The Queensland Rugby Challenger Series will return in 2023 after the concept’s successful introduction last year, with an aligned women's program set to feature for the first time at Ballymore Stadium.
The series has been expanded to three games and will again see a Queensland Reds Development XV take on the Challenger XV, which will be made up of the Store Local Hospital Cup and Queensland Women's Premier Rugby's best players.
12 players who featured in last year’s men's series have gone on to make their Queensland debuts, while Connor Anderson and Phransis Sula-Siaosi were rewarded with full-time contracts following the series and Queensland’s subsequent Tour of Japan.
This year's series will also culminate in a Queensland-Saitama Shield fixture against the Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, with Ballymore set to host the Japanese powerhouse club in November.
The women's series will provide further opportunity for aspiring Premier Rugby players ahead of next year's Super W campaign.
The newly developed Ballymore Stadium will host all three games in September and October.
Reds General Manager – Professional Rugby Sam Cordingley said: “The introduction of the Challenger Series has been a huge positive for Queensland Rugby.
“The series provides our contracted players more meaningful playing time together, while also offers an opportunity to see our most talented club Rugby players perform at the next level.
“It has already paid dividends with several players making their Queensland debuts and securing contracts with the Reds after last year. We look forward to seeing this once again in 2023 at Ballymore, especially with our women involved for the first time."
The Challenger XV teams will be led by Hospital Cup and Premier Rugby coaching staff, with squads to be finalised following the Grand Final in late August.
Last year saw the successful introduction of several law changes which aimed to speed up the game and increase ball-in-play time, a number of which positively impacted on this year’s Super Rugby Pacific competition.
Further innovations will be trialled again in the 2023 series.
- Sunday 17th September - Ballymore Stadium
- Sunday 24th September - Ballymore Stadium
- Sunday 1st October - Ballymore Stadium
