GPS Rugby 2020: Premiership still up for grabs despite shortened season

The 2020 GPS First XV rugby season will go down in history after COVID-19 forced the historic schoolboy competition to jettison nearly one-third of its schedule.

The 2020 GPS First XV rugby season will go down in history after COVID-19 forced the historic schoolboy competition to jettison nearly one-third of its schedule.

The 102-year-old competition has earned a reputation as a sprint to the finish line and that will prove especially true in 2020 after two weeks of competitive play were slashed due to time constraints.

The opening three weeks of school term will be dedicated to a series of trial matches replacing competitive fixtures scheduled on those dates.

VIEW THE FULL DRAW HERE

GT no.13 Glen Vaihu with the ball as Gregory Terrace v The Southport School at St Joseph's College Playing Field, Tennyson, Saturday August 31, 2019. (AAP/Image Sarah Marshall)

Regular competition will resume in week four and continue until the school holidays.

For the first time in more than 50 years Friday afternoon fixtures will be played on the final day of the school term.

The Premiership is bound to be decided on that Friday because no team has won the title in six games since 1954, a four-way tie.

The reason for rescheduling is believed to be linked to the requirement for front-rowers to complete their ‘Front Row Passport’ safety accreditations.

The loss of rounds two and three will deprive defending champions TSS of the chance to defeat their greatest rivals, Nudgee College.

Brisbane Grammar School and Toowoomba Grammar School benefit most because their bye rounds fell in lost rounds, giving both schools an extra game in hand over the competition.

MORE GPS RUGBY COVERAGE

■ Former star shines light on darker side of GPS Rugby

■ BBC and IGS score top Gold Coast talents

■ Which clubs the TSS First XV of 2019 have joined

GPS First XV Rugby 2019 - The Southport School (TSS) vs Brisbane Boys' College (BBC). BBC flyhalf Conor Claridge is consoled by TSS player. Picture: 'The Season' Episode 1 / OnionTV

Dark horse Churchie have also scored a lucky draw because two of their ‘Big Three’ clashes, against Southport and Brisbane Boys’ College, have been wiped from their calendar.

Their biggest match of the season will then fall on that final Friday, pitting them against Nudgee in a potential premiership-decider.

Crowds will be permitted into venues to watch.

Originally published as GPS Rugby 2020: Premiership still up for grabs despite shortened season