Reds keep their Browning gun
The Queensland Reds have locked away an important piece of future armoury when they signed Australian Under-20 captain Curtis Browning for a further two years.
Browning has been a standout member of the inaugural Reds College and will next season make the step up into the fulltime squad on a deal which will ensure the talented 19-year-old back row forward remains at the Reds until at least the end of 2015.
In a breakout start to his 2013 campaign, Browning made his Queensland and Super Rugby debut against the Bulls in March, before being chosen to captain the Australian U20 team at the upcoming IRB Junior World Championships being held in France in June.
It will be the second straight season Browning will represent Australia at the Junior World Championships after he was a key member of their 2012 squad, being crowned as the Australian Under-20 Player of the Year last November.
The Brisbane-born flank boasts an impressive Rugby resume which also includes being part of University's Queensland Premier Cup triumph in 2012 and a member of the Queensland and Australian Schoolboy teams across three seasons from 2009 to 2011.
Browning said he was honoured to be continuing his career with the Reds.
"To get the chance to pull on the Reds jersey earlier this year was a dream come true and the first step to what is hopefully going to be a long and successful career in Queensland," Browning said.
"I was born in Queensland and have played all my schoolboy and representative Rugby here, so there wasn't anywhere else I wanted to play but at the Reds.
"Signing a new contract was a really easy decision and now I'm just looking forward to continuing to work on my game and contributing to the team wherever possible."
Reds coach Richard Graham said Browning would be an important part of the team's future success.
"To be chosen as captain of the Australian Under-20 reinforces how highly Curtis is regarded as both a person and as a player, so we are thrilled he has chosen to continue his career in Queensland," Graham said.
"Curtis has long been identified as a player of the future for the Reds and you can already see the improvements he has made this year from his involvement in a professional setup as part of the Reds College.
"He has the ability and skill set to play in anywhere in the back row and his two-year commitment to the team ensures we will continue to have strong competition and depth at the positions."
