Queensland's premier rugby competition is set to return on August 1, the QRU announced on Thursday.
Initially slated for a July 1 return, more clarity around the Queensland government's plan for sports has allowed the QRU too announce a shortened indicative draw kicking off on August 1.
The first round will effectively act as a trial for the Hospital Challenge Cup sides, with no competition points up for grabs but those games will be played under the usual tournament conditions.
Crowds will not be permitted for the foreseeable future but that will be revisited as the competition progresses.
Ballymore will be available for clubs to use as a venue for at least the first three rounds with a number of coronavirus restrictions set to be in place even as Queensland moves into phase two and three of its road map to lifting restrictions.
QRU head of community rugby Gaven Head said all the Premier Rugby clubs had been consulted in establishing a plan for the competition.
“We’ve been working hard with all nine of our Premier Rugby clubs to come up with a solution for return to play," he said.
“There has been a lot of positive buy-in from club officials to work through the process and figure out what is feasible for each club and their venues.
“Given there are no trial matches, the first Round at least won’t count for Hospital Challenge Cup competition points, to allow for teams to have their first hit out, however the matches will all be played under normal competition rules with set teams of 23 players and restricted substitutions.
“Given the challenges faced by many within the rugby community during this period, it’s really positive to be able to lock in an indicative plan for Premier Rugby that will hopefully provide our club players and Rugby fans alike something to look forward to in the near future.”
DRAW
Queensland Premier Rugby schedule
Round 1 – August 1
Souths vs Brothers
Sunnybank vs Easts
GPS vs Wests
Norths vs University of Queensland
BYE – Bond University
Round 2 – August 8
Bond University vs Sunnybank
Brothers vs Norths
Wests vs Easts
GPS vs Souths
BYE – University of Queensland
Round 3 – August 15
Bond University vs Norths
GPS vs Brothers
University of Queensland vs Easts
Sunnybank vs Souths
BYE – Wests
Round 4 – August 22
Brothers vs Bond University
Easts vs GPS
Sunnybank vs University of Queensland
Norths vs Wests
BYE – Souths
Round 5 – August 29
Bond University vs Easts
Wests vs Brothers
GPS vs Sunnybank
University of Queensland vs Souths
BYE – Norths
Round 6 – September 5
Souths vs Bond University
Easts vs Norths
GPS vs University of Queensland
Wests vs Sunnybank
BYE – Brothers
Round 7 – September 12
Brothers vs University of Queensland
Wests vs Bond University
Souths vs Easts
Norths vs GPS
BYE – Sunnybank
Round 8 – September 19
Brothers vs Souths
Easts vs Sunnybank
Wests vs GPS
University of Queensland vs Norths
BYE – Bond University
Round 9 – September 26
Sunnybank vs Bond University
Norths vs Brothers
Easts vs Wests
Souths vs GPS
BYE – University of Queensland
Round 10 – October 3
Souths vs Norths
Bond University vs GPS
Sunnybank vs Brothers
University of Queensland vs Wests
BYE – Easts
Round 11 – October 10
Bond University vs University of Queensland
Brothers vs Easts
Norths vs Sunnybank
Wests vs Souths
BYE – GPS
Semi-Finals
Weekend of October 17-18
Preliminary Finals
October 24-25
Grand Finals
October 31 - November 1
