LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
TRL hopes to get underway with May 30 start
RUGBY LEAGUE:
The Toowoomba Rugby League is working through a plan to try and prepare for the delayed start of their season.
A Queensland Rugby League directive informed clubs throughout the state that all local senior and junior competitions would be suspended until at least the start of May.
“In light of the QRL’s decision to suspend junior and senior community rugby league competitions and training until at least the first weekend in May, the TRL board has decided to delay commencement of the 2020 season until the weekend of 30/31 May,” TRL chairman
Rex Zeeman said.
“At this stage we will be looking at a shortened season. This will consist of 11 round of fixtures where each club plays all other clubs once.
“At this stage, the scheduling of the final series is unchanged, with the grand final on September 6.
“A revised draw will be issued in due course.”
Zeeman confirmed that the Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy and President’s Cup fixtures would not take place this season.
As for the inaugural women’s competition, Zeeman said the plan was to start the competition with finals to be played in line with the men.
“The original idea at the start of the season was to play 10 games leading up to the finals and play the grand final on Madsen-Rasmussen day,” he said.
“We will now have to compose a new draw. It is a bit more challenging with only eight teams, but we will try and keep as many teams together as possible.”
Consistent with advice
THERE’S no telling what the Darling Downs sporting landscape will look like this year.
Many sporting groups that made the decision to continue play, delay season starts or stop play all together earlier this week are already reassessing their positions.
Here’s the latest news we have on the constantly evolving situation as of the time of print.
AUSSIE RULES: The start of the AFL Darling Downs season has been postponed following a decision from AFL Queensland.
A statement from AFLQ reads: “Consistent with the decision yesterday in relation to State League football and the national and state talent programs, all AFL and AFL State association managed or operated leagues along with the NAB AFL Auskick Centres programs currently operating or set to begin, will be postponed until 31st May 2020.
The AFL has advised independently governed junior and senior leagues and associations to postpone the commencement and/or operation of their leagues/associations until the same date (May 31, 2020). This decision and recommendation covers AFL community matches, AFL community training sessions and face-toface AFL, WAFC and SANFL education courses.”
BASEBALL: With finals set to begin this week for the Toowoomba Rangers in the GBL, Queensland Baseball has made the decision to postpone all fixtures for at least three weeks.
In a statement, the organisation said: “Baseball Queensland, in this unprecedented and unique situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, is taking a lead from international and national sporting codes to postpone all Queensland Baseball activity from Wednesday, 18 March 2020 until Wednesday, 8 April 2020.
Baseball Queensland and all our member clubs and associations will cease, for 21 days, all training, club activities and team meetings, as well as events, tournaments and competitions.”
The Rangers have also advised on their Facebook page that their end of season trophy and presentation night may also be delayed.
BASKETBALL: A number of competitions have been cancelled and some postponed by Basketball Queensland as more information about COVID-19 comes to hand.
The finals of the BQJBC U16, U18 and U21s seasons have been cancelled, with the U12 and U14s competition to be suspended until May 15.
The U16s State Championships have been postponed until June 19-22, with the U12s and U14s editions still set down for the end of June and start of July.
The NBL1 North and QSL season has been suspended until May 15, with the start of the season to be reviewed on April 9 if the seasons can proceed.
SCHOOL SPORT: All representative school sport programs — including district, regional, state, national, interstate and international competitions — are cancelled until further notice.
SOFTBALL: Toowoomba Softball Association has made the decision to cancel its grand finals scheduled for this weekend.
“Unfortunately due to more news from Softball Aust. GF this Saturday will now be postponed. We will discuss the options of holding it at a later date if it’s suitable and when things settle down, however there is a chance that it will be officially cancelled later on as well,” TSA said in a Facebook post.
TOUCH FOOTBALL: The Toowoomba Touch Association has made the decision to suspend all competitions and training.
“It is our stance to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our entire community not just our touch players. In light of this we have made the decision to suspend all touch competitions and training immediately, this will remain in effect until May 1. We will continue to monitor this fluid situation and will update our members as necessary. All competitions affected by this suspension will be played when it is deemed safe to do so. Junior finals will be awarded to teams that finished with the highest points as per points table,” TTA said on Facebook.”