The Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) has today confirmed Ballymore will once again host the Queensland Premier Rugby Grand Finals in 2023 at the newly opened $31.5 million National Rugby Training Centre.
For the first time in three years, the spiritual home of Queensland Rugby will host all deciders across nine grades including Men’s and Women’s Premier Grade, plus Colts 1, 2 and 3 on Saturday August 26 and Sunday 27 August.
Fans across the nine clubs are set to fill the new world-class facility, including the new 3010-seat McLean Stand, iconic XXXX Hill and redeveloped northern plaza.
QRU CEO David Hanham said: “I’m excited to confirm the QPR Grand Finals are heading back to Ballymore in 2023.
“The new NRTC will provide the perfect backdrop to the biggest games of the Queensland Club Rugby season.
“It’s a world-class venue and great community precinct where fans will enjoy a family-fun festival atmosphere.
“Ballymore has played host to some iconic club rugby moments throughout the years and the opportunity to bring the Grand Finals home to the redeveloped venue will add a new chapter in our proud history,” said Hanham.
Bond University scrumhalf Spencer Jeans said: “There are some very exciting times heading into the last few rounds of the year. It’s great to be back at Ballymore with the new NRTC behind us.
“The boys are pretty keen to see Ballymore full again. Hopefully the respective clubs will fill out the stands and it’ll be a pretty cool atmosphere.”
Having won the last Hospital Cup in the last Grand Final that was played at Ballymore in 2020, Easts hooker Richie Asiata recounted his memories from that day: “Just hearing the final whistle when we won and seeing crowd up on the hill, you can’t chase those feelings,” Asiata says.
“It’s pretty hard to get to a Grand Final and just getting that feeling afterwards, it was pretty good.”
The QRU also confirmed the venues and schedule for the semi and preliminary finals which will commence on Saturday August 12.
The major Semi Finals will be contested at Brothers (Store Local Hospital Cup, QPR Premier Women, Colts 1 and 2nd Grade) and Norths (3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Colts 2 and Colts 3) on the Saturday while all minor Semi Finals to be played at Easts on Sunday August 13.
GPS will host the Preliminary Finals the following weekend on Saturday August 19, while the lower grades will be played at Sunnybank the following day.
QPR Colts 3 Norths Field 1 Saturday, 12 August 2023 8:50am
QPR Colts 2 Norths Field 1 Saturday, 12 August 2023 10:20am
QPR 5th Grade Norths Field 2 Saturday, 12 August 2023 8:50am
QPR 4th Grade Norths Field 1 Saturday, 12 August 2023 11:50am
QPR 3rd Grade Norths Field 1 Saturday, 12 August 2023 11:50am
QPR Premier Women Brothers Field 1 Saturday, 12 August 2023 10:20am
QPR Colts 1 Brothers Field 1 Saturday, 12 August 2023 11:50am
QPR 2nd Grade Brothers Field 1 Saturday, 12 August 2023 1:20pm
StoreLocal Hospital Cup Brothers Field 1 Saturday, 12 August 2023 3:10pm
QPR Colts 3 Easts Field 2 Sunday, 13 August 2023 8:50am
QPR Colts 2 Easts Field 2 Sunday, 13 August 2023 10:20am
QPR 5th Grade Easts Field 2 Sunday, 13 August 2023 1:20pm
QPR 4th Grade Easts Field 1 Sunday, 13 August 2023 8:50am
QPR 3rd Grade Easts Field 2 Sunday, 13 August 2023 11:50am
QPR Premier Women Easts Field 1 Sunday, 13 August 2023 10:20am
QPR Colts 1 Easts Field 1 Sunday, 13 August 2023 11:50am
QPR 2nd Grade Easts Field 1 Sunday, 13 August 2023 1:20pm
StoreLocal Hospital Cup Easts Field 1 Sunday, 13 August 2023 3:05pm
QPR Colts 3 Sunnybank Field 1 Sunday, 20 August 2023 9:00am
QPR Colts 2 Sunnybank Field 1 Sunday, 20 August 2023 10:30am
QPR 5th Grade Sunnybank Field 1 Sunday, 20 August 2023 12:00pm
QPR 4th Grade Sunnybank Field 1 Sunday, 20 August 2023 1:30pm
QPR 3rd Grade Sunnybank Field 1 Sunday, 20 August 2023 3:00pm
QPR Premier Women GPS Field 1 Saturday, 19 August 2023 10:20am
QPR Colts 1 GPS Field 1 Saturday, 19 August 2023 11:50am
QPR 2nd Grade GPS Field 1 Saturday, 19 August 2023 1:20pm
StoreLocal Hospital Cup GPS Field 1 Saturday, 19 August 2023 3:10pm
QPR Colts 3 Ballymore Field 2 Saturday, 26 August 2023 9:00am
QPR Colts 2 Ballymore Field 1 Saturday, 26 August 2023 10:45am
QPR 5th Grade Ballymore Field 1 Saturday, 26 August 2023 9:00am
QPR 4th Grade Ballymore Field 1 Saturday, 26 August 2023 12:30pm
QPR 3rd Grade Ballymore Field 1 Saturday, 26 August 2023 2:15pm
QPR Premier Women Ballymore Field 1 Sunday, 27 August 2023 9:00am
QPR Colts 1 Ballymore Field 1 Sunday, 27 August 2023 10:45am
QPR 2nd Grade Ballymore Field 1 Sunday, 27 August 2023 12:30pm
StoreLocal Hospital Cup Ballymore Field 1 Sunday, 27 August 2023 2:15pm
