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The Queensland Country Rugby Union (QCRU) provides a number of representative pathways for players in regional areas:

• The Hutchinson Builders Country Championships & Outback Championships
• Hutchinson Builders Queensland Country Heelers
• Central Queensland Barbarians
• Transition (U19) Program
• Qld U19 "City v Country clash"

The Hutchinson Builders Country Championships and Country Outback Championships

The 11 Sub unions of Queensland Country may participate in the Hutchinson Builders Country Championships or the Queensland Country Outback Championships.

These options provide each union with an appropriate level of competition, designed to increase the strength of rugby in the Country areas.

2008 Hutchinson Builders Country Championships

The 2008 Hutchinson Builders Country Championships kick off on Saturday 9th February with the last round being played on Saturday 29th March. The Under 19 component of the competition commences on Saturday 8th March, joining the open teams for the final three rounds.

Teams from Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Darling Downs will all compete for the title.

Hutchinson Builders Queensland Country Outback Championships

The 2008 Hutchinson Builders Queensland Country Outback Championships will be hosted by Central Highlands with the three day tournament being held in Emerald, commencing on Friday 28th March 2008.

Teams will travel to Emerald from Mount Isa, Western Queensland and Western Downs to participate.

Hutchinson Builders Queensland Country Heelers

The Hutchinson Builders Queensland Country Heelers consists of players selected from both competitions, who compete in the ARU's Australian Rugby Shield.

The Shield is an interstate competition which provides developing Unions with a higher level of competition, giving players, coaches and managers a pathway to full representative level.

The Hutchinson Builders Heelers first match will be played at home on Saturday 3rd May in Charters Towers.

Click here to view the 2008 Australian Rugby Shield Draw 

Central Queensland Barbarians

This program was introduced to allow players from central unions such as Mt Isa, Western Queensland, Central Highlands and Bundaberg to field a representative team against an east coast union.

Transition (U19) Program

This program is currently being revamped. Further details relating to the 2008 program will be released shortly.

Queensland City-Country Under 19's

Following a rebuilding program by the QCRU there has been a significant increase in the quantity and quality of Under 19 players in the country.

This match provides further opportunities for country players to gain selection in the QAS Under 19 Squad which plays in the Trans Tasman Series at the end of the season.