During March, I travelled to Lisbon, Portugal to meet with the organisers of the annual Portugal Rugby Youth Festival. The festival brings together top youth rugby teams from around the world, and we are excited about the possibility of including this festival in our offerings for our Rugby students in the future. The visit was an important step in creating international pathways for our students and expanding opportunities for both our boys' and girls' rugby programs.

Looking ahead, we envision a tour of Portugal in 2026 and the opportunity to host European teams at our school in 2027, which aligns with the Rugby World Cup hosted in Australia. 

As we prepare for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, we recognise the importance of offering equivalent pathways for both boys and girls in individual and team sports. Building on our existing high-performance opportunities for female athletes in swimming, tennis, netball, basketball and football, the addition of a Girls’ Rugby 7s program aims to develop additional elite-level pathways.

Beyond team sports and a passion for rugby, Portugal and our Sunshine Coast region have other commonalities. Grammar sits in a designated UNESCO Biosphere, and we have committed to the values and purpose of the Biosphere through our Grammar Community and Service programs and raising awareness of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and their alignment throughout our programs. With 12 designated Biospheres in Portugal, the most of any country, we are eager to create reciprocal partnerships with schools and young people within the Lisbon area and local Portuguese Biospheres. In addition to our sporting pathways, we are also establishing new connections with local Portuguese International and bilingual schools and establishing an exchange program for groups of students and individuals.

Outcomes

Planning is already well underway. In 2026, we are creating a proposal with a view to touring with an Open Boys and an Open Girls team. The festival is one of Europe’s premier youth rugby tournaments, attracting top teams from across the globe. The Portugal Rugby Youth Festival is a club-based competition and as such, we will be the first Southern Hemisphere school to register.

Looking forward and following the tour in 2026, we hope to welcome European teams to our school in 2027—coinciding with Australia hosting of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

In addition to our sporting pathways, we have established connections with several local schools and commenced planning for exchange programs for groups of students and individuals.

Lastly, the Grammar community demonstrates a strong commitment to the values and purpose of the Man and Biosphere (MAB) project, and the Reservas da Biosfera de Portugal (Biosphere Reserves of Portugal) that are also strongly aligned with the offerings in schools in Lisbon. I am very grateful to the many staff and individuals who supported my experience and stepped in to assist in my absence. The future is bright.   

UNESCO World Heritage Listed Areas and Biosoferas (Biospheres)

Grammar Long Lunch

*Please note this is an 18+ event.

FROM THE P&F

Committee Meeting

Join us on Tuesday, 29 April from 6:00 - 7:00 pm for our general committee meeting. All members of our school community are encouraged to attend. We look forward to welcoming you. 

Mother's Day Stall

The Grammar P&F will once again host its Mother's Day Stall on Tuesday, 6 May, for students to select the perfect gifts for their mothers. This year, gift token bundles are available for purchase in $10 and $20 amounts. Students will receive tokens in $5 increments, which they can use to buy a variety of gifts priced between $5 and $20.ELC students will have gifts delivered to the Centre for the children to choose from.

Tickets are now available via Events Online.