Little footy stars hit big

GYMPIE Junior Rugby League development officer and Gympie Devils coach Darren Burns was overwhelmed with the response to his league fun day on Wednesday.

GYMPIE Junior Rugby League development officer and Gympie Devils coach Darren Burns was overwhelmed with the response to his league fun day on Wednesday.

Burns was playing a round of golf at Gympie Pines golf course when The Gympie Times caught up with him.

After chipping a ball only a couple of metres from the hole, he said the coaching clinic was a great success.

“We had more than 40 kids come along,” Burns said.

“Considering it was the holidays and pretty wet we were really happy with the roll up,” he said.

Burns said a number of the Broncos' under 20 squad, including Gympie boy Josh Williams, Tyson Andrew and Joel Koina, came along to help teach the primary school aged children the basics of the game.

“The day was all about teaching kids a bit about the sport in a fun environment,” Burns said.

“Hopefully we can get some new kids involved the game.”

Burns is looking forward to the Gympie Devils' first game this weekend in Bribie Island against Bribie.

The new look internationally flavoured team is looking like a competitive outfit and Burns said they had been training well.

The coach has released the names of players in the first grade team.

One man making his debut is new Fijian flyer Tobs Viravu.

Viravu was in the Fijian World Cup squad and Burns is excited by his prospects.

Full story in tomorrow's The Gympie Times.

Originally published as Little footy stars hit big