GPS rugby: Conor Tweedy back as manager of Terrace First XV

Scrum collapse victim Conor Tweedy has continued his inspiring comeback in a new role with his beloved Terrace rugby teammates.

Conor Tweedy is back in the dressing room, surrounded by the staccato beat of rugby boots on a concrete floor as he nears the anniversary of his devastating neck injury.

From his wheelchair, the Year 12 student is joining his mates as team manager of the Gregory Terrace First XV for the new GPS schools rugby season.

The St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace cricket community raises funds for spinal injury victim Conor Tweedy

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Conor Tweedy celebrates 17th in hospital after GPS neck injury

It’s already one of the most heartwarming stories of the season, and the kick-off is still over a week away, July 20 for the nine schools.

It is an upbeat sign of all rugby still means to the impressive Tweedy, 17, and the wonderful support Terrace and his schoolmates have been beside him.

“It would be weird without rugby in my life because being around the boys and the game feels like home,” Tweedy said.

“No one forced me into this, I put my hand up to be team manager and the play reviews and stats jobs are pretty cool.”

Gregory Terrace First XV team manager Conor Tweedy surrounded by the squad. Picture: Tara Croser

You’d love a footy team to work as hard for little gains as Tweedy has done during and since his seven months in hospital for his spinal cord injury in a scrum collapse.

Sharp centre Glen Vaihu, prop Emerson Treasure and strapping rower-lock Charlie Condon are at the core of Terrace’s underdog side for 2019.

Tweedy can take some halting steps out of his wheelchair and surprises you with the firmness of his handshake but fine motor skills like doing up buttons and a keyboard are challenges.

Rugby Australia’s new Front-Row Passport program has been rolled out to better assess strength, skill and physical development for the roles in GPS rugby.

Conor Tweedy in hospital soon after the scrum accident

Former prop Tweedy has had his first crack at wheelchair rugby at the YMCA Bowen Hills which is “just what I like with some heavy contact and being pretty intense.”

“Conor is very well respected and popular, not just in the rugby group but the Year 12 cohort,” First XV coach Ryan Schultz said.

“It’s important for him being involved, he always adds value and but for his unfortunate accident he’d have been playing as part of this First XV squad.”

He’s like any 17-year-old when it comes to a dud mullet haircut during school holidays and Wallaby centre Samu Kerevi still flips him the occasional text of encouragement.

The Courier-Mail on Friday starts a school-by-school countdown to the GPS season lift-off with players to watch, dives into history, photos from the vault and all-star lists.