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As Australia basks in the glow of hosting the most successful rugby
world cup eber staged, qut can also be proud of its contribution to
a memorable sporting event.
Last year’s thrilling Rugby World Cup produced plenty of magic
moments, from England’s famous victory in the dying seconds of
the final against Australia to the face painted supporters who embraced
minnow nations such as Georgia and Namibia.
But for QUT, the highlight of the tournament was without doubt the
success of the International Conference on the Science and Practice
of Rugby.
The three-day conference marked a seminal moment in the brief history
of QUT’s Centre for Rugby Studies, which organised and hosted
the IRB endorsed Conference, in partnership with Queensland Rugby.
Attended by more than 250 delegates from 15 countries the conference
was the culmination of many months of exhaustive planning since the
concept of staging such an event during the World Cup was first floated
in 2001.
Centre for Rugby Studies director David Keating hailed the conference
a resounding success and the hard work that went into organising the
event well worth the effort
“It was a fantastic meeting of rugby minds from very diverse
backgrounds and expertise and was a conference with a great feel to
it,” Mr Keating said.
“We have received very positive feedback from many of the delegates
who attended the event,” he said.
Speakers at the conference, staged at the Brisbane Sheraton from November
5-7, included Australia’s 1999 World Cup winning coach Rod Macqueen,
celebrated former Wallabies John Eales and Tim Horan, and Australian
Rugby Union CEO John O’Neill.
The conference, backed by the International Rugby Board (IRB), attracted
a great deal of mainstream media attention from throughout the rugby
world and even made an appearance on British and Swedish television
and in Germany’s print media.
The conference, which focused on sports science, sports medicine, coaching
and contemporary issues also significantly raised the profile of QUT’s
Centre for Rugby Studies.
“It certainly has given us a better profile in the rugby world
and what the centre has to offer,” Mr Keating said.
“It has led to a number of enquiries about our courses with many
of those who attended the conference either keen to do research here
at QUT or in collaboration with QUT.
“We were one of the only universities to play a significant role
in the World Cup and senior Australian Rugby Union and International
Rugby Board officials acknowledged the value of the conference,”
he said.
Not one to rest on its laurels, the Centre for Rugby Studies has another
conference in the pipeline to coincide with a major international rugby
match in Brisbane.
The centre is also planning several major programs in 2004, including
training camps, coaching courses and a rugby carnival.
David Keating
QUT Centre for Rugby Studies Victoria Park Road Kelvin Grove Qld 4059 Email: da.keating@qut.edu.au ![]() http://www.icsspe.org/portal/bulletin-january2004.htm |