Campbell Magnay
The Queensland Reds have signed 17-year-old centre Campbell Magnay, the youngest player in the inaugural season of the National Rugby Championship.
Magnay joins the Reds on a three-year deal, after impressing in his appearances for Bond University Queensland Country throughout the NRC.
He is the ninth Queensland NRC player to be offered some level of contract with the Reds program.
The former St. Joseph’s Nudgee College student represented both the Queensland and Australian Schoolboys sides last year and was playing Premier Colts for Brisbane club side GPS when offered an opportunity with Queensland Country.
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At 195cm tall, with a 98kg frame, Magnay is an imposing centre with a fierce defensive prowess, strong running game and the ability to offload in contact.
Reds head coach Richard Graham said he was pleased to see Magnay progress through Queensland’s development pathway.
“Part of my responsibility is to ensure the best young talent remains in our programs. Campbell’s recruitment is a strong sign of support for Queensland’s elite pathway program, which we have re-established over the past 12 months,” Graham said.
“At only 17, this is a strong recognition of his talent. We were aware of the skills he has to offer and we made the right decision to bring him through the NRC with Queensland Country, despite his age.
“The three-year contract recognises the need for him to further develop his skills in the Reds program and with the quality of players around him he’ll develop really well in that time. He is an outstanding young talent and we believe he has a lot to offer the Reds.”
Magnay said he was excited to be joining the Reds in 2015.
“To sign with the Reds is a dream come true,” Magnay said.
“The NRC was a great opportunity for me to further develop as a player. I learned a lot training and playing alongside Super Rugby and Wallabies players from the Reds program.”
Magnay’s signing is a sure sign to aspiring players that an elite development pathway exists in Queensland.
Magnay joins an impressive list of Queensland players who signed to the Reds as teenagers, including Elton Flatley, Ben Tune, Quade Cooper and Chris Feauai-Sautia.
Queensland has now rewarded nine NRC players with contracts, following last week’s announcement of the Reds Elite Development Squad.
The Reds elite development squad features victorious Brisbane City players Sef Faagase, Pettowa Paraka, Adam Korczyk, Brad Wilkin, Michael Gunn and Jake McIntyre, along with Queensland Country’s James Tuttle and Sam Johnson.
The Reds elite development squad is an initiative by Queensland designed to ensure the Reds retain the best talent the state has to offer. Those in the squad, which will train mostly with the Reds Under-20 team and wider training squad, are expected to be the next crop of Reds stars.
The Reds begin pre-season training for the 2015 Super Rugby season on 24 November.