Toowoomba Rugby League’s Madsen-Rasmussen Cup Day set to return in 2025

After the Toowoomba Rugby League Madsen-Rasmussen mid-season final was cancelled in 2024, the TRL has made a major announcement regarding the future of the cup for 2025. Details here.

Gatton Hawks celebrate after their 36-4 point victory over the Roosters in the 2023 Madsen Rasmussen Cup.

The Toowoomba Rugby League Madsen-Rasmussen mid-season cup final is set to return for 2025.

The cup final was scrapped 12 months ago in a shock move which instead saw the trophies handed to the minor premiers at the end of the season.

However, new TRL chairman Michael Burns said the desire and feedback from the Toowoomba Rugby League community has meant the Madsen-Rasmussen and Presidents’ Cups will return to tradition.

“We went to put ourself out to the clubs at the end of the year and they through there was a tradition that was just too good not to be a part of and not to bring back and not to uphold,” he said.

“So we are very excited that the Madsen-Rasmussen will return for 2025.

“Years ago, I remember Madsen-Rasmussen was huge, it was something that every team aspired to be in, everyone aspired to play in.

“I think that we probably prematurely took that away and didn’t realise the desire and appetite for that game.

“So it is one that we are really looking forward to on the calendar.”

Highfields captain Katelyn Collie celebrate with her team as the TRL Women Premiers after defeating Gatton in the grand final at Toowoomba Sports Ground, Saturday, September 14, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

With the restructure of the QRL BMD Premiership, the TRL women’s competition has also undergone a restructure to not clash with the premiership and will now run in the first half of the season with the grand final to be held on the Madsen-Rasmussen Cup final day.

As a result, there will be no women’s President’s Cup competition, but the under-19s and Reserve grade sides will still compete for mid-season cups in July.

“This year being that it’s the final for the girls, I am fairly confident that it will be at Clive Berghofer (Stadium) and the Clydesdales actually have a home game that day,” Burns said.

“So hopefully Clydesdales will be the support act to the TRL Madsen-Rasmussen final.”

Burns also confirmed the Anzac Day games will return and round 1 of the competition will feature a grand final rematch between Valleys Roosters and Gatton Hawks.

The TRL men’s grand final day will feature in the new Saturday night timeslot for the third straight year as well.

“It’s a really good formula so we don’t want to mess with that,” Burns said.

“The fireworks and the Saturday night grand final has been a wonderful spectacle so hopefully we can just grow that year on year and it becomes a really big spectacle.”

Originally published as Toowoomba Rugby League’s Madsen-Rasmussen Cup Day set to return in 2025