Sports science student Dennis Conlon spent the recent university holidays winning the 2008 University Rugby League World Cup along with QUT teammates Dean Bannerman, Justin Volkers and Marty Cordwell and players from 11 Australian universities.
It was hard work but the Australian side prevailed with a 26-10 win over England in the final in Brisbane to win the Cup for the first time since 1995.
"We played five games over two weeks. We played in some of the worst conditions I have ever played in. It was muddy and at night it was extremely cold. But we played some pretty good football considering," said Dennis, a first-year Bachelor of Human Movements (Sports Science) student.
Dennis enjoyed every minute of the training camp, training up to two times a day as well as getting in a little study in the lead-up to the World Cup.
"It was a great experience - I met a lot of mates who will be long-term friends in Australia and overseas."
As an Indigenous Australian who is a descendant of the Kalali people of south-west Queensland, Dennis has played league for 17 years. He has grown accustomed to his role as a front row forward or "in the engine room", as he puts it.
With the Cup under his belt he is now gearing up for the Fogs Cup Finals with his home team, the South Logan Magpies.
Dennis aims is to be an elite coach when his playing days are over and has options to study coaching on an exchange semester at Leeds Metropolitan University's Carnegie Faculty of Sports and Education after talking with players from that university.
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