Riddles Oval was buzzing today as 147 primary school players from across the Macintyre zone came together for the second Macintyre Primary Schools Rugby 7s, a day that showcased everything good about grassroots rugby in the border country.
After a strong first outing last year, the 2026 edition was bigger again, with more schools, more players and more girls taking part.
Schools from both sides of the Queensland–New South Wales border took part, including Goondiwindi State Primary School, Goondiwindi State High School, St Mary's Goondiwindi, Yelarbon, Texas and Inglewood, alongside schools and students from across the border in New South Wales. For many of the kids it was their first taste of representing their school in rugby, and the standard of play, and the enthusiasm on the sideline, made it clear the game is in good hands in the region.
One of the standout features of the day was a bespoke Girls Come and Try session. Thirty-two girls picked up a rugby ball (for some it was the first time), worked through skills with QRU coaches and then played three rugby sevens games each. Watching a group of first-timers go from learning how to hold the ball to running full games in the space of an afternoon is exactly what days like this are for, and it's a strong signal for the future of girls' rugby in the Macintyre.
Events like this don't just happen. This one was built on months of work by local volunteers, and a huge thank you goes to Stan McDonald, who coordinated the entire day. A teacher in Goondiwindi, a passionate rugby supporter and a long-time volunteer with the Goondiwindi Emus, Stan has also been involved in the Darling Downs and Queensland Country representative pathway. He was the backbone of this event from the first conversation with schools through to the final whistle, and the day simply would not have happened without him.
A massive thanks also to Tim Gleeson, President of the Goondiwindi Emus Junior Rugby Club, and to all the Goondiwindi junior coaches and volunteers. Their effort went well beyond the day itself. In the lead-up they were out at local clubs and schools delivering bespoke coaching sessions so that every team arrived ready to play and, more importantly, ready to enjoy it. That kind of ground-level support is what turns a one-off carnival into something that grows the game.
The Macintyre Primary Schools 7s was proudly supported by the Queensland Government through the British & Irish Lions Legacy Fund, which is aimed at growing grassroots rugby in the school and primary school environment. The program has deliberately targeted non-traditional rugby schools, those without an established rugby program, and has backed that up with practical support. Every participating school received rugby equipment, including balls, cones and tackle bags, so that rugby can keep running in the playground and PE lessons well after the carnival is over.
The funding is also supporting the growth of the junior rugby program in the region through match officiating and junior coaching courses, building the volunteer base that keeps community rugby running.
With 147 players on the park, 32 new girls introduced to the game and a network of schools, clubs and volunteers now working together, the foundation is in place for this to become a fixture on the Macintyre calendar. Queensland Rugby Union looks forward to working with the Goondiwindi Emus, the local schools and the wider Macintyre rugby community to keep building on what was achieved today.
To everyone who coached, refereed, cooked, marshalled, drove a bus or cheered from the fence, thank you. This is what community rugby looks like.
For more information on junior rugby, coaching and officiating courses in the Darling Downs, contact Queensland Rugby Union's Regional Rugby Manager, Metropolitan West and Darling Downs.
