College sporting supremacy comes down to cup match

A year's worth of bragging rights is up for grabs at the Francis & Kassulke Cup rugby match between, King’s College and St Leo’s College this weekend.

The almost 100-year-old event will be held at the St Lucia campus on September 18 at 3pm, and is expected to attract close to 3000 spectators.

“The Francis & Kassulke Cup match is close to one of the biggest sporting events on the university calendar,” Master of King’s College, Greg Eddy said.

Current holders of the Inter College Cup (ICC) and the Francis & Kassulke Cup, King’s College have been pitted against their rivals St Leo’s College in rugby encounters since 1920.

Both have enjoyed periods of success with King’s winning all matches from 1948 to 1959 and Leo’s having an unbeaten 17 years from 1991 to 2006.

“The history of the event is part of the history of UQ, with former players from both colleges watching and cheering from the sidelines,” Vice Rector of St Leo’s, Steve Foley said.

UQ colleges have been contesting the ICC since 1913 and the winner of the match between the two colleges will decide the 2010 champions.

King’s College will host this year’s match, which will also coincide with a Reunion Weekend for their old collegians.

“Every year there is increased interest in the match from students, collegians, the university community, and the general public. People like the tradition, which has been built around the match over the past 90 years,” Mr Eddy said.

The Francis and Kassulke Cup is named after Kingsman Eric Francis, UQ’s first Wallaby in 1914 and Nigel Kassulke, a Wallaby in 1985 who resided at St Leo’s from 1979 to 1981.

“It is a great day to celebrate the contribution of St Leo’s and King’s to the UQ story. The ICC game more than any other is the one the Leo’s boys want to win the most, and after last year’s down to the wire result with King’s sealing their victory in the last minute, I know they are ready for it,” Mr Foley said.

The ICC involves 12 sports played among the colleges including cricket, rowing, tennis, hockey and squash.

Media: Tom Cranitch, Director of Advancement at King’s College at (t.cranitch@kings.uq.edu.au), Steve Foley, Vice Rector Students, St Leo’s College on, (s.foley@stleos.uq.edu.au), or Allison Rock at UQ Communications (Allison.rock@uqconnect.edu.au or 07 3365 2619)