The upbeat vibe generated by the British and Irish Lions is being reflected in the enthusiasm for club, schools, under-age and women’s rugby.
The spin-offs in Queensland from this tour by the Lions were never just to be measured by economic benefit.
It’s the quickening pulse across rugby to talk about the game, to debate selections, to get involved and to even ponder why English backrower Henry Pollock wears a mouthguard at all when he wriggles it in his teeth like chewing gum.
It was a huge day in south-Queensland last Saturday with the Wallabies-Lions Test following the next crop of aspiring GPS First XV players kicking off their season.
At Ballymore on Saturday, all those up-and-coming girls with a spark for rugby can drink it in watching the Wallaroos play Wales from 2pm at Ballymore Stadium.
It’s Round Two of the GPS season on Saturday as well when Toowoomba Grammar could really ruffle The Southport School on the Gold Coast.
The Padua College playing fields at Banyo are awash with young talent and skill.
Sunday will be the climax to the Boys 14-15 Years State Championships and the 11-12 Years age group.
There’s chatter about Lions, Wallabies, the huge atmosphere at a full Suncorp Stadium and how cool the 2027 Rugby World Cup will be on Australian soil. That’s amongst parents and kids.
The Lions tour has created an appetite.
The benefits of the Schoolgirls Super 7s Series which kicked off in May for six schools in south-east Queensland is already being felt.
The four-stop series, heading towards the climax at the All Schools Championships in September, is sharpening the best and encouraging many more in team sport.
The Glennie School (Toowoomba), Fairholme College (Toowoomba), St Johns College (Nambour), King’s Christian College (Gold Coast), Miami State High (Gold Coast) and Kelvin Grove State College (Brisbane) give the competition a broad representation across the region.
At the recent Australian Schools and Junior Rugby Union Championships on the Sunshine Coast, players from those schools excelled.
The Queensland girls won at Under-16 and Under-18 level for the first time.
The Glennie’s Mia Byrnes is one on the rise as her deeds last year and in 2025 are reflecting. She delivered too by diving over for the matchwinning try for the Queensland U18 Maroons.
As a guide, here are the players that carried form from the Schoolgirls Super 7s Series into the ASJRU Championships.
THE GLENNIE: Mia Byrnes, Poppy Gibbons, Ella Byrnes, Kaia Skeen, Claudia Woodhead, Sophia Wright, Ava Kowitz, Maya Wright, Sophie Pender, Hayley Wainwright
KELVIN GROVE STATE COLLEGE: Rachael Phipps
ST JOHNS COLLEGE, NAMBOUR: Catie Leask, Pippen Russell
FAIRHOLME COLLEGE: Carla Nobbs, Scarlett Sippel
KING’S CHRISTIAN COLLEGE: Billie Backus, TJ Murray, Charlotte Lawry, Kaleah Graham, Nadiah Amiatu, Kaelyn Passi, Tiki Calliste
Schoolgirls Super 7s series days are still ahead at Highfields Rugby Club in Toowoomba (August 6) and Nambour Rugby Club (August 26).
In Q7s at Logan, dates are set for girls (July 30) and boys (July 31) at Beenleigh. The Q7s for Moreton Bay will be hosted by Caboolture Rugby Club (August 15).
The Santos Western 7s will have their mark in Emerald on August 1-3.
Already, Emerald sisters Sophia and Maya Wright have taken their skills further afield.
The countdown to the final series in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup and StoreLocal Founders Cup is on in earnest.
The grand final dates for Ballymore Stadium have been set for August 30 - Aug 31.
Those wanting a peek at a potential grand final match-up can head to Crosby Park on Saturday when leaders Easts meet Brothers for the Welsby Cup.
It’s club, schools footy or the Wallaroos Test on Saturday, then all-up a big night watching the Wallabies-Lions in the second Test on TV .
Everywhere you look, the Lions are adding value.
