Sport
2 March, 2026
Cairns centre of Foley Shield games in 2026
THE 2026 Foley Shield will return to Cairns for an action-packed weekend from 2-4 May at Stan Williams Park.
Queensland Rugby League has confirmed the dates and draw, with matches to be played across three days featuring A-grade men, A-grade women and men’s remote areas fixtures.
The competition will include teams from Mt Isa/Gulf, Southern Cape and Thursday Island/NPA, alongside Cairns, Mackay and Townsville, showcasing rugby league talent from across Far North Queensland and beyond.
Play gets underway on Saturday 2 May with the A-grade men’s remote areas clash between Mt Isa/Gulf and Southern Cape at 3.20pm.
The A-grade women’s match between Cairns and Mackay follows at 5pm, before the A-grade men’s fixture between Cairns and Mackay at 6.30pm.
Sunday 3 May opens with the Southern Cape facing TI/NPA in the A-grade men’s remote areas at 10.50am. Mackay takes on Townsville in the A-grade women’s at 12.30pm, followed by the A-grade men’s match between Mackay and Townsville at 2pm.
The final day on Monday 4 May begins with TI/NPA playing Mount Isa/Gulf in the A-grade men remote areas at 10.50am.
Cairns meets Townsville in the A-grade women at 12.30pm, before the A-grade men close the carnival with Cairns v Townsville at 2pm.
The Foley Shield has long been a key representative carnival in the region, bringing together established centres and remote communities in a three-day showcase.
