Defending national schoolboys champions Kirwan State High School will kick off their title defence today when they face off against Mackay State High School in Round 1 of the Aaron Payne Cup in Townsville.
The north Queensland school netted back-to-back NRL Schoolboys Cup National Final wins in the past two years and will be aiming to claim a three-peat this year.
And unearth more stars of the future including current North Queensland Cowboys and 2019 Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup player of the year joint winner Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Kirwan State High School and Mackay State School will also face off in the opening round of the Cowboys Challenge (Under 15) from 12.05pm.
Today will be a big day for Queensland Secondary Schools Rugby League competitions across the state, with Keebra Park versing Wavell, Marsden versing Palm Beach Currumbin and Forest Lake versing Coombabah across the southeast in both the Steve Renouf Shield (Year 8) and Mick Hancock Cup (Year 9) competitions.
All the competitions will resume under restrictions, adhering to all the relevant Return to Play policies provided by the Queensland Rugby League and the Department of Education.
Tomorrow, the Kevin Walters Cup (Year 10) and Allan Langer Trophy (opens) matches will kick off in earnest, with St Mary's hosting powerhouse school Marsden at Clive Berghofer Stadium.
Led by Queensland representative forward Xavier Va’a, the Toowoomba school won their way into this year’s Allan Langer contest with a win over Coombabah in last week’s qualifiers.
The remaining Round 1 games in the northern-based competition (north Queensland and central Queensland) will be played tomorrow with The Cathedral College facing off against St Pat’s Mackay in Rockhampton at 2.30pm in the Cowboys Challenge; and at 3.30pm in the Aaron Payne Cup.
St Brendan’s College and Ignatius Park College will also play off in the two age divisions.
Draws
Cowboys Challenge and Aaron Payne 2020 draw
Broncos Challenge - Steve Renouf Shield and Mick Hancock Cup 2020 draw
Broncos Challenge - Kevin Walters Cup and Allan Langer Trophy 2020 draw
Referee appointments
Allan Langer Trophy and Aaron Payne Cup referee appointments - Round 1
