Matt Faessler still remembers visits to Suncorp Stadium from his USQ Saints Rugby Club in Toowoomba when he was first taking strides on his rugby journey.
The Queensland Reds hooker knows how important those grassroots days were in shaping his love of the game and the zeal he now pours into every match.
It’s wonderful timing that Faessler and prop Zane Nonggorr are both notching 50 games for Queensland against the ACT Brumbies on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.
The Queensland Rugby Union is celebrating this round as Regional Round in a nod to the rugby talent produced across the state as well as making it a vocal point for young rugby fans to join in from outside Brisbane.
Nonggorr is a Gold Coast product while Tate McDermott’s journey to 100 caps in this same game at Suncorp Stadium started on the Sunshine Coast.
“Personally, I loved my time going to school and growing up in Toowoomba. I think community sport and rugby, in particular, thrives there,” Faessler said.
“I’m very fortunate to have had my parents involved in coaching and volunteering at clubs. I still have mates from those days playing in Goondiwindi and Toowoomba.
“I think it is awesome that the QRU is tipping the hat to regional communities that play rugby and the grassroots.
“I have heaps of really fond memories of loading busses and coming down with the club to watch Reds games at Suncorp.”
For Nonggorr, the sentiments are similar. He first came on the rugby radar as a powerful front-row figure at The Southport School, a nursery for future Reds and Wallabies.
“Every cap I cherish so to get 50 is pretty surreal for me and my family,” Nonggorr said.
"I'm pretty surprised that 50 has come up so quickly.
“The Gold Coast is still home to me. There’s a lot of talent down there coming out of TSS and the Gold Coast District Rugby Union."
