Junior Reds to be Coldwell Banker InspiRED
Real estate group Coldwell Banker Inspire (CBI) has thrown its weight behind the Reds’ efforts to find and keep the best junior rugby talent in Queensland, by backing a Junior Reds talent identification program for the Under 13-15 age group.
CBI general manager Jason Amos said the Queensland company wanted talented players to “be inspiRED” by the prospect of one day winning a Reds jersey and representing their state, rather than lose interest or drift away to try their luck elsewhere.
“When we first approached the Reds we wanted to make sure we were creating pathways for kids to stay in Queensland because they know there is an opportunity for them to impress,” Amos said.
“We wanted to send a message to these kids and their families that this is an exciting new regime, the team is vibrant and happy and the Reds now is the place to be.”
Amos said his office was in Brisbane’s “rugby heartland” of Hamilton and he had detected widespread confidence that the team was now heading in the right direction.
“We’re very impressed with the new Queensland Rugby and Reds management.
“Talking to the Reds players you just hear that real positive approach from them saying the team’s now heading in the right direction and they’re really excited about it. I think that augurs well for Queensland Rugby.”
QR Reds Head Coach Ewen McKenzie said the rugby recruitment program in Queensland was a “go to whoa business”.
“As one of the two major sources of rugby talent in Australia we have to cover the whole spectrum. Having a sponsor who is prepared to support us at the front end is extremely important to the success of our total program,” McKenzie said.
Junior Reds Coach Jason Gilmore said the Coldwell Banker Inspire Talent Identification program will initially focus mainly on the GPS and AIC schools competitions, in conjunction with existing Junior Reds talent ID programs in clubs and regional areas.
“We have made great strides throughout the country regions in the past three years to identity and develop talented footballers. The Coldwell Banker Inspire program will help us target the U13-15 age groups in our two major school competitions and to look outside the traditional rugby programs as well,” Gilmore said.
Amos said the selection of teenage flanker Jake Schatz for a run-on debut against the Crusaders was typical of the fresh young talent the new program is designed to identify and groom.
“We would like nothing more than for a player from one of these schools involved in the program to one day become a Red and we see that happen. That’s the real fulfilling thing for us,” he said.
