SAINTS IN THE BOX SEAT
17 June 2009

(By Griffith Thomas, The Reporter)

The opportunities are endless for the Logan City Rugby Union Club, according to the club’s chairman, Peter Tisdall (pictured).

But the news that the club will relocate (expected to be the end of 2010) to Griffith University’s Logan Campus in Meadowbrook, after the State Government delivered on its promise to match Logan City Council’s $1.5 million contribution to the first stage of the Griffith University Sports Field Development plan, is a massive coup in the club’s aspirations to enter the Queensland Premier Rugby competition.

Tisdall believes the announcement puts the Saints in the ‘box seat’ to be the next team ushered into the top fleet.

“I definitely feel we are in the box seat to be the next team to force our way into the premier rugby competition,” he said. “As a result of Queensland Rugby Union’s (QRU) review of the premier rugby earlier this year, a decision was made to extend the competition to all teams who were able to fulfil the criteria laid down. And on that basis it was envisioned that Logan City and Redlands and perhaps Toowoomba and Townsville would be the next cabs off the rank.”

Tisdall said the club’s impressive new home would go a long way in helping their bid, but said the number of quality players the club would now be able to attract weighed more importance.

“To be honest (having good facilities) is part of it, but the focus has shifted from facilities to being able to put the players on the park,” he said. The good thing about having these facilities is it will make it much easier for us to attract the sort of player numbers we require. We will also be able to compete for recruitment of players and enable the club to better compete against premier rugby clubs. I do think this will also give us an impetus to develop the game in Logan City.”

After patiently waiting for their chance while competing in the Brisbane first division, the Saints had their first taste of the top level of competition when they were invited to compete in the inaugural State Cup earlier this year.

The Saints proved they were more than capable to match wits with the state’s best, recording a historic win over premier rugby club, Sunshine Coast, and a valiant performance against last year’s premiers, Easts.

Tisdall said there was no ‘hard and fast plan’ laid down by QRU for when the extension of the Queensland Premier Rugby competition would happen.

< BACK TO NEWS ARCHIVE >