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Capturing back some of that lost market during the 2004-2008 periodQRU Media Release: Queensland Rugby records largest growth in history
Queensland Rugby has achieved its largest growth in recorded history with 2011 highlights showing a 33 per cent increase in participation figures year on year.
Over 136,791 participants enjoyed Rugby in the year the St.George Queensland Reds won the Super Rugby title – significantly up from 102,673 in 2010.
Other notable game development highlights include reaching 15,000 junior participants for the first time in history (15,726), the number of junior teams in Queensland climbing above the 1,000-mark to 1,033 and a record number of schools (458) becoming involved in Rugby activities.
Queensland Rugby’s market share has grown to 32 per cent of the code’s reach in Australia – the top percentage to date - after generating the highest participation levels from the state unions for annual sampling programs Super Rugby Week and Walla Rugby Week.
Queensland Rugby’s pilot Try Sevens juniors program was also a huge success with 12,322 students from 112 schools across the state taking part during November’s Festival of Rugby celebrations.
Records reached off the field were matched on it in 2011, with Queensland teams recording a clean sweep of the National Championships.
The Queensland Schoolboys of 2011 continued the champion side’s dominance to record its sixth consecutive title, defeating NSW I 37-20 in the Australian Schools Rugby Union Championships at Ballymore.
The Queensland Under 16s also claimed their age-group title with Queensland Red 48 defeating NSW Schools 14.
At the National Women’s Championships, Queensland beat the ACT Brumbies 5-0 and Keebra Park State High School claimed the National Schoolboys Sevens Championships for a second year in a row, defeating fellow Queenslanders Brisbane State High School 28-12 during the final day of the inaugural Gold Coast Sevens tournament at Skilled Park.
Queensland Rugby CEO Jim Carmichael said the year on year rise in participation is outstanding.
“It is an exceptional result to achieve Queensland Rugby’s highest-ever growth in participation and I am thrilled for what these figures mean for 2012,” Mr Carmichael said.
“These results are testament to hard work, and they reinforce the structures and strategies we have in place in the “One Rugby Community”.”
Queensland Rugby General Manager - Community Rugby David Hanham also said the increase in participation was a significant result.
“Our participation figures show Rugby is capturing the hearts and minds of the youth in Queensland,” Mr Hanham said.
“These results are critical as we look to build for the future generation and achieve growth across all areas of the business to, in effect, future proof our game.
“The support from all of Queensland Rugby’s stakeholders in coming together and working with a common ambition has greatly assisted us in achieving such significant results.”
Queensland Rugby also generated a 200 per cent rise in benefits allocated to the community clubs through its “One Rugby Economy” capacity development business unit.
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