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Aussie sevens youngsters sign with Reds

Tuesday 20 April 2010 (UR7s)

The Queensland Reds today announced that four Australian Sevens stars from the QAS Reds Academy have been signed for the Reds senior squad in 2011.

Liam Gill, Ed Quirk, Dominic Shipperley and Kimami Sitauti have been developed through the talent development pathway to the point where they are now ready to step up to the Reds.

Head Coach Ewen McKenzie said all four teenagers had been identified as players the Reds wanted to keep long before they came to prominence on the international stage with eye-catching performances on the IRB World Sevens circuit.

"(Academy Head Coach) Paul Carozza and his team – supported by the Premier clubs – are doing a great job in identifying, nurturing and developing guys through the Academy to the point where they can take the next step with confidence," McKenzie said.

"Queensland is producing some terrific rugby talent and we're working hard at retaining the best to ensure that the medium and long term future of the Reds is secure.

“When you’re in a state that develops rugby talent, you have to make early decisions and be decisive. The guys we are announcing today have all done great things in their rugby careers already and we see very bright futures.”

The four players have all impressed in recent months on the IRB Sevens World Series, with Australia making strides and now sitting in fourth place on the overall log.

All four players enjoyed decorated school-boy careers with Sevens aiding their development further. 

Liam Gill, the youngest of the four at just 17-years-old said it was an easy decision to sign having grown up in Queensland.

“It makes it even more rewarding knowing that they’re happy to have us here as much as we want to stay,” Gill said.

Ed Quirk said he couldn’t wait to receive an opportunity next season with the Reds enjoy plenty of success on the field.

“There’s a lot of hype with the Reds doing so well this year and that fuels the younger guys to come through and be part of that.”

“It makes us work harder. You really want to work hard to earn a spot.”
 

Tagged in this article: Australia Sevens, Australia Sevens

COMMENTS

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AtTheSevens.com Wed 21 Apr 2010 01:23

Another re-build for Michael O'Connor and the Australian Sevens programme so soon after losing the likes of Scott Higginbotham and Richard Kingi. Higginbotham has been a revelation for the Reds. But the other side of the coin is the long-term injury sustained by Richard Kingi so early in the Super 14 campaign. Australia do a good job of bringing in young talent (James O'Connor, Drew Mitchell, Will Genia) so no doubt these guys will do well. I wonder whether there is any urgency getting these players through to professional 15-a-side programmes quickly rather than risking they remain in sevens and be branded 'sevens specialists' like some of their English, Samoan, Fijian and Kiwi counterparts

Another re-build for Michael O'Connor and the Australian Sevens programme so soon after losing the likes of Scott Higginbotham and Richard Kingi.
Higginbotham has been a revelation for the Reds. But the other side of the coin is the long-term injury sustained by Richard Kingi so early in the Super 14 campaign. Australia do a good job of bringing in young talent (James O'Connor, Drew Mitchell, Will Genia) so no doubt these guys will do well.
I wonder whether there is any urgency getting these players through to professional 15-a-side programmes quickly rather than risking they remain in sevens and be branded 'sevens specialists' like some of their English, Samoan, Fijian and Kiwi counterparts
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