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QR Reds fans will have a weekly opportunity to watch their new look team prepare for the coming season, with the return of regular open training sessions at Ballymore, starting next Tuesday, November 4.
The weekly open sessions were introduced last year to give fans a chance to see how elite level players train and to seek out their favourite players for a photo or an autograph at the end of the session.
QR Reds Head Coach Phil Mooney said it was important for the team to be as accessible to their young fans as his Queensland heroes were when he was growing up.
"Unfortunately it's not possible for kids to run onto Suncorp Stadium like we used to do at Ballymore, but the players are happy to sign autographs at the fence after the game and to meet fans at the end of open training sessions like these," Mooney said.
"The players appreciate the loyalty of their fans and will be working hard in the pre-season to deliver results for them in 2009."
More than a third of the Reds squad of 32 are new to the team in 2009, so the open sessions will also give fans a chance to put faces to names before the season kicks off in 2009.
The 2008 open sessions will be held at Ballymore every Tuesday from November 4 to December 23 from approximately 5:30pm to 7:30pm and in 2009 on January 6 and 13.
The Reds also plan to hold a small number of open sessions away from Ballymore, with dates and venues yet to be confirmed.
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
That's more than 10 public training sessions! Great initiative.
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
RugbyWA take note.
That's a great idea QRU .
I agree Gerry, RugbyWA these Queenslanders are on to something here!
A kick in this game is like a rather nasty alcoholic shooter, only as good as it's chaser...
Courtesy of quality South African commentry
have that here![]()
BOKKE“Let me put it this way, A Springbok team contains Afrikaners, Englishmen, coloureds and blacks. It has parochial foes in Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Cheetahs and Lions. It is a recipe for war! Yet in all the years of John Smit’s captaincy, there has never been one unhappy customer, not one voice of rebellion against his leadership. He is the glue that holds the Springboks together. The man is a legend!”- Jake White
this open session stuff only started at the start of 2008, it was a Phil Mooney policy, to try and reconnect to the community and local clubs.
It is a great idea - props to Mooney and the QRU
i think all the clubs should do it, the kids love it, they got a pretty impressive turnout when they went and did a training session up on the Sunshine Coast as well.
I can only imagine that it would help with the players morale as well