see next Tuesday’s news written by Andrew O’Handyside.
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