Written by Reds Media Unit on Sep 12, 2024 11:03 PM, courtesy of qld.rugby. Source article.
Following a hugely successful first three years in partnership, the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) and Buildcorp are pleased to announce a two-year extension.
The partnership focuses primarily on elite pathways progression, with the Buildcorp Reds Academy the number one producer of talent graduating into the Queensland Reds Super Rugby Pacific program.
The Academy features three different tiers, and currently exposes over 70 young men aged from 16-20 to high-performance athletic and off-field development, elite coaching and a world-class training facility in the BMS Centre, constructed by Buildcorp and opened in July 2023.
In 2024 alone, Buildcorp Reds Academy graduates John Bryant, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Tim Ryan made their Super Rugby debuts. All three had an immediate impact which demonstrated that they belong at this level, in no small part due to the grounding and preparation provided by their time in the Academy.
Fellow graduates Max Craig and Frankie Goldsborough are also in the Reds’ senior squad, while boom Academy centre Dre Pakeho made his Queensland debut against Wales at Suncorp Stadium. Pakeho will be among multiple Buildcorp Reds Academy graduates into the Reds squad in 2025.
Buildcorp’s commitment to the elite pathways has also seen them assume the role of naming rights partner of the Buildcorp Emerging Reds Cup since 2022, with the latest edition due to be staged on September 16, 18 and 19 on the main field at Ballymore Stadium.
Queensland Reds Head Coach Les Kiss praised Buildcorp for their investment into the next generation of Reds players.
“Buildcorp are a wonderful partner of ours and have directly played a role in the development of young men like John, Harry and Tim – extremely promising young players, and wonderful young men off the field,” Kiss said.
“We’re delighted that they were so eager to continue investing in our programs, which is also an endorsement of the excellent work being done by Dale Roberson, Paul Carozza and all the staff involved in the program.”
Buildcorp have been sponsoring Rugby clubs and programs for over 30 years, predominantly at a grassroots level and also as the naming rights partner of the Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s competition and as trailblazers within the Wallaroos program.
Their QRU partnership signified their first investment into pathways programs, and first ever partnership with a State Union.
Chief Executive David Hanham said that the QRU, and Rugby more broadly, were indebted to partners such as Buildcorp.
“As you look around the Rugby eco-system, it becomes abundantly clear that Buildcorp – and the people behind Buildcorp, particularly the Sukkar family – care deeply about the game and the people within it. Buildcorp are a special partner, and a business that we’re so grateful to be working with.
“It’s been a pleasure to see our partnership come to life over recent years, which is evident in the relationships Buildcorp have fostered within our commercial partner network – a key driver of our partnership strategy. Buildcorp work with a number of other QRU partners and we’re enormously proud to be associated with them.”
Tony Sukkar AM, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Buildcorp, said extending their partnership with the QRU was an easy decision.
“We can see the positive growth of the QRU and the important role the Buildcorp Reds Academy is playing in Les’ future-building of the Reds squad,” Sukkar said.
“We are so proud to be playing a role in the pursuit of long-term success, on and off the field, that is driving the QRU.”
Buildcorp General Manager, Queensland, Mike Currie said that the partnership continued to deliver great outcomes.
“It has been so pleasing to build on the relationships we already had in Rugby in Queensland, particularly through our long-standing partnership with UQ Rugby Club, and drive business performance as a result of our association with the QRU,” Currie said.
“We have expanded our network and really enjoyed securing work with quality like-minded businesses, who are also QRU partners and therefore possess shared values and passions as we do. We are excited at what can be achieved together in coming years.”
