Sport
1 July, 2022
Climbing the rugby ranks
SELECTION for Queensland Country is in Matt Connor’s sights, as the Caboolture Snakes rugby union player prepares to represent South Queensland in the Queensland Country Championships from Friday to Sunday.
Connor and his team-mates will oppose Queensland Suburban Rugby Union (QSRU) on day one, and then Central Queensland on day two and North Queensland on day three at Toowoomba Sports Ground.
A team will later be chosen to represent Queensland Country in the Australian Rugby Championships, to be played in Adelaide from September 30 to October 3.
Usually a blindside-flanker for the Snakes, Connor played in the second-row for the Sunshine Coast Stingrays in both of their wins in the recent South Queensland Rugby Championships at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
The Stingrays thrashed the Gold Coast Cyclones 54-12 on the Friday night, and then Darling Downs beat the Cyclones 36-19 the following day to ensure Sunday’s showdown decided the first placegetters.
In a high scoring battle, the Stingrays beat Darling Downs 45-31.
Connor didn’t score a try in either game, although he was held up over the line against Darling Downs.
“It was a tough gig,” Connor said.
“The Darling Downs boys were really tough.
“They run hard and tackle even harder.”
Connor said it was intriguing to be the only Snakes player in the Stingrays senior men’s team. He described it as “pretty intimidating” at first, considering he arrived by himself while others carpooled at the team’s location.
Connor said the camaraderie among the Stingrays was strong as they became “quite close” during training, as players who were “normally enemies” became team-mates.
Compared to club football, Connor said playing for the Stingrays was “the next step up” and a lot more competitive.
“The contact’s a bit more, and it’s a bit faster paced, and a bit more strategic,” he said.
Connor said playing two games in three days “left my bones a bit rattled”.
Connor had also enjoyed wins with the Stingrays against Darling Downs and the Gold Coast in the 2018 South Queensland Rugby Championships, when he played in the Colts division.
A few of his team-mates from back then were also his team-mates this year.
Connor played for the Snakes in 2018 before having stints with Brothers Brisbane and Norths Brisbane, and then returning to Caboolture.
