Formerly known as Regional Colleges,  the identity has transformed into the Junior Reds programme.  This year,  will see more involvement from (hopefully) higher level coaches out of Brisbane and a much more organized gym programme,  out at the Uni.

Personally I think we have had strong results here on the Downs,  and have offered an alternate pathway through the maze,  traditionally dominated by the Private Schools.  Nothing against the Schools,  but they can't,  don't and never will hold any mortgages on the athletic abilities out there,  that are now being identified in a number of ways.

Two of the Downs programme's successes from a representative viewpoint over the last couple of years are:

1. Mark Appleton,  St Mary's College Dalby,  represented Qld Open School boys in 2007 at the Nationals in Canberra,  also played in the tournament winning Darling Downs Schools side in 2007.

2. Michael Bermingham,  St Mary's College in Toowoomba,  Qld Under 15 2007,  Qld Under 16 Red in 2008,  National Talent Squad in 2008.

3. James Gough,  who played his rugby at Downlands in 2008,  was a member of the college programme in 2007,  and represented Qld White in 2008.

Joining us in this next phase are some more good athletes,  including Mitchell Carpenter from Pittsworth State High School,  and Qld Under 16 White in 2008,  Joe Frey from Goondiwindi State High School,  identified at the Under 15 Schools championships.  There should be some tremendous physicality in contact sessions when we unleash a few of these tough guys on each other.

I understand there are others to be added for the two camps we will hold in December and February,  especially designed to get better access to the guys from the country.

The list then for the moment is: