The change — voted in by the eight affiliated junior clubs at a recent general committee meeting — will see all regular Thursday and Friday night fixtures continue as normal, but now with two special Sunday rounds scheduled during the season on 26 October and 2 November.
This adjustment allows the junior competitions to wrap up in late November instead of early December, giving players, coaches, and referees a smoother finish to the year.
TTF's Junior Competitions Coordinator Lachlan Carey said the move was a “win-win” for the junior touch community.
“[The change] aligns better with our representative calendar, especially with the Queensland State Cup on the Gold Coast at the end of November each year.”
“That event usually draws a large number of our coaches, referees, and even players away, which can make it tricky to run our own games at the same time. By finishing earlier, we avoid those clashes and make sure our finals aren't affected.”
The change is also great news for boarding school students, who make up a significant portion of the competition for the Townsville Grammar club. In past years, many have returned home before finals, leaving their teams short on locally-based players.
The new dates mean more teams will have their full roster available when it matters most.
In addition, organisers are confident the earlier finish will help reduce forfeits at the back end of the season caused by clashes with other events.
The recently renamed INTERSPORT Townsville Juniors season will still kick off on Thursday 21 August (for 13 & Under to 16 & Under) and Friday 22 August (for 7 & Under to 12 & Under).
The popular R U OK? Round returns on 11–12 September, and there will be a break from 25 September to 3 October for school holidays.
The finals series will now start on 13 November (13–16’s) and 14 November (9–12’s), with all grand finals played on Friday 21 November in a big night of junior touch action.
As always, the 7 & Under and 8 & Under teams will play through to the final night.
More details, including the Sunday round dates, will be confirmed closer to the season. For all junior information, visit www.tjt.au.