Mackay Rugby Union: Brothers recruit players from England and France in hope of building overseas relationships

Following a winless 2023, the Brothers recruitment team has looked overseas ahead of this season, but improvement isn’t the reason why. Details.

The Mackay Brothers rugby union side pictured following a testing 2023 season. Picture: Mackay Brothers Rugby Union Facebook.

It was a season as tough as they come.

No wins, 12 losses, and a points difference of -532.

When word spread Mackay Brothers were looking beyond the shores of Australia - to England and France specifically - to bring fresh faces to the club this season, you’d be forgiven for thinking these new recruits were being parachuted in as a saving grace.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

“It doesn’t matter whether they’re the best players in the world or not, it’s just helping those guys to have a good experience here,” said Brothers captain Kyle Danns.

While winning Mackay Rugby Union titles would be a nice bonus, Brothers’ recruiting drive is more concerned with players gaining life experience than tasting on-field success.

“I’ve played rugby around a few different countries and it’s great for our club to give opportunities to players,” Danns said.

“It would be great if those players were amazing but it just also builds on the community of rugby union and the idea that if you play rugby and you walk into a club you’ve always got a group of friends.

“I appreciate how hard it can be for backpackers to try and find a social group, it’s good to do that for them.”

Kyle Danns in action for Queensland Country. Picture: Supplied.

He hopes the recruits have a good experience with Brothers, and it leads to more players travelling to pull on the navy and white in years to come.

“Maybe these guys aren’t the next superstars but the ones we get in a few years time could well be,” he said.

“If they’re not, it doesn’t matter.”

Danns also dreams of Brothers forming relationships with clubs abroad so they’re able to send players to respective teams in Canada, England, France, and the Netherlands.

“The idea is that we grow those connections with players and clubs so that in the medium term we can offer that to some of our younger players,” he said.

“Rugby’s not just played in two or three countries, there are opportunities to play all over the place.”

Danns, who was the MRU representative player of the year and best forward in 2023, migrated to Mackay himself from England’s Northamptonshire in 2016.

He’d previously backpacked in Mackay in 2013, and it’s where his passion for helping travellers stems from.

He works as a teacher at Holy Spirit College, and has fallen in love with the town.

“Not that where I grew up was awful, but I just love the fact I can go home on a Friday afternoon, sun’s shining, kids can go in the pool, mango tree in the backyard,” he reflected.

Mackay Brothers captain Kyle Danns (right) has loved his time in Mackay, and hopes through rugby he can make the experience just as enjoyable for other travellers. Picture: Supplied.

“It’s just surreal. I couldn’t live anywhere better.”

As for Brothers on-field woes, Danns is confident of an upturn in performance this season.

“It was difficult,” he said of last year’s struggles.

“We knew that we were thin on the ground squad-wise at the start, then we lost a few players to injury and a few players to other clubs and to (rugby) league.

“The silver-lining for it was the players that stuck around, you can’t fault their commitment.

“Now that we’ve got a better playing stock it’ll be good to repay those players and hopefully give them a successful season after the grit they’ve shown in the last few years.”

Brothers are aiming to bring four players from England and France this season, and are still looking for accommodation. If you have a spare room and would be willing to help, reach out to Mackay Brothers Rugby Union on Facebook.