It is good to see that dispite what is going on with other codes around the country that schoolboy rugby union is very healthy. Fox 3 have just shown a replay of last months Schoolboys' final between Queensland 1 and Combined States (an amalgamation of schoolboy rugby talent outside of the main playing regions of NSW, Qld & ACT). The Combined States' side, who upset New South Wales 1 in the semi final, played some good rugby running in two tries were however defeated by a more formidable force in Qld 1 going down 43 to 17. A very clinical display by the Queensland team with Brisbane State H.S. 15 year old revelation, Curtis Browning, collecting a hat trick of tries in the drubbing that makes three consecutive national final wins for Qld. Two tries to Situvatu and one to fullback Simon Morahan, brother of Reds player Luke Morahan, completed the comprehensive win at Knox Grammer in Sydney.

If extraterrestrials from outerspace saw this match they would have presumed that the Queensland seniors team would be equally as strong. As we know that has not been the case of late. It all changed when rugby became professional in 1995. How many Super 10 finals did Queensland win? With Tim Horan, Jason Little, John Eales etc. we dominated the rugby landscape and have so for a number of years.

Support Brisbane rugby and get out to Ballymore in September for the Festival of Rugby. The culmination of this is Australian Schools taking on New Zealand schools on October 9 at Ballymore no.1. Hopefully they can maintain the record after Australian Schools defeated NZ Schools in New Zealand last year for the 1st time ever!

Support this Australian schoolboys' team dominated by Queensland talent before they go to other franchises.

CJ