Toowoomba Grammar were the GPS competitions big improvers in 2023 but ultimately fell a few points short against BBC and Nudgee in two season defining matches.

Most of last year’s first XV side moved on at the end of last season, but a new-look Toowoomba outfit head into their 2024 campaign on the back of an unbeaten four game tour of New Zealand.

Overview with Scott Gale: 

“We’re really happy with our preseason, I couldn’t have asked for anything more out of our boys over the last few months,” Gale told Rugby News. 

“They’ve worked really hard, as all teams have, because it’s a very long preseason that players have got to get through before they get to play a competition game. 

“We were fortunate enough to go on a rugby tour to New Zealand and took two teams over their with each side playing four games each. 

“We played against StAC or St Andrew’s College in Christchurch and Christ College in Christchurch as well, then went up and played Marlborough Boys College and finished with a game against St Pats Wellington and had four tight wins, which was fantastic for our first XV side. 

“It served as great prep on and off the field for the season ahead. 

“We fell one game short last year but I still look back on the season with really fond memories. We had a great group of boys last year and a lot of them have obviously moved on. 

“But last year was probably two years in the making and that group had played a lot of good rugby together in the lead up to last season. 

“They helped instil a winning culture back in the rugby program which was great and I think this year’s group will benefit from some of the lessons they learned from the side before them and hopefully that helps them go one better.”

2024 Squad:

“It’s a young group with the majority of boys in year 10 and year 11 and then maybe four or five year 12 boys in there as well,” Gale said. 

“Because they are young, they are fearless and we want to use that to our advantage this year and play with lots of confidence and showcase their skill.”

What style of rugby will we see from Toowoomba Grammar this season?

“Our intent will change a little from what you saw last year. We still know and will still be very reliant on our set piece. That’s always going to be the case with any Toowoomba Grammar side and we still really value that part of our game. 

“But when you look at some of the talent in our backrow and in our backline, we want to play to our strengths and get them the ball in space as much as possible. 

“If we can do that and remain strong up front, then I think we’ll be hard to stop at times.”

What are you expecting across the competition this season?

“We’re under no illusions that we’re still facing an uphill battle and that it’s going to be another tight, tough season based on the trial form and some of the results we’ve seen. 

“Every week in a nine-week comp is like a grand final and then we’ve got an additional game against Downlands as well in our bye week, so we’re preparing for 9 straight grand finals. 

“Because of that, you’ve got to take it week by week. As soon as anyone looks too far ahead, I think sides will get into trouble. 

“We’re hopeful that we’ll be right in the mix though. It could go either way with a young side, but they’ve got plenty of talent and when they play with confidence, they can play some really good rugby.”