Wednesday 29 July 2026 | Round 4 Final Round | Bowen
The curtain has come down on the inaugural NQ Schoolgirls Super 7s Series, and what a season it has been. Round 4 — held in Bowen on Wednesday — brought a fitting and spectacular conclusion to a competition that has exceeded every expectation, grown with every round, and firmly established itself as one of the most exciting developments in North Queensland rugby.
From Townsville to Bowen and everywhere in between, schoolgirls rugby sevens in the north is alive, thriving, and heading somewhere very special.
The Under 14s competition was fiercely contested across all four rounds, with four schools giving absolutely everything on the park. When the overall points tally was finalised, it was St Margaret Mary's College who took home the series honours — a well-deserved reward for a team that delivered consistently and brilliantly across the competition.
St Patrick's College Townsville and Thuringowa State High School finished equal in a tight battle for second, with both schools pushing hard right through to the final round. Bowen State High School rounded out the competition, competing with great heart and spirit each time they took the field.
In the Round 4 final, St Margaret Mary's College claimed the match honours in dramatic fashion, defeating St Patrick's College Townsville in a hotly contested match that went right to the wire. It was Amelia Brown who proved the match-winner, crossing for a last-minute try to seal the result and earn the well-deserved Player of the Final award — a moment that had everyone on their feet and perfectly summed up the spirit of this competition.
A remarkable group of young players earned recognition across the competition:
- St Patrick's College Townsville — Margaret Baker
- St Margaret Mary's College — Cailin De Wet
- Thuringowa State High School — Pelista Thaiday
- Bowen State High School — Lana Wickham
Each of these players has been a credit to their school and their sport throughout the series. Congratulations to all four.
The Under 16s competition produced some of the most thrilling rugby of the entire series, and the final standings reflected just how competitive it was at the top. St Margaret Mary's College claimed the series title with a dominant overall performance, accumulating the points across four rounds to stand as worthy champions of this inaugural competition.
Thuringowa State High School pushed hard throughout and finished in a strong position, while Bowen State High School and Townsville State High School — making their series debut this season — both contributed enormously to the quality and depth of the competition.
In the Round 4 final, St Margaret Mary's College faced Thuringowa State High School in what proved a fitting finale to the series, with Madison Schell of St Margaret Mary's claiming her second Player of the Final award of the series — a fitting bookend on a season that saw her grow into one of the standout players in the competition.
Four players stood out above and beyond across the season:
- Townsville State High School — Nova Vea Vea
- St Margaret Mary's College — Heidi Neasby
- Thuringowa State High School — Aliyah Mairu-Campbell
- Bowen State High School — Talisa Sorbello
These young women have set the standard for what schoolgirls rugby in North Queensland can look like. Take a bow.
While the Under 18s division had limited opportunities this season, what it did produce was full of promise. Enormous thanks go to the schools who stepped up to make games happen — Bowen State High School took on St Patrick's College, and in Round 3, a Pimlico/Thuringowa State High School Barbarians combination took the field to give players invaluable experience at that next level.
The spirit shown by those involved in the Under 18s this season is exactly what grassroots rugby is built on — a willingness to find a way, make it work, and put players first.
Player of the Series for the Under 18s goes to Mary-Ellen Kusu of Bowen State High School — a thoroughly deserved honour for a player who embraced every opportunity the season offered.
In wonderful news for North Queensland rugby, two teams will carry the region's colours to Brisbane for the Santos Q7s State Cup Finals on 3–4 September 2026:
St Margaret Mary's College — representing the north in the Under 16s St Patrick's College Townsville — representing the north in the Under 14s, having claimed the Q7s Qualifier at Round 1
This is a tremendous achievement for both schools and a fantastic milestone for the inaugural NQ Schoolgirls Super 7s Series. The standard of rugby produced this season has earned this recognition, and we cannot wait to see both teams fly the North Queensland flag on the state stage. Go get 'em.
Cast your mind back to Round 1 and consider what this series has delivered. Four rounds of competition. Multiple age groups. Schools from Townsville, Bowen, and beyond. Hundreds of young women who discovered or deepened a love of rugby sevens. And a pathway — a real, tangible pathway — to state competition.
This series was built on belief, hard work, and a shared vision for what schoolgirls rugby in North Queensland could become. Round 4 in Bowen was not just a conclusion — it was a launchpad.
We'll see you all next season. And it's going to be even bigger.
A season like this does not happen without an extraordinary network of support, and heartfelt thanks go to every person and organisation who contributed.
Rugby Australia — for the support and frameworks that make competitions like this possible at the grassroots level. Your investment in the women's game is making a real difference.
Townsville District Rugby Union — for providing the infrastructure, the venue, and the unwavering commitment to growing women's rugby in the north. The TDRU's role in making this series happen from day one has been indispensable.
Townsville District Rugby Union Referees Association (TDRURA) — for exceptional officiating across every round of the competition. The referees brought professionalism, encouragement, and a genuine passion for developing the players they shared the field with. This series simply does not work without you.
Bodyfix Townsville — Physiotherapy & Performance Rehab — for serving as game day medics and for being a proud and ongoing supporter of Townsville District Rugby Union. Player welfare was in the best possible hands throughout the season, and the commitment Bodyfix brings to the local rugby community is deeply valued.
And finally, to every teacher, coach, manager, parent, and volunteer who got players to training, drove them to games, washed jerseys, and cheered from the sideline — this series belongs to you too. Thank you.
For full results, ladders, and fixtures from the 2026 NQ Schoolgirls Super 7s Series, visit xplorer.rugby or follow Queensland Rugby on social media.
