The NRL Schoolboy Cup is the premier secondary schools rugby league competition in Australia, held annually since 1975. Formerly known under such names as the Amco Shield, Commonwealth Bank Cup, Arrive Alive Cup and GIO Schoolboy Cup nearly 450 schools from throughout Australia compete in the knock-out competition.[1]
 | |
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Instituted | 1975 |
| Country | Australia (Australian Rugby League Commission) |
| Holders | Palm Beach Currumbin State High School (2024) |
| Most titles | St Gregory's College, Campbelltown (9 titles) |
| Website | GIO Schoolboy Cup website |
| Broadcast partner | Fox Sports |
The player of the tournament is awarded the Peter Sterling Medal, renamed in 1996 after Peter Sterling, who won the medal in 1978, for Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield. The competition is televised on Fox Sports and The Daily Telegraph.
The most successful school is St Gregory's College, Campbelltown, with nine titles, followed by Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield with six. The most recent champions are Palm Beach Currumbin State High School, who won their fourth title in 2024.
History
editThe competition was founded in 1975 as the Amco Shield. The inaugural winners were Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield who defeated Blacktown High School in the final, 16–8. The match was played at Leichhardt Oval as a curtain raiser to the 1975 Amco Cup final between Eastern Suburbs and Parramatta.[2]
Originally, the televised matches of the competition were played and recorded as the curtain raisers to mid week Amco Cup games. After the midweek competitions died out, the televised matches were played prior to Friday Night Football and were shown on Channel 9 in the weeks leading up to the NRL Grand Final. The games are currently played and recorded midweek and shown on Fox Sports, with commentary by Andrew Voss.
In 1978, Padua College, Brisbane were the first Queensland school and first school from outside of New South Wales to make the final. They lost 19–3 to Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield.
In 1980, St Gregory's College, Campbelltown became the first school to win back-to-back titles. They later became the first school to win three titles in a row from 1989 to 1991.
In 1982 Holy Cross College, Ryde became the first school to play in four consecutive finals from 1979. They lost three of their four finals, with their only victory coming against Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield in 1981.
In 1996, Erindale College, Canberra became the first school from the Australian Capital Territory to reach the final. A year later they became the first school from outside of New South Wales to win the competition. They won the competition again in 1998, beating Parramatta Marist High School in both years.
In 2001, Palm Beach Currumbin State High School became the first Queensland school to win the competition. Brisbane's Wavell State High School became the second a year later in 2002.
Endeavour Sports High School won the competition three years in a row from 2004 to 2006, becoming the first school to do so since 1991.
In 2015, Townsville's Kirwan State High School became the first school from North Queensland to win the competition, defeating Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown, who were in their fourth straight final, losing the last three in a row.
In 2016, Westfields Sports High School won the competition for the first time.
In 2017, Keebra Park State High School became first Queensland school to win the competition three times, becoming the most successful school in the state. A year later, Palm Beach Currumbin won their third title, drawing level with Keebra Park. In 2019, Kirwan State High School won the competition for the second time, making it three straight years a Queensland school has won.
In 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no national finals were held for the first time in the competition's history.[3]
In 2022, after a three year absence, the national final returned, with Ipswich State High School defeating Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield to win their first title.[4]
Naming rights
editDue to sponsorship, the Schoolboy Cup has gone under many different names since first being held in 1975. Originally known as the Amco Shield, it has been known as the NRL Schoolboy Cup since 2018.
- Amco Shield (1975–1979)
- Commonwealth Bank Cup (1980–1996)
- Aussie Home Loans Cup (1997–1999)
- Nutri-Grain Cup (2000–2002)
- Arrive Alive Cup (2003–2009)
- National Schoolboy Cup (2010–2011)
- GIO Schoolboy Cup (2012–2017)[5]
- NRL Schoolboy Cup (2018–present)
Format
editThe competition is divided into two conferences. The Northern Conference, comprising schools from Queensland, is further divided into smaller competitions: the Aaron Payne Cup, the Allan Langer Trophy, and the Dolphin Cup. The winners of these cups compete against each other, with the victor being crowned the Queensland Schoolboy Cup Champion. The Southern Conference, known as the Peter Mulholland Cup, includes schools from New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. The winners of the Queensland Schoolboy Trophy and the Peter Mulholland Cup then face off in the National Schoolboy Final, with the winner being crowned the National Schoolboy Champion.
Titles
editPeter Sterling Medal
editThe Peter Sterling Medal is awarded to the most outstanding player in the competition. Sterling, one of rugby league's most decorated players, won the award in 1978 while attending Patrician Brothers' College, Fairfield. In 1996, the medal was renamed in his honour.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "2010 ARL Schoolboy Cup". New South Wales Rugby League. 25 May 2010. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
- ^ "Celebrating 40 years of Schoolboy Rugby League". 17 September 2015.
- ^ "Patrician Brothers Blacktown defeat Westfields Sports High". The Daily Telegraph. 11 November 2020.
- ^ "Watch Ipswich v Patrician Brothers in interstate derby". The Courier-Mail. 14 September 2022.
- ^ GIO becomes a proud sponsor of NSW Rugby League Suncorp 16 April 2012