Champions Padua College plunge into the great unknown on Saturday when an exciting new AIC rugby season kicks off.
The schools rugby scene is many things but it is cyclical above all else. A college can soar in the First XV with a cohort of talented players who just happen to have arrived and developed through the younger grades together.
Inevitably, a new roll call of youngsters steps up year on year. A Year 11 boy becomes a team leader in his final year at school. You’ll get two strong seasons from him. A young gun from Year 10 may play Firsts for three seasons.
Without fail, every three years it is a completely different team.
The AIC competition is a proven nursery. Rugby greats John Eales (Marist College Ashgrove) and Andrew Slack (Villanova College) and many others blossomed in this competition.
In the Queensland Reds squad today, Tim Ryan (St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe), Vaiuta Latu (St Peters Lutheran College ), John Bryant (St Laurence’s College), Finn Mackay (St Laurence’s College), Will McCulloch (Padua) and Will Ross (Padua) all came through AIC schools. Fullback Tom Howard (Marist College Ashgrove) is in the Buildcorp Reds Academy.
Going back-to-back is rare as Padua have done, undefeated, in 2025 and 2024.
A longer streak is rarer still which means hats off to St Laurence’s College (2021-22-23) who did so after the distorted joint premiership of 2020 with Marist College Ashgrove in the shortened COVID season.
Just what sort of challenge will Padua put up in 2026 with influential players like lock Will Ross and flyhalf Damon Humphrys moving on?
In one position, at least, fans will be doing a double-take. Humphrys’ younger brother Lucas has stepped into the No.10 jersey for this season.
And yes, the kicking style is uncannily similar.
The Padua boys took a hit in pre-season when a long-organised rugby tour to Europe had to be cancelled because of flight uncertainties through Dubai.
“It was very unfortunate for the boys with all the planning and excitement around the tour,” Padua College Rugby Master Sam Toolis said.
“We re-organised with an internal game and three trials. We’ve improved each week and we’re ready for the new season.”
Hooker Andy Mercer, backrower Will Maitland and livewire flanker Diezel Jimmink are likely looking players beside returning premiership-winners Leon Lane, at prop, and 2025 Reds Under-16s centre Harlem Faalafi.
Padua make the trip to Ipswich to play St Edmund’s College on Saturday in Round One.
St Eddies have a stronger look this season with Max Halls ready to take charge in the No.10 jersey.
Nate Pearce, at No.8, is in his third season in the Firsts and is a strong captaincy choice. Hooker Markus Iselin is a Northern Territory product.
St Pats, with representative hooker Mitch Wallis up front, host St Peters.
Marist College Ashgrove head to Iona College and Villa host Lauries.
You can’t yet write the script. Every season has its fresh dramas and twists. I still hear from a good mate who threw a cutout pass, which was intercepted, to lose a Second XV premiership more than a decade ago.
There'll be more fodder for banter 10 years from now when old school mates get together.
