A new, expanded Challenge Cup for 14 women’s teams will sit beside the fabled StoreLocal Hospital Cup when Queensland Premier Rugby kicks off on March 29.
A broader capture of women’s clubs in south-east Queensland will fill a March-May position in the season calendar before a June 7 launch for a nine-round Premier Women’s competition.
The revised format is all aimed at better embracing the flourishing women’s game by appealing to those new to rugby as well as the aspirational high-performance end.
The StoreLocal Challenge Cup will welcome Brisbane Irish, Bond Pirates, Gold Coast Eagles and Redlands Combined as new clubs while allowing Wests and Sunnybank to field two teams apiece. Brothers, Easts, University of Queensland, Norths, Souths and Bond University will also feature.
The StoreLocal Hospital Cup has become a powerhouse among grassroots football competitions in south-east Queensland.
Brothers captain Will Wilson said his club had high ambitions to achieve a three-peat of premierships while being respectful to “this being a wide open competition.”
“As Brothers, we have had some wonderful moments on grand final day at Ballymore in recent years but there is plenty of hard work to put into a new season to achieve our next goal,” Wilson said.
Valued rugby partner StoreLocal is backing the StoreLocal Challenge Cup, the StoreLocal Premier Women’s competition and the StoreLocal Hospital Cup as part of a passionate commitment to grassroots rugby through the Queensland Rugby Union.
“Our girls do love the idea of playing against the established Premier Rugby women,” said Redlands Combined fullback Yolanda Simeone.
Redlands will also get to call on evergreen former Wallaroo Cheyenne Campbell, a stalwart of the club who is playing on at 38.
Added Brisbane Irish player Niamh Oliver: “To learn and gain experience by playing better teams is something we are really looking forward to.”
StoreLocal Chief Executive Officer Hans Pearson said: “The StoreLocal team have great pride in supporting Queensland’s premier men’s and women’s competitions because the grassroots are the lifeblood of rugby.
“Just as the teams in these competitions represent their local communities, at our core as a company is providing storage solutions within many of the same communities.
“We have been actively sponsoring the StoreLocal Hospital Cup competition as naming rights partner since 2022 and we are delighted to back the new StoreLocal Challenge Cup for 14 women’s teams with the QRU.
“It’s a huge year for rugby in Australia with the improved results of our Super Rugby Pacific teams and a tour by the British and Irish Lions.
“The rugby community is a passionate one and we are delighted to be on board with the positive outlook for rugby at club level and the Reds in Queensland.”
StoreLocal has 12 secure self-storage facilities across Queensland and an expanding footprint of more than 35 nationwide.
QRU Rugby Services Manager Connor Ellis said the StoreLocal Challenge Cup offered encouragement to more clubs and the right level of competition for others.
“The clubs themselves believe this will create a better experience for our women’s teams,” Ellis said.
“The women’s game is a fast-growing section of rugby and we want to cater to those starting out, those aspiring to play Super Rugby Women’s and the high-performance level.
“Come June, the StoreLocal Premier Rugby Women’s competition will be nine rounds plus finals in alignment with the StoreLocal Hospital Cup competition.”
