Sunshine Coast football, union and league are all set to return once the community sport ban lifts

Sunshine Coast sporting codes have been dealt a heavy blow but are eager for their players to return to the field as soon as possible.

Sunshine Coast rugby league’s Lachlan Price, footballer Dylan Firth and rugby union’s Jock Hanson are players that are excited for community sport to return.

Despite the August 8 end to a Covid-19 lockdown, current southeast Queensland restrictions have still had major effects on Sunshine Coast community-based sport.

While business doors reopened, a two-week ban on local sport has remained, lifting on August 22.

With Sunshine Coast rugby union, football and rugby league all having their seasons placed on pause, organisers were extremely eager to return as soon as possible in conjunction with the Queensland Health guidelines.

We caught up with each code to discuss what their current plan is for their sporting restart.

Football

Sunshine Coast Football president Chris Dunk confirmed the regular season matches would be played out in full, providing there were no more lockdowns.

However, he said the finals series would be cut short by one week in a first verses fourth and second versus third system where the winners advance.

Dunk confirmed the regular season will relaunch on Friday, August 27, Covid-19 pending.

“It’s always (good for) the younger kids to play the season out and get value for money,” Dunk said.

Dunk said not all of the clubs were happy with the change.

“The clubs basically wanted to have input on the decision,” he said.

“And when you have 10 senior clubs you tend to get 10 different views.

“It’s hard to keep everyone happy.”

Rugby Union

Sunshine Coast Rugby Union rugby manager Mike Aronsten said the first round finals will begin on August 28.

“At the moment we are resuming with limited training as per the Queensland Health guidelines with the senior and junior competition making a full return on August 28,” he said.

“The senior grand finals will be played on September 18 and that will still remain at the home ground of whichever A-grade wins the major semi-final.

“The juniors will play their grand finals on September 11 at the Sunshine Coast Stadium.”

Aronsten said all teams are excited for the season to get underway once again.

“Blokes go nuts when they can’t play, train, go to the gym and see their mates so we’re all definitely planning on making the best of it,” he said.

“We’ve also got a Sunshine Coast invitational rugby 7s tournament in the works that’s quite exciting due to the Noosa 7s being cancelled.”

Rugby League

Rugby League Sunshine Coast senior league co-ordinator Jodi Price confirmed the reshuffle of fixtures will have the competition return on August 28.

“At this stage the first weekend back our senior teams will play in their qualifying semi finals and all grand final matches will be played on September 18 at the Sunshine Coast Stadium,” she said.

Price said everyone is very much looking forward to sport returning.

“All the clubs are very excited to be given the chance to get back out onto the field and are aware that we’re doing everything we can to make sure this finals series happens,” she said.