Sport at Downlands

At Downlands, Athletics is one of our three major inter-house sporting carnivals each year. We conduct a Junior School athletics carnival at the end of Term 2 and Middle and Senior School in early Term 3 on the College grounds. Upon competing in the inter-house events, students placing in the top two will have the opportunity to represent the College at further competitions including the TSSS and QCIS Championships.

Downlands College enters an Under 17 Girls team into the Toowoomba Australian Football girls’ competition that begins in Term 1 and runs for 6-8 weeks depending on the teams nominated. In this specific competition, we are the only school team entered and we oppose clubs from around the Downs. 

Downlands also enters Years 7 to 9 and Years 10 to 12 (boys and girls) teams into the AFLQ Schools Cup competition.

Girls who are Under 15 may be dispensed up to participate in Term 1. Years 7 to 12 boys and girls are entered into the AFLQ Schools Cup competition.

Downlands College enters teams into the Toowoomba Schools Friday Night Basketball competition that begins early in Term 1 and runs for approximately eight weeks. In this competition, we enter both boys' and girls' teams into the Year 7/8, Year 9/10, and Year 11/12 divisions. 

Downlands may also enter more competitions throughout the year. This will be based on the level of participation, skill, and interest, we have at the College. In Term 4 of 2023, the Junior School will have the opportunity to compete in their own Friday night competition.

Downlands College enters teams of all abilities into the Toowoomba Cricket competition that begins in Term 4 and concludes at the end of Term 1 the following year. We will be entering teams into at least every stage offered by TCI. All games are played on a Saturday morning beginning at 8am and concluding around 11am. This sport is also offered to new students to the College in Term 4 before their commencement.

Downlands also has a First XI and Second XI team that students can strive to join. The First XI team has been selected for 2023, but the Second XI team is based on performances on a Saturday playing for Downlands. These two teams are entered into a T20 competition and play against GPS schools. They will also have the opportunity to travel to Brisbane in January and participate in the annual Brisbane Schools Cricket Week.

Downlands College allows students to begin training for Cross Country in Term 1 as a preparation for the inter-house carnival, and the various other carnivals that we participate in. Students also use these sessions to work on their fitness for other sports, socialise with friends, and keep active. Downlands competes in the QCIS Cross Country Championships each year, along with the TSSS, Range Zone and Darling Downs trials.

There is no sign-up for Cross Country. Simply attend the sessions you wish to attend each week and use our programs on the Team App when there is not a session. 

Downlands College is fortunate to be able to enter teams into the Toowoomba Football Competition that begins during Term 1 and concludes in Term 3 (breaking during the School Holidays). In 2022, Downlands expanded to include Under 11, Under 13 and 15 teams in the program. In 2023, we will look to add ages 6 to 10-year-old students into the program and expand on our older teams.

Throughout the year, Downlands also enters a Junior Team and a Senior Team into the Monday night Schoolgirls Competition that runs for two terms. 

Downlands College enters teams into the Darling Downs Boys Futsal Competition and Toowoomba Girls Futsal Competition that runs in Term 1 each year. Boys and Girls competitions run separately but both consist of Under 13, Under 15 and Under 19 Age groups. 

The College also participates in the annual QCIS Futsal Championships in Term 2 and the Southwest Queensland Futsal Championships in Term 2. Divisions for these competitions are in age groups for both boys and girls.

Downlands College enters teams into both the Wednesday night and Saturday Toowoomba Netball Association competitions. Downlands First VII, Second VII Red and Second VII Blue are selected from students in Years 10 to Year 12 and the Junior 

First VII are selected from students in Year 9 and below. These teams compete on a Wednesday evening. Students under the age of 16 are selected in teams to compete against teams their age. These teams compete on a Saturday morning.

The Downlands First VII compete a QISSN and Senior Vicki Wilson. With the Junior First VII competing in Junior Vicki Wilson and the Laura Geitz Championships.

Downlands College has a rich and celebrated rugby history. Since the College’s inception in 1931, it has championed the sport of rugby and delivered a host of Wallabies including Tim Horan, Garrick Morgan, Peter Ryan, Brett Johnstone, Greg Holmes, Brett Robinson, Robert Potter, Thomas Bourke and many more. 

The Downlands College rugby program is designed to encourage participation for all students and aims to present the players with wide-ranging opportunities and experiences. The season actively runs from Term 1 to Term 3 (annually) which allows for participation in the following events:

• The Regional Rugby Championships – Rockhampton 
• Ballymore Cup – Brisbane
• O’Callaghan Cup 
• Selected AIC Schools 
• Selected GPS Schools 
• Biannual International tours 

The program is designed to foster personal growth and experience for all students and is supported by highly qualified coaches and strength and conditioning experts. In addition, our medical centre and gym attempt to keep the players healthy and safe. School rugby is repeatedly shifting and therefore we have established a high-performance methodology in all aspects of the game. 

Rugby at Downlands College is an inclusive sport for all, aimed at helping young men grow and prosper as individuals both on and off the field. 

Downlands College provides its students, with a particular focus on Girls Rugby, with several opportunities to learn the game of Rugby Sevens. 

Girls Rugby Sevens begins at the start of Term 2 with a thorough preseason that focuses on core skills and rugby safety. Fixtures for the girls begin in Term 3 with the Darling Downs Independent Schools Rugby Sevens tournament and continue in Term 4 with the Southwest Sevens Tournament.

Downlands also enters the All Schools Rugby Sevens and participates in the annual Selina Worsley Cup against The Glennie School. Downlands will also be participating in various national and international tours for the Girls' Rugby Sevens.

Boys Rugby Sevens begin in Term 4 as a continuation of the XV a-side game. The Boys participate in the annual Southwest Sevens tournament. 

Students aged 10 and above can participate in Rugby Sevens. Age groups are broken into U11, U13, U15 and Open divisions.

Downlands College students begin training for swimming competitions and carnivals in Term 4. Students also use these sessions to work on their fitness for other sports, socialise with friends, and to keep active. 

Downlands College enters teams of all age groups into the Toowoomba Touch Football competition that begins in Term 4 and concludes at the end of Term 1 the following year. All games are played at the same time each week with Under 14 and 16 teams playing on a Wednesday night and Under 10 and 12 teams playing on a Friday night. 

Downlands also enters an Under 18 Boys and Girls team into the annual Queensland All Schools Touch Football Championships. These teams begin training in Term 3 in preparation for the tournament in Term 4. 

Downlands College enters teams into the Toowoomba Volleyball Association Competition that begins early in Term 1 and runs for approximately eight weeks. In this competition, we enter Boys and Girls teams into the Year 7/8, Year 9/10, and Year 11/12 divisions. 

Downlands may also enter more competitions throughout the year, including the Queensland Volleyball Schools Cup. This will be based on the level of players we have at the College.