The Queensland Rugby Union has continued to add significant rugby experience to its hierarchy, after former Wallabies forward Garrick Morgan was elected a vice-president at the organisation's annual general meeting at Ballymore on Saturday.
Former Wallabies David Codey and Andrew Slack were re-elected as president and vice-president respectively.
A Queensland Country NRC assistant coach, Queensland Country Heelers head coach and Downlands College director of rugby since he finished a decorated playing career, Morgan is ideally qualified to advise the QRU on programs relating to regional and schools strategies.
QRU Chairman Jeff Miller said: “Garrick’s election will ensure that this organisation has another highly experienced rugby person with significant knowledge at a Queensland Country representative level - which acknowledges the strength of our game throughout the regional areas of Queensland - to ensure our strategies benefit all our stakeholders at the elite and the grass roots levels".
“Within our high-performance programs, we have surrounded Brad Thorn with world-class assistant coaches and support staff," Miller said.
"The focus is often understandably on the Reds as our flagship team, however, as an organisation supporting all of rugby in Queensland, we’re proud of our community and pathway programs and the results achieved this year, especially in regional Queensland - which give us plenty of confidence in our future."
The Reds also announced a $1.09 million loss, mainly due to collapsed property group Majella failing to honour a seven-figure sponsorship.
“The financial result announced today is disappointing, especially given the inability of a major sponsor to honour our agreement - but beyond that factor our 2018 results highlight the requirement for the QRU to continue to work with stakeholders on an urgent solution for the Ballymore precinct, which is a $1.4m impost on the QRU each year," Miller said.
The meeting noted several highlights including:
• 7.5% rise in Club Rugby participation.
• 15% rise in girls playing Rugby Sevens - 9,000 school-age students experiencing the format in 2018.
• Queensland Women’s XV runner-up in the highly successful inaugural Super W competition.
• The inaugural Moreton Bay Super 6 Cup targeting non-traditional Rugby schools kicked off in 2018.
• 88% of the St.George Queensland Reds 2019 squad drawn from the Queensland pathway.
• Bond University Queensland Country finished runner up in the National Rugby Championship.
• Queensland dominated the inaugural U19 Rugby Championship with Brisbane City defeating Queensland Country in the final.
• 16 Queenslanders were selected for the Junior Wallabies side throughout 2018 with Fraser McReight named the Australian U20 player of the year.
• The Queensland Men’s Sevens team won the National Men’s Sevens Championship.
• Queensland Under16 won the Junior Rugby Championship.
• Queensland Under15 won the Junior Gold Cup.
• A focus on sevens pathway saw Sunnybank claim the inaugural Queensland Premier Rugby Sevens Series.
• Griffith University claimed the Aon Uni 7s Series with the University of Queensland finishing in second plane.
• The QRU appointed experienced Pat Richards as the Director of Coaching to develop and educate Rugby coaches across the state.
