Queensland Rugby League
Encyclopedia
The Queensland Rugby Football League (QRL) is the governing body for rugby league in Queensland
. It is a member of the Australian Rugby League
(ARL) and selects the members of Queensland State of Origin
teams.
The QRL aims to "foster, develop, extend, govern and control Rugby League Football throughout the State of Queensland". Today the QRL administers the rugby league through its regional divisions. It is also responsible for the Queensland Rugby League team
. The QRL's headquarters are on Vulture Street, Woolloongabba in Brisbane
.
players who were dissatisfied with the administration of the Queensland Rugby Union
(QRU) as the Queensland Rugby Association. Those founding fathers were Micky Dore
, George Watson
, Jack Fihelly, J O'Connor. E Buchanan, Alf Faulkner and Sinan Boland. Discussion about breaking away from the rugby 'union' and forming a professional 'league' in Queensland can be traced as far back as 1905 through the visions of then Deputy State Premier, Michael Allison.
On March 14, 1908, the breakaway group was first mentioned in the local media, and a fortnight later the first official announcement was made regarding the formation of the Queensland Rugby Association was made. On 16 May that year a hastily assembled Queensland team played the touring New Zealand "All Golds" side in Brisbane
. Later that month there were three representative games against New South Wales
, which acted as selection trials for a national team.
In 1909, club rugby league officially began, with W. Evans scoring the inaugural try before backing up with another as North Brisbane beat Toombul 8-0 at the Brisbane Cricket Ground
, although Valleys were the first premiers. Other teams that entered the competition include: Milton (1909), South Brisbane (1909), West End (1910), Natives (1912), Merthyr
(1917) and Coorparoo
(1917)
The FOGS Colts Challenge
, also known as the FOGS Cup & FOGS Colts Challenge, is run by the Queensland Rugby League's South East Division. It is regarded as the division below the Queensland Cup
.
The Foley Shield competition began in North Queensland
in 1948. With the introduction of the Queensland Cup in 1996 the Foley Shield competition was scrapped, only to be reintroduced in 2000. Since the revamp in 2000 it has only contested by the three largest cities in North Queensland
; Cairns, Mackay
and Townsville.
Rugby league in Queensland
Rugby league is the most popular sport in the Australian state of Queensland.-History:The earliest record of rugby football being played in Queensland is in 1876...
. It is a member of the Australian Rugby League
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
(ARL) and selects the members of Queensland State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
teams.
The QRL aims to "foster, develop, extend, govern and control Rugby League Football throughout the State of Queensland". Today the QRL administers the rugby league through its regional divisions. It is also responsible for the Queensland Rugby League team
Queensland rugby league team
The Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
. The QRL's headquarters are on Vulture Street, Woolloongabba in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
.
History of the QRL
The Queensland Rugby Football League was formed in 1908 by seven rugbyRugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
players who were dissatisfied with the administration of the Queensland Rugby Union
Queensland Rugby Union
The Queensland Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Queensland. It is a member and founding union of the Australian Rugby Union.-See also:*Queensland Reds*Australian Rugby Union*The Wallabies*Rugby union in Queensland...
(QRU) as the Queensland Rugby Association. Those founding fathers were Micky Dore
Micky Dore
Michael Joseph "Micky" Dore , was an Australian representative rugby union and rugby league player - a dual-code international. He was one of the founding fathers of rugby league in Queensland...
, George Watson
George Watson (rugby)
George W Watson was a pioneer Australian rugby union and rugby league footballer and was one of the first Australian dual code rugby international representatives...
, Jack Fihelly, J O'Connor. E Buchanan, Alf Faulkner and Sinan Boland. Discussion about breaking away from the rugby 'union' and forming a professional 'league' in Queensland can be traced as far back as 1905 through the visions of then Deputy State Premier, Michael Allison.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. Later that month there were three representative games against New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, which acted as selection trials for a national team.
In 1909, club rugby league officially began, with W. Evans scoring the inaugural try before backing up with another as North Brisbane beat Toombul 8-0 at the Brisbane Cricket Ground
Brisbane Cricket Ground
The Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly known as The Gabba, is a major sports stadium in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. It is named after the suburb of Woolloongabba, in which it is located....
, although Valleys were the first premiers. Other teams that entered the competition include: Milton (1909), South Brisbane (1909), West End (1910), Natives (1912), Merthyr
Brothers Old Boys
The Brothers Old Boys are an Australian rugby union club, based in Brisbane,Queensland. The team currently competes in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition against nine of the states best Rugby Union clubs. The club was established in 1905 and has won 27 premierships since...
(1917) and Coorparoo
Easts Tigers
The Eastern Suburbs Tigers are a rugby league club based at Langlands Park, which is in the suburb of Coorparoo in Brisbane, Australia. They competed in the Brisbane Rugby League from 1934 to 1996. From 1996 they have competed in the Queensland Cup. Their jersey is traditionally an all gold jersey...
(1917)
QRL Divisions
The QRL administers rugby league in Queensland through the following divisions. As of 2010 the Central, South West and Wide Bay divisions were amalgamated as Central United.Central Capras
- Callide Dawson Rugby League
- Central Highlands Rugby League
- Central West Rugby League
- Gladstone & District Rugby League
- Rockhampton & District Rugby League
Northern Marlins
- Cairns & District Rugby League
- Eacham Juniors Rugby League
- Innisfail Juniors Rugby League
- Mackay & District Rugby League
- Mid West Rugby League Rugby League
- Mount Isa Rugby League Rugby League
- Northern Peninsula Area Rugby League
- Townsville & District Rugby League
South East Queensland Poinsettias
- Brisbane Second Division Rugby LeagueBrisbane Second Division Rugby LeagueThe Brisbane Second Division Rugby League is the second division of the Queensland Rugby League South East Queensland Division. The league is based in Brisbane, Australia and features clubs stretching from North Stradbroke Island in the East to Dayboro in the North to Beenleigh in the...
The Poinsettias - Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League The Stingers
- Gold Coast Rugby LeagueGold Coast Rugby LeagueThe Gold Coast Rugby League is a Rugby League Competition Based in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland. It is under the administration of the Queensland Rugby League South East Queensland Division, which also administers the Brisbane and Ipswich competitions....
The Vikings - Ipswich Rugby League The Diggers
- Ipswich Juniors
South West Mustangs
- Balonne/Barwick Rugby League
- Border Rugby League
- Roma Rugby League
- Toowoomba Rugby League
- Warwick Rugby League
- Western Rugby League
Wide Bay Bulls
- Bundaberg Juniors
- Central Burnett Rugby League
- Fraser Coast Juniors
- Gympie Juniors
- Northern Districts Rugby League
- South Burnett Rugby League
- Sunshine Coast Rugby League
Current Major Competitions
The Queensland Cup has been contested since 1996. Since 1998 the team winning the Queensland Cup is considered to be the premier club team in Queensland.The FOGS Colts Challenge
FOGS Colts Challenge
The FOGS Colts Challenge is an 11 team rugby league competition run by the QRL. It is the highest level of junior rugby league in Brisbane before players move into senior rugby...
, also known as the FOGS Cup & FOGS Colts Challenge, is run by the Queensland Rugby League's South East Division. It is regarded as the division below the Queensland Cup
Queensland Cup
The Queensland Cup is the premier rugby league football competition in the State of Queensland, Australia.It is a statewide competition with the majority of teams based in South East Queensland but also including sides based in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.The competition began in 1996 as a...
.
The Foley Shield competition began in North Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
in 1948. With the introduction of the Queensland Cup in 1996 the Foley Shield competition was scrapped, only to be reintroduced in 2000. Since the revamp in 2000 it has only contested by the three largest cities in North Queensland
North Queensland
North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the state of Queensland in Australia. Queensland is a massive state, larger than most countries, and the tropical northern part of it has been historically remote and undeveloped, resulting in a distinctive regional character and...
; Cairns, Mackay
Mackay, Queensland
Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar....
and Townsville.
See also
- Rugby league in QueenslandRugby league in QueenslandRugby league is the most popular sport in the Australian state of Queensland.-History:The earliest record of rugby football being played in Queensland is in 1876...
- Australian Rugby LeagueAustralian Rugby LeagueThe Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
- Queensland Rugby League teamQueensland rugby league teamThe Queensland rugby league team have represented the Australian state of Queensland in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1908...
- Rugby League State of OriginRugby League State of OriginState of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...