Queensland Rugby League

Not to be confused with Queensland Rugby Union.

Queensland Rugby League
Founded	1908, Brisbane, Australia
Formerly named	Queensland Rugby Association[1] (1908) Queensland Amateur Rugby League[1] (1909-11)
Responsibility	Queensland
Headquarters	Castlemaine Street, Milton, Brisbane[2]
Key people	John McDonald[3] (Chair)
Competitions	Queensland Cup FOGS Cup FOGS Colts Challenge Foley Shield
Website	qrl.com.au
As of 2 December 2009

The Queensland Rugby Football League^[4] (QRL^[5]) is the governing body for rugby league in Queensland. It is a member of the Australian Rugby League (ARL) and selects the members of Queensland State of Origin teams.

The QRL aims to "foster, develop, extend, govern and control Rugby League Football throughout the State of Queensland".^[4] Today the QRL administers the rugby league through its regional divisions. It is also responsible for the Queensland Rugby League team. The QRL's headquarters are on Vulture Street, Woolloongabba in Brisbane.^[2]

History of the QRL

See also: Brisbane Rugby League premiership

The Queensland Rugby Football League was formed in 1908 by seven rugby players who were dissatisfied with the administration of the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) as the Queensland Rugby Association.^[1] Those founding fathers were Micky Dore, George Watson, Jack Fihelly, J O'Connor. E Buchanan, Alf Faulkner and Sinan Boland. Discussion about breaking away from the rugby 'union' and forming a professional 'league' in Queensland can be traced as far back as 1905 through the visions of then Deputy State Premier, Michael Allison.

On March 14, 1908, the breakaway group was first mentioned in the local media, and a fortnight later the first official announcement was made regarding the formation of the Queensland Rugby Association was made. On 16 May that year a hastily assembled Queensland team played the touring New Zealand "All Golds" side in Brisbane. Later that month there were three representative games against New South Wales, which acted as selection trials for a national team.

In 1909, club rugby league officially began, with W. Evans scoring the inaugural try before backing up with another as North Brisbane beat Toombul 8-0 at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, although Valleys were the first premiers. Other teams that entered the competition include: Milton (1909), South Brisbane (1909), West End (1910), Natives (1912), Merthyr (1917) and Coorparoo (1917)

QRL Divisions

The QRL administers rugby league in Queensland through the following divisions. As of 2010 the Central, South West and Wide Bay divisions were amalgamated as Central United.

Central Capras

• Callide Dawson Rugby League
• Central Highlands Rugby League
• Central West Rugby League
• Gladstone & District Rugby League
• Rockhampton & District Rugby League

Northern Marlins

• Cairns & District Rugby League
• Eacham Juniors Rugby League
• Innisfail Juniors Rugby League
• Mackay & District Rugby League
• Mid West Rugby League Rugby League
• Mount Isa Rugby League Rugby League
• Northern Peninsula Area Rugby League
• Townsville & District Rugby League

South East Queensland Poinsettias

• Brisbane Second Division Rugby League The Poinsettias
• Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League The Stingers
• Gold Coast Rugby League The Vikings
• Ipswich Rugby League The Diggers
• Ipswich Juniors

South West Mustangs

• Balonne/Barwick Rugby League
• Border Rugby League
• Roma Rugby League
• Toowoomba Rugby League
• Warwick Rugby League
• Western Rugby League

Wide Bay Bulls

• Bundaberg Juniors
• Central Burnett Rugby League
• Fraser Coast Juniors
• Gympie Juniors
• Northern Districts Rugby League
• South Burnett Rugby League
• Sunshine Coast Rugby League

Current Major Competitions

The Queensland Cup has been contested since 1996. Since 1998 the team winning the Queensland Cup is considered to be the premier club team in Queensland.

The FOGS Colts Challenge, also known as the FOGS Cup & FOGS Colts Challenge, is run by the Queensland Rugby League's South East Division. It is regarded as the division below the Queensland Cup.

The Foley Shield competition began in North Queensland in 1948. With the introduction of the Queensland Cup in 1996 the Foley Shield competition was scrapped, only to be reintroduced in 2000. Since the revamp in 2000 it has only contested by the three largest cities in North Queensland; Cairns, Mackay and Townsville.

See also

• Rugby league in Queensland
• Australian Rugby League
• Queensland Rugby League team
• Rugby League State of Origin

References

In-line

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Story of the QRL". Queensland Rugby League. http://www.qrl.com.au/qrl_history/story_of_the_qrl.php. Retrieved 2 December 2009. 
2. ^ ^{a b} ARL (2007). "Australian Rugby Football League Annual Report 2007" (pdf). Australian Rugby League Limited. pp. 1. http://www.australianrugbyleague.com.au/files/ARL_2007_Annrep_1.pdf. Retrieved 2009-07-15. 
3. ^ "Contact us". Queensland Rugby League. http://qrl.com.au/contact_us.php. Retrieved 2 December 2009. 
4. ^ ^{a b} QRL Constitution, 2009: 3
5. ^ QRL Constitution, 2009: 2

General

• "Constitution of the Queensland Rugby Football League Limited". Queensland Rugby League. 2009-10-16. http://www.qrl.com.au/pdf/Constitution_Approved_16_October_2009_o%5B1%5D.pdf. Retrieved 2 December 2009. 

External links

• Queensland Rugby League
• League's Queensland page
• Queensland Rugby League History
• Rugby League clubs in Queensland
• Queensland Masters Rugby League Association inc