Major changes announced for Townsville Blackhawks Schoolboy Trophy rugby league competition
North Queensland’s elite independent secondary schools rugby league competition, the Townsville Blackhawks Schoolboy Trophy, has announced a raft of exciting changes for 2025. Find out what’s in store.
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North Queensland’s elite independent secondary schools rugby league competition, the Townsville Blackhawks Schoolboy Trophy, is back bigger than ever in 2025 with a raft of exciting changes.
Heading into its third season, four schools will join the fledgling competition to now include teams from Townsville, Charters Towers, Ingham and Ayr with the 16-18 years First XIII division increasing to an eight-team competition.
Organisers will also launch an under-13s age group for the first time, exposing younger students to high-quality competition earlier to connect them with better coaching and pathways.
The Townsville Blackhawks have extended their partnership with the competition for the next two years and Jack Manski Oval will be the new home of the competition’s grand final day and under-13s gala day.
This year saw a graduate of the competition play for the North Queensland Cowboys for the first time as Columba catholic College’s 2023 captain Assariah Lenoy made his club debut in a trial match against the Dolphins.
Lenoy has since been picked up by the Blackhawks, making his Queensland Cup debut in round 3 and earning man of the match honours in round 5 against the Capras.
The Blackhawks Trophy has also helped schools retain their elite players, which has allowed them to develop better team culture and strengthen results on the field.
The premiers of the Blackhawks Trophy are also rewarded with the opportunity to advance through the regional finals of the Queensland Schoolboys Trophy – the state’s second-tier competition where Columba Catholic College has contested the grand final for the past two years, winning in 2023.
This year, 13 players that took part in the 2024 Blackhawks Trophy were also included in representative Cyril Connell Cup and Mal Meninga Cup squads for the Townsville Blackhawks.
Another new initiative in 2025 will be the selection of an under-18s invitational team, which will give players another avenue to get exposure to junior representative coaches and selectors.
NEW FORMAT
In the First XIIIs, Burdekin Catholic High School, Ayr, and St Anthony’s Catholic College, Deeragun, will join the six existing schools: Ryan Catholic College, Gilroy Santa Maria College, Columba Catholic College, All Souls St Gabriel’s School, Blackheath and Thornburgh College and Southern Cross Catholic College.
Under-15s and under-18s teams will play weekly fixtures in a pools format, with a Northern and Western Pool, leading into an extended finals series.
Under-13s teams from Townsville will take part in a Northern Pool Blackhawks Schoolboy Trophy Gala Day on June 2 from 9am-3pm, held at Jack Manski Oval. The winner will progress to a grand final against the winners of the Western Pool.
The under-13s competition includes Charters Towers State High School while the under-15s includes Ingham State High School.
Grand final day, on June 9, will see a triple-header of deciders in all three age groups.
ROUND 1 FIRST XIII FIXTURES
St Anthony’s Catholic College host Gilroy Santa Maria College on Wednesday April 23
Southern Cross Catholic College host Ryan Catholic College on Thursday April 24
Blackheath Thornburgh College host All Souls St Gabriel’s School on Friday April 25
*Columba Catholic College & Burdekin Catholic High School have a bye.
Originally published as Major changes announced for Townsville Blackhawks Schoolboy Trophy rugby league competition
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