Regional Queensland Gridiron League Season Draw revealed
Regional Queensland’s American football stars believe future Olympians will be among the league’s rookie class of 2024/25 when gridiron action returns from November 2. See the full season draw:
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Players from Regional Queensland’s top American football team believe future Olympians will be among the league’s rookie class of 2024/25 as the sport hurtles towards an Olympic debut.
Flag football, gridiron’s non-contact cousin, will be incorporated into the 2028 Los Angeles Games, launching a four-year countdown for Australians to learn the game and press their case for Olympic selection.
Regional Queensland Irukandji representative Ryan Worsley, a defensive back with the eight-time champion Townsville Cyclones, said the first step for many of Australia’s Olympic flag football team would be taken when the local competition kicked off next month.
“It is the first stop on the journey (towards the Olympics),” Worsley said.
“We’re really happy for it because as a whole sport in Australia we’re getting more attention. It’s going to be brilliant for flag and for contact gridiron.
“I’m really keen to see the new faces it (the Olympic carrot) will bring to the sport, especially the fast, fit players.
“I’m keen to see how that turns out.”
The 2024/25 Regional Queensland American Football League (RQAFL) season begins November 2 with six teams: Townsville, Rockhampton, Gladstone (Port City), Mackay and two from Cairns; the Falcons and Mulgrave Vikings.
The league has drawn inspiration from the NRL’s Magic Round and the AFL’s Gather Round with four triple headers booked in across the state to equalise travel commitments and to allow regional representative coaches to attend and impart knowledge.
Cyclones offensive lineman Leon Suckling said there was no better place for regional athletes to learn the finer points of football and launch their Olympic flag football dreams than in the RQAFL, and particularly with Townsville.
In 10 seasons Townsville has won eight championships and assembled a roster stacked with experienced winners.
Suckling said the club’s door was open to players of any experience level, athletic pedigree, fitness level or body shape.
“I tell everyone I talk to that this is the spot to be, in our league,” Suckling said.
“We’ve got guys like Kyle Reynolds (coach) who have been doing this for years. Every pre-season before we put on the pads we run routes and everything. It’s a really good foundation in the basics of the game.”
Townsville coach Kyle Reynolds said he hoped players from out-of-season winter sports would take up the challenge and see if they had natural talent on the gridiron.
There are around 40 gridiron senior men’s teams across the nation, per AustralianGridironFocus.com, and flag football participation is only in the thousands.
There are few Olympic sports more accessible to Australia’s large population of footballers across the code divide and the sport is hungry for fresh talent.
“We always need new people, especially at the Cyclones,” Reynolds said.
“Our boys are getting older and older, getting married and doing family things, but getting new blood and especially young lads who want to try it out is always the best thing.
“We teach everyone to ‘football’ as hard as they can and provide all the gear and uniforms. All they need to do is rock up with boots and a mouthguard and we can teach you the football.
“Some of the rookies we have already got this year, it’s looking really exciting.”
Curious players are invited to connect with the Cyclones on Facebook and Instagram.
REGIONAL QUEENSLAND AMERICAN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Round 1 - November 2, 2024
Cairns Falcons v Mackay Mavericks @ Cairns
Mulgrave Vikings v Townsville Cyclones @ Cairns
Rockhampton Wolverines v Port City Pirates @ Rockhampton
Round 2 - November 9, 2024
Mackay Mavericks v Rockhampton Wolverines @ Mackay
Mulgrave Vikings v Port City Pirates @ Mackay
Townsville Cyclones v Cairns Falcons @ Townsville
Round 3- November 16, 2024
Port City Pirates v Mackay @ Gladstone
Townsville Cyclones v Rockhampton Wolverines @ Gladstone
Mulgrave Vikings v Cairns Falcons @ Cairns
Round 4 - November 23, 2024
Mackay Mavericks v Townsville Cyclones @ Mackay
Cairns Falcons v Port City Pirates @ Mackay
Mulgrave Vikings v Rockhampton Wolverines @ Mackay
Regional Queensland Irukandji training block
Round 5 - November 30, 2024
Rockhampton Wolverines v Mackay Mavericks @ Rockhampton
Townsville Cyclones v Port City Pirates @ Rockhampton
Mulgrave Vikings v Cairns Falcons @ Cairns
Round 6 - December 7, 2024
Townsville Cyclones v Mackay Mavericks @ Townsville
Cairns Falcons v Rockhampton Wolverines @ Townsville
Mulgrave Vikings v Port City Pirates @ Townsville
Regional Queensland Irukandji training block
Round 7 - December 14, 2024
Mackay Mavericks v Port City Pirates @ Mackay
Mulgrave Vikings v Rockhampton Wolverines @ Mackay
Cairns Falcons v Townsville Cyclones @ Cairns
Round 8 - January 11, 2024
Mackay Mavericks v Mulgrave Vikings @ Airlie Beach
Townsville Cyclones v Port City Pirates @ Airlie Beach
Cairns Falcons v Rockhampton Wolverines @ Airlie Beach
Regional Queensland Irukandji training block
Round 9 - January 18, 2024
Mackay Mavericks v Cairns Falcons @ Mackay
Mulgrave Vikings v Townsville Cyclones @ Cairns
Port City Pirates v Rockhampton Wolverines @ Gladstone
Round 10 - January 25, 2024
Townsville Cyclones v Rockhampton Wolverines @ Townsville
Cairns Falcons v Port City Pirates @ Townsville
Mackay Mavericks v Mulgrave Vikings @ Townsville
Regional Queensland Irukandji training block
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