Queensland Reds spend day off inspiring juniors at Gold Coast Eagles rugby club

Queensland Reds young guns Fraser McReight and Harry Hoopert have spent their day off cooking snags, playing touch and watching the Reds play with the Gold Coast Eagles juniors

It’s been eight years but Queensland Reds flanker Fraser McReight still hangs the Reds team poster he had signed aged 13 on his bedroom wall.

McReight was in his first year of high school when Super Rugby champions Anthony and Saia Fainga’a visited his classroom for an autograph session but the impact of meeting his heroes at that impressionable age has never left the Australian under-20s captain.

That poster on his bedroom wall was the reason McReight didn’t hesitate when asked to make the trek to the Gold Coast to spend his day off with the juniors of the Gold Coast Eagles on their open day.

Queensland Reds Rugby Players Harry Hoopert (right) and Fraser McReight help out on the barbie as the Reds visited Gold Coast Eagles juniors at Southport. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

For three hours McReight and teammate Harry Hoopert played touch with the baby Eagles, cooked up snags on the club barbecue and crowded around a mobile phone to watch the Reds take on the Jaguares in Argentina via Kayo Sports.

For some, the excitement was too much.

“We had one little boy who was so excited and nervous that when we went to get a photo with them he was too shy,” Eagles president Jason Terens said.

“They’re his heroes from the Australia under-20s team that beat New Zealand here last year.”

“The enthusiasm was massive,” McReight said.

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“Harry and I trained here for the Junior Wallabies in 2018 so it was good to get back and meet the people who run the club and get involved in any way we can.

“It’s thoroughly enjoyable to get down here and see the look on the kids’ faces when you pull up.

Queensland Reds Rugby Player Harry Hoopert plays with Gold Coast Eagles junior Alfie Lawrie as the Reds visited at Gold Coast Eagles at Southport. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

“Even just having a normal conversation, they love it.

“Hopefully for the game of rugby we can keep coming back and show the kids that we’re just normal people and they can be where we’re at if they keep working and playing hard.”

McReight promised he’d keep an eye out for his new mates in the crowd when he and Hoopert make their returns from injury this weekend.

The young flanker was ruled out of the early season games with a broken hand while Hoopert had a bulging disc in his neck.

Both players will be in line to return to action against the Japanese Sunwolves at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

Queensland Reds Rugby Players Harry Hoopert and Fraser McReight visit Gold Coast Eagles juniors (L-R) Dan Teren, Alfie Lawrie, Caleb Ahern, Jonte Gault and Cooper Eagle at Southport. Photograph: Jason O'Brien