The Queensland Reds will play at least two games at Ballymore Stadium now the exciting Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s season has been unveiled.
Anticipation has been intense in the lead-up to revealing the draw in its new June-July-August slot on the rugby calendar.
The Reds will play a trial against the Fijian Drua before opening the 2026 season against the ACT Brumbies on a Sunday afternoon at Ballymore on June 7.
A Round 4 clash against the Fijian Drua on Saturday, June 27 will give the Reds the energy of a raucous home crowd at Ballymore for a second time.
The Reds were the major improvers of Super Rugby Women’s in 2025 with their rise to the final in Sydney after missing the semi-finals in 2024.
The five-round format for 2026 can be another showcase of the improvements and positive developments in women’s rugby in Queensland.
The integrated high-performance model in Queensland encourages players to develop their games through 15-a-side rugby and sevens rugby.
Wallaroos World Cup squad winger Caitlin Urwin is a striking example. She returned from the World Cup and dived into Queensland’s Next Gen 7s program.
Her six tries at the most recent Next Gen 7s stop in Sydney showed the benefit from a diet of extra rugby and working on wing skills.
Reds Head Coach Andrew Fraser said he was delighted to have the draw unveiled to give players and fans a focus on the season kick-off in June.
“We have been hard at it in pre-season training. Having the dates out there gives everyone that clearer idea on the season,” Fraser said.
“We made a lot of progress as a squad last year but we also know there are plenty of improvements we still have to make.
“The girls love playing at Ballymore in front of family, friends and fans. We couldn’t ask for a better opener than to be playing at Ballymore on June 7.”
Queenslanders Eva Karpani, Tiarah Minns, Dillyn Blackburn, Ava Wereta and Sidney Taylor have been included in the Wallaroos squad to play Fijiana and in the Pacific 4 series.
The Reds have been moulding their squad at Ballymore trainings but a formal announcement is still ahead.
Former French halfback Margaux Duces is a quality gain. She arrived at the GPS club to play sevens and has forced her way into contention for the Reds squad.
Former Wallaroos hooker Tiarna Molloy is making a full-time switch to the backrow.
Sunday, June 7
Queensland Reds vs ACT Brumbies, Ballymore, 1:05pm
Queensland Reds BYE
Saturday, June 20
Queensland Reds vs Western Force, Perth, 4:05pm
Saturday, June 27
Queensland Reds vs Fijian Drua, Ballymore, 2:05pm
Sunday, July 5
Queensland Reds vs NSW Waratahs, 4:05pm, Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
July 17-19 SRW 1 vs SRW 4
July 17-19 SRW 2 vs SRW 3
July 24-26 Winner SF 1 vs Winner SF 2 (Highest Ranked = Home Venue)
August 1 SRW 1 vs SRA (NZ), Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
