Grammar Downlands Day

The Toowoomba Grammar School-Downlands College rugby connection dates back to 1931 when Downlands College was founded. Since then, the annual Grammar-Downlands rugby contest has been ongoing except for two years (1942-1943) during World War Il when Downlands moved to Dalby, while their school buildings in Toowoomba were used as a Military Hospital.

In early 1950 the five O'Callaghan brothers (Jim, John, Frank, Michael and Bryan) who attended Downlands in the 1930's and early 1940's, instigated the introduction of the O'Callaghan Cup for the two schools' 1st XV teams. They also donated the original cup. The Downlands College 1st XV won this inaugural 1950 encounter 15 to 6.

The Cup was to be awarded to the winning team at an annual match between the two great schools to enhance friendly rivalry and school spirit and most of all for every student to enjoy the great game of Rugby.

The present O'Callaghan Cup is the second cup and was first presented in 1970. It is now permanently housed in a glass case for care and preservation.

2024 Grammar Downlands Day

On Saturday, 31 August Toowoomba Grammar School and Downlands College went head-to-head in the 75th annual O'Callaghan Cup held at Downlands College.

Statistics up to and including 2024

• Downlands has won 36 matches, and TGS has won 36 matches. There have been 3 draws.
• For 39 of these games the winning margin has been ten points or less.
• Overall points scored since the competition started in 1950 – TGS 1,210 & Downlands College 1,158
• 1951 two games were played. TGS won both matches. The trial game was played due to there being no match against TSS that year. TGS won the trial 18-11. The official match was played later in the year. TGS won that game 6-0.
• Downlands had six successive wins from 1991-1996
• TGS had five successive wins from 2014-2018
• 1997 – TGS defeated Downlands 38-5 after six consecutive losses.
  TGS won the following year, it was the first time since 1983/84 that TGS had won the Cup back-to-back.
• 2006 was a very controversial year - the third successive victory for TGS, 18-17. With only seconds to go according to the clock on the field, Downlands were 17-15. The Downlands supporters rushed on to the field in celebration only to be informed by the referee that there was still time to go according to his watch. TGS had the ball and through Downlands’ frustration they gave a penalty right in front of the uprights in the last few seconds of the game – a win to TGS.
• 2014 saw the highest winning margin since the commencement of the O'Callaghan Cup – TGS won 69-0.
• 2019 TGS was on the way to a sixth consecutive victory when Downlands Captain and fullback, Mac Grealy scored the winning try in the dying minutes of play to snatch a 27-21 victory.
• 2020 the match was not held at either school for the first time in the history of the game. It was instead held at the Toowoomba Sports Ground and played under lights with restricted crowd numbers – only 100 current students from each school allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions. TGS won 24-10.

Champion Players

• 1987 - Jason Little captained TGS and Tim Horan was DC’s number 10 player, both went on to play for Australia with the Wallabies. This game was a six all draw.
• 2012 - TGS fielded a champion team that included Australian Schoolboys’ player, Jonah Placid and a future Reds player, Marcus Vanzati and future Bronco, Jordan Drew. TGS won 40–8.
• 2014 - Matt Faessler is a current Wallabies and Reds player. Matt played for Downlands in 2014 (TGS won by a record score of 69-nil). In 2015, Matt moved to TGS and TGS won 24-7.
• 2014 & 2015 - Harry Hoopert played for TGS and is now a Reds player.
• 2015 - TGS was captained by Hamish Stewart who played a number of seasons for the Reds. He now plays for the Western Force. TGS won 24-7.
• 2016 - Kye Oates (2012 to 2016) In April 2019, Kye was selected in the Australian Junior Wallabies (Australian Under 20 Rugby Union Team) to compete against Fijo. In November 2022 Kye was selected in the Australian Sevens Rugby Team. While playing his debut game in Hong Kong he scored a try.
• 2020 - Joseph Currie scored two tries and was named Best and Fairest. TGS won 24-10. Joe was signed by the North Queensland Cowboys NRL team in 2021 on a two-year contract starting 2022.

TGS Old Boys' – Toowoomba Grammar Connect

We are pleased to launch the Toowoomba Grammar School online network for Old Boys. Toowoomba Grammar Connect will enable you to:

• Reconnect with old classmates
• Grow your network
• Give back to the TGS community by becoming a mentor or offering careers advice
• Promote your business
• Place job advertisements
• See news and updates and social photos
• Attend events such as reunions and arrange catch ups
• Contribute an article or news story for inclusion in Omnibus and Balliwanga
• Easily update your contact details and mailing preferences

You can sign up in less than two minutes via the link below.