The Downs rugby community has been faced with the prolonged drought, bushfires and now the pandemic. The resilience of the countless volunteers through the Downs Rugby board, rugby resumption sub-committee, junior, teenage and senior sub-committees, the referees' association, the clubs' executive committees and the 40 COVID Safe officers working with Queensland Rugby Union's Gaven Head, Connor Ellis, Grant Dwyer and David Southwood is to be commended. Thank you to Q Sport, chief health officer Jeanette Young and the Queensland state government.
All participating clubs are abiding by the Field Sports Industry COVID Safe Plan with regular updates posted on the homepage at www.downsrugby.com.au as directed by QRU.
Spectators in Stage 3 are to view venue signage and are allowed to remain outside the 5-metre perimeter of the 'playing enclosure' and are to be distanced 4sq m apart. A spectator should have outstretched arms and spin around slowly and not touch anyone else.
Hand sanitiser is to be regularly applied and host clubs make it mandatory for one person per household to complete the attendance register. Rugby is back! Safety is paramount and the associated fitness, mental and mateship benefits will be appreciated.
Downs Rugby's Arctic Energy juniors aged 5-12, teenage youth girls' 7s, Wagners Risdon Cup and Emilee Cherry Cup - Open Women's 7s kick off from this Saturday, July 18.
Grand final day is booked in for Saturday October 3 at Toowoomba Sports Ground/Clive Berghofer Stadium.
The Darling Downs Super Schools Teenage Boys' Cup starts Wednesday July 29 with the addition of St Mary's College Toowoomba. Downs Rugby thanks the Rugby Australia Foundation for the continued financial support of this competition. In Term 4, early October 2020, Downs Rugby's Teenage Boys Competition continues from March 2020 and the South West 7s competition kicks off.
Thank you Wagners, FKG Group and Black Isuzu Ute for continued sponsorship and support of Downs Rugby.
Fixtures Round 1, Saturday July 18
Wagners Risdon Cup:
3pm: USQ Saints v Toowoomba Rangers at USQ Toowoomba
3pm: Roma Echidnas v Condamine Cods at Gallas Fox Park, Roma
Toowoomba Bears BYE
B Grade:
1.30pm: USQ Saints V Toowoomba Rangers at USQ
1.30pm: Roma Echidnas v Chinchilla River Rats at Gallas Fox Park, Roma
3pm: St George Frillnecks v Toowoomba Bears at Rowden Oval, St George
Emilee Cherry Cup: Women's 7s:
Roma v St George v Condamine at Gallas Fox Park, Roma from 11am
USQ v Bears v Rangers v Warwick at USQ from 10.30am