East Coast Aces

Rugby team
teamname = East Coast Aces


union = Australian Rugby Union
location = Gold Coast, Australia
country

founded = 2007
region = Brisbane South and southern Queensland
ground = Carrara Stadium
capacity = 22,000cite web | work=austadiums.com | title=Carrara Stadium |url=http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=31| accessdate=22 February | accessyear=2007]
coach = John Boe
captain = TBA
league = Australian Rugby Championship
season = 2007
position = 8th
unionurl=www.qru.com.au
pattern_la1=_trim|pattern_b1=_thingreybluesides|pattern_ra1=_trim| leftarm1=000000|body1=000000|rightarm1=000000|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000

The East Coast Aces are an Australian rugby union football club that played in the now defunct Australian Rugby Championship. The Aces were formed as one of Queenslands' two clubs that will participate in the inaugural season of the championship, starting in August 2007. Based in Carrara Stadium, on the Gold Coast, they represent the southside of Brisbane, as well as the south of Queensland, in Australia's domestic club competition. The team colors are black, blue and gold and their local rivals are the Ballymore Tornadoes.

History

The inaugural Australian Rugby Championship, starting in August 2007 will include 8 teams, of which 2 will be based in Queensland. The name, logo and team colors were unveiled on 14, February 2007, by the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU).cite web | work=qru.com.au | title=ARC Team names and logos announced |url=http://www.qru.com.au/qru/qru.rugby/page/63338/section/62590| accessdate=20 February | accessyear=2007] Steering Committee Chairman for the Aces said the team had selected a name that would embrace the various stakeholders at club level. He added that "Our team will draw on players and supporters from Cairns to Coolangatta – and possibly even rugby fans in northern NSW - in what is an exciting development for the code in Queensland,". Details regarding the teams jerseys and coaches are yet to be revealed.

On February 23 John Boe was announced as the coach of the Aces, a former All Black and World Cup coach (leading Samoa at the 2003 tournament as well as in the past being assistant coach at both the Chiefs and the Highlanders.cite web | work=qru.com.au | title=Former Wallaby and ex-AB to coach new Qld national teams | date=2007-02-23 |url=http://www.worldcupweb.com/wcrugby/news/viewarticle.asp?id=2137| accessdate=2007-02-23] Boe is also head coach at the Breakers - one of the Ace's feeder teams. The selection process of Queensland's (Aces and Tornadoes) two coaches were overseen by Reds head coach Phil Mooney.

tadium

The East Coast Aces will play at Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast.cite web | work=rugby.com.au | title=Team locations & grounds |url=http://rugby.com.au/fixtures_results/australian_rugby_championship/team_locations__home_grounds,51617.html| accessdate=22 February | accessyear=2007] Carrara has a capaity of around 22,000. The Carrara Stadium is located in the Carrara suburb of the Gold Coast metropolitan area. Built over an old Cricket oval, the current incarnation of the stadium dates back from 1986. Since then, many sports have been played there, including Australian rules football (AFL), Australian Rugby League (ARL) and National Rugby League (NRL) competitions. The Queensland Reds played two pre-season matches at the venue during 2007. At one point it was rumored that both of Queenslands teams in the competition would play out of Ballymore Stadium.cite web | work=SMH | title=Two Brisbane rugby teams crazy: Connolly |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Two-Brisbane-rugby-teams-crazy-Connolly/2006/08/18/1155408013528.html| accessdate=24 August | accessyear=2006] cite web | work=The Australian | title=New competition vital for Wallabies |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20241274-23217,00.html| accessdate=25 August | accessyear=2006] However, in November 2006 it was confirmed that the location of the teams stadium would be on the Gold Coast. Carrara is also the home ground of the Gold Coast Titans (also starting in 2007) and is also used for AFL matches.

Franchise area

The team will draw on players aligned with clubs from the south side of the Brisbane River that compete in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition (which will run prior to the start of the ARC season). These clubs include; Easts Tigers, Souths, Sunnybank and the Gold Coast Breakers. The team will also draw on players from the Queensland Country Heelers - the state's Australian Rugby Shield team.

Current squad

Records

Head coaches

* John Boe (2007)

Captains

* Lloyd johansson (2007)

ee also

* Queensland Rugby Union (QRU)
* Queensland Reds
* Queensland Premier Rugby

References

External links

* [http://www.qru.com.au/qru/qru.rugby/page/62681 East Coast Aces] on QRU.com.au
* [http://rugby.com.au/fixtures_results/australian_rugby_championship/overview,50381.html Australian Rugby Championship] on rugby.com.au