QRU Finalises Deals with Newstead Brewing Co. and Deadly Choices

Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) has scored a contract extension with commercial partner Newstead Brewing Co. whilst formalising an indigenous health focused partnership with Deadly Choices.

The deal with craft beer partner Newstead Brewing Co. involves the Queensland Premier Rugby competition, including naming rights of the 2019 Hospital Challenge Cup.

Newstead Brewing Co. Chairman, Peter Howes, said he is delighted to become the naming rights sponsor for the ‘2019 Newstead Brewing Hospital Challenge Cup’.

“Newstead Brewing Co. has been founded, owned and managed by the Howes family on the principles of quality and community.

“As a passionate Rugby family, who have, together, attended the last four Rugby World Cups, we are personally and professionally thrilled to be able to promote excellent, grassroots rugby,” Mr Howes said.

Queensland Rugby Union CEO, David Hanham, said the partnership with Newstead Brewing Co. will help continue to drive outcomes for Club Rugby in Queensland.

“Queensland Premier Rugby’s reach is growing every season and the investment into Rugby from Newstead Brewing Co. is a great recognition of the hard work put into the competition by volunteers and staff at the clubs involved, as well as QRU’s administrative staff.

“Newstead’s dedication to Rugby can now be seen at various levels of the game, and we’re thankful for their valuable support of Rugby in Queensland,” Mr Hanham said.

The craft beer announcement has complimented the St. George Queensland Reds alliance with Deadly Choices, the preventative health program of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, which will see QRU extend on their work in Indigenous communities.

For the past 8 years, QRU has run mentoring programs for Indigenous students in Cherbourg, Woorabindah and Yarrabah.

Queensland Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services, The Hon. Dr Steven Miles said the Deadly Choices program has the potential to reach approximately 165 000 individuals.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s $16 million expansion of the Deadly Choices Healthy Lifestyle Program is a commitment to positive change among Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“It’s about closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Queenslanders and we commend the Queensland Reds for adding Deadly Choices to its existing Indigenous engagement portfolio,” he said.

This new partnership with Deadly Choices, will see Queensland Reds players Moses Sorovi and Duncan Paia’aua involved as ambassadors, assisting with the education of Indigenous students on the importance of living healthy lifestyles.

“I feel very proud playing in our Indigenous jersey and it’s going to be really inspiring for us as layers to see kids wearing that jersey as part of the Deadly Choices program,” Moses Sorovi said.