Sports Bulletin – Issue 4, 1 May 2026

Round 1 This Week – Old Boys Round vs St Laurence’s College
This week, our focus is simple – Growth.
Growth in how we prepare, how we compete and how we represent Villanova College.
We were proud to formally present our First IV Chess, First XI Football and First XV Rugby Union teams at Assembly this week. These players now set the tone for our program. The standard starts with them. 

There has been strong intent across training. Players are listening, responding and improving. That is what matters. 

With the AIC supplementary draw still being finalised, draws will be released Wednesday evening, followed by team lists on Thursday evening for Chess and Friday lunch for Rugby Union and Football. Teams remain fluid as selections are finalised. Selections are earned, not assumed. We also understand that some students may feel disappointed with their initial team placement. The best response is resilience – keep training well, compete with purpose, show a positive attitude and give coaches every reason to reward improvement across the season. 

This weekend, we open our season at Villa Park against St Laurence’s College as part of Old Boys Round. It is a proud day for our community. Represent the jersey the right way. Students are encouraged to play then stay and support their year level teams where possible. Sitting on the sideline as a reserve or supporting mates is part of being connected to something bigger than one match. 

Match Day Standards
Open and A team players are to arrive in full academic uniform. Spectators for Firsts matches are also expected to be in full academic uniform. Students not in correct uniform are not to be in the tunnel.
The tunnel is a privilege. Bring energy, bring pride and represent Villanova College with class. 

Our Standard
Respect your teammates. Respect your coaches. Respect your opposition. Respect the officials – always. That is non-negotiable. Any serious breach of match-day behaviour will be followed up by the College in line with AIC expectations and College standards.
In moments of pressure, it is not just how we react that matters, but how we respond. Negative comments, poor language, pushing, shoving or disrespect towards officials, opposition, coaches or teammates will not be accepted. As Michael Jordan said, “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” That is growth – turning intent into action, every day. Start strong, stay connected, keep improving, support each other and represent the College with pride. 

Go Villa! 💚💛 

Mr Matthew Hannan , Director of Sport 

Communications
Families should access sports information via the Villanova College website and App. The Locker Room and Villanova College phone application will be relied on to provide key updates between Villa View Newsletter issues. All training and match changes or cancellations will be communicated via the Villanova College phone application.  

No Dog Policy
A reminder that there is a NO DOG policy at all AIC sporting fixtures. Venue coordinators at and adjacent to Villa Park have reported that some pet owners are ignoring the gate signage. Pet owners who ignore the signs will be asked to remove their pets immediately. 

Fixtures, Results and Training Information AIC Draw 2026
Please find linked the AIC Draw for 2026.  

Training Schedules
The Term 2 Weeks 2-8 Training Schedule has now been published to the Locker Room page. If any changes or cancellations occur, the Villanova College App will also be updated accordingly. 

Please note also: In the event of cancelled sessions or extremely poor weather, sessions may be adjusted or rescheduled where possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Team Lists
Team lists are published via Parent Lounge and Student Café. Chess team lists will be released by Thursday evening, with Rugby Union and Football published by Friday lunchtime ahead of the round. This is the earliest possible time this information can be finalised and shared. 

Key Links 

Sport Results – Associated Independent Colleges 

Trimester 2 Sport Uniforms
Families are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Villanova College Uniform Look Book. This information is found on the College website Uniform Shop page. Opening hours for the Uniform Shop can also be found here. All students selected in AIC teams are expected to wear the correct uniform for AIC fixtures each week. 

Sport Specific Updates
AIC Sport Contact List
For information about a specific sport, please first visit the Locker Room page on our website. If you require further clarification, please contact the relevant Sport Coordinator, listed below. Until coach contacts become available online, please report training or game absences directly to the Sport Coordinator and relevant coach; available on Parent Lounge and Student Café. 

Trimester 2 Sports Coordinators
Chess Coordinator – Kath Underhill (kunderhill@vnc.qld.edu.au)
Cross Country Coordinator – Brian Pascoe (bpascoe@vnc.qld.edu.au)
Football Coordinator – Wian Joubert (wian.joubert@vnc.qld.edu.au)
Rugby Union Coordinator – Chris Everding (ceverding@vnc.qld.edu.au) 

Sport Office Administration
Sports Administrators – Angus Sullivan (angus.sullivan@vnc.qld.edu.au) and Maria Mascadri (Mon/Tues/Thur) (mmascadri@vnc.qld.edu.au)
AIC Sports Leader – Wian Joubert (wian.joubert@vnc.qld.edu.au)
Central Sharks District Sport – Todd Kropp (tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au) and Wian Joubert (wian.joubert@vnc.qld.edu.au)
Assistant Director of Sport – Todd Kropp (tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au) 
Director of Sport – Matthew Hannan (matthew.hannan@vnc.qld.edu.au)  

Trimester 3 Sports Coordinators
Basketball Coordinator – Sharon Casey (sharon.casey@vnc.qld.edu.au)
Golf Coordinator – Todd Kropp (tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au)
Rugby League Coordinator – Wian Joubert (wian.joubert@vnc.qld.edu.au)
Tennis Coordinator – Sports Office staff (SportsOffice@vnc.qld.edu.au)
Track & Field Coordinator – Andrew Lund (andrew.lund@vnc.qld.edu.au) 

Term 4
Touch Football Coordinator – Sports Office staff (SportsOffice@vnc.qld.edu.au)
Water Polo Coordinator – Lauren Robinson (lauren.robinson@vnc.qld.edu.au) 

Trimester 1 Sports Coordinators
AFL Coordinator (Monday to Friday) – Brendon Brauer (brendon.brauer@vnc.qld.edu.au)
AFL Coordinator (Saturday) – Chris Paterson (cpaterson@vnc.qld.edu.au)
Cricket Coordinator – Sports Office staff (SportsOffice@vnc.qld.edu.au)
Swimming Coordinators – Julie Colbert (jcolbert@vnc.qld.edu.au) & Lauren Robinson (lauren.robinson@vnc.qld.edu.au)
Volleyball Coordinator – Todd Kropp (tkropp@vnc.qld.edu.au) 

It has been a positive start to Term 2 across the Chess program, with strong attendance and good focus at training. Following last week’s trial fixtures, players have shown improved composure and confidence, particularly across the Junior and Intermediate groups.
The First IV have set a strong early standard and it has been pleasing to see that approach reflected across the program. Thank you to our coaches for their continued support and guidance of the boys. 

As we head into Round 1 against St Laurence’s College, the focus will be on preparation, patience and making good decisions under pressure. Players are encouraged to compete with respect and represent the College with pride. A strong start, with plenty of improvement still to come. 

Ms Kath Underhill, Chess Coordinator 

Cross Country has continued to build well, with consistent attendance and a committed approach from the squad. The work completed over the holiday period and early weeks of term has provided a solid base as we move towards competition. 

This was reflected at the recent Southern Sharks Districts Cross-Country Titles with many positive performances on the day and a number of students successfully being selected to represent the Southern Shark District at the Metropolitan East Championships. Congratulations and good luck to the following students, 

• Under 11 – Peter E. 

• Under 12 – Jack M., Will M., Timmy M. 

• Under 14 – Oscar G. 

• Under 15 – Harris M. 

• Under 16 – Nathan H., Archie S. 

• Under 17 – Dean A., Sebastian C. 

• Under 18 – Jack F. 

A reminder that in Term 2 the Cross-Country training is scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning for the first 3 weeks.  

• Junior school students meet Mrs Weule in the Junior school from 6.30 am, 

• Middle and Senior school students meet at Goold Hall from 6.30 am, 

• The squad walks to Little Langlands to start training at 6.45 am. 

The first Warm-up Cross-Country meet is on Wednesday the 13th of May (week 4) and thereafter there will be no morning training on Wednesdays to ensure the squad can attend the Wednesday afternoon meets ready to race.
A charter bus will attend each of the warm-up meets and return to Villanova following the completion of the last race each week. Parents are welcome to attend and support your son’s at each of the warm-up meets and the AIC Championships. 

Reminder- 2026 Race Distances 

• 2km – Year 5  

• 3km – Year 6, 12 years and 13 Years  

• 4km – 14 and 15 Years  

• 5km – 16 Years and Open – New Distance in 2026 

2026 AIC Cross Country Season – Meet Details  

• Wednesday 13 May (Week 4) – Sherwood Arboretum  

• Wednesday 20 May (Week 5) – Curlew Park – SPC Playing Fields 

• Wednesday 27 May (Week 6) – Runcorn – SLC Playing Fields 

• Wednesday 3 June (Week 7) – AIC Championships – Curlew Park 

I invite students to consider joining Villa’s Running Wildcats to challenge themselves at training and see how you benefit in other sports when you improve your running fitness. 

Mr Brian Pascoe, Cross Country Coordinator

Villanova Park will play host to St Laurence’s College for Round 1 in the AIC rugby competition for all of our rugby teams this Saturday. St Laurence’s is always a tough round and we are hoping that the preparation we have put into our teams leading into round 1, will have them well prepared and ready for the challenge this Saturday. It has also been flagged as our ‘Old Boys’ round and Villa Park should be buzzing with generations of old boys in attendance throughout the day. The First XV players will run out in the traditional ‘Irish Green’ jersey worn by many teams up until the early 90s. 

It will be a tough assignment for our players this weekend, but the boys are keen to get out there and kick off the season proper. Our trials last Saturday against Marist were tough and the coaches have been making the necessary adjustments to put together team lists. Team changes can be made weekly and selections are not just based on player performance.  

As teams are announced this week, the reality is, some boys will be disappointed with their grading. The best way to deal with this matter is to show resilience and to work even harder at training and during the game each week to prove to your coach that you are capable to move up in the gradings. The coaches have been asked to monitor all players and change teams weekly, based on player performance, attendance and attitude at both training and during fixtures. A player’s position in a team is not guaranteed and we strongly encourage our coaches to reward those who show improvement. 

Boys are also asked to play their part and stay behind after their game to sit on the sidelines as reserve or to be there to support your year level mates, if you have not been asked to sit on the line. Many teams were left without reserves last year, as boys finished their games and then left to go home. These are great opportunities for you to play at a higher level and to be a part of something bigger. Your support here is appreciated.    

When dealing with teenage boys during rugby season where things can get heated, we can expect emotions and tempers to flare on occasions. As a result, the boys under our care can and do get things wrong and they do make poor decisions and judgements from time to time. Our job as educators (whether that be parents, teachers or coaches) is to address these matters with our sons/students/players and lead them to be better men in the future and help them to respond to issues appropriately.   

The use of inappropriate language, pushing, shoving, fighting on field or incidents where spectators are seen to incite poor behaviour from players will not be tolerated and the College has and will continue to enforce appropriate expectations/standards and we will teach the boys what good behaviour looks like. Any RED cards given to players will result in an automatic one-week suspension from playing. This is supported by all AIC Colleges across the association. If the College deems the behaviour to be more serious, then a meeting will be held with the player, College Principal and Director of Sport to discuss if the ban needs to be extended. 

Sport provides another platform where teaching and learning occurs and these situations do not simply exist in the classrooms alone.  

Boys are to be mindful of their attitude to other players and their coaches at training and during matches. Negative comments towards teammates may result in players being removed from a team and asked to play in another team. It is important, regardless of ability levels that we respect all players and remember that we are all on the same team. Your behaviour is also on display for everyone to see or hear and some boys may be taken from the field if they are not able to control their emotions. The key thing we look for in the boys is not how they react but how they respond and these issues will be addressed by our coaches.  

Good luck to all of the boys playing at Villanova Park and we hope that ‘Old Boys’ Day is a successful one for the College and in particular, our First XV. 

Mr Chris Everding, Rugby Union Coordinator 

There has been a strong start to the term across the Football program, with high participation numbers and a noticeable lift in intensity at training. Last week’s trial against Marist College Ashgrove provided a valuable opportunity for players to test themselves, respond to feedback and prepare for the season ahead. 

It has been pleasing to see students embracing expectations around effort, attitude and accountability. Players are reminded that teams remain fluid, with selections continuing to be based on performance, attendance, attitude and consistency across training and fixtures. Selections are earned, not assumed. 

As we move into Round 1 and Old Boys Round against St Laurence’s College, all players are encouraged to prepare well, arrive early, represent the jersey with pride and support their teammates throughout the day. Thank you to our coaches and managers for the time, care and commitment they continue to give to the program. 

Mr Wian Joubert, Football Coordinator 

Wet Weather Cancellations
If there is any reason to cancel training sessions or weekend games, this information will be posted to the Villanova College phone application in the Notices section. Please ensure you have downloaded the Villanova College Application and updated your preferences and settings. 

Regional Sport
In 2026, there have been some updates made to the School Sport Representative pathway. Villanova College now joins the Central Sharks district (former Composite & Lytton) for 10-19 Years Sport.
Further information can be found on the Locker Room page including a current list of eligible sports. Eligible sports will be communicated via the Sports Bulletin and Morning Notices only. 

Central Sharks trial information (former Met East/Central): Paperwork for the following sports is now available from the Sports Office (located in Goold Hall). Nominations returned after the due date will not be submitted.

Mr Todd Kropp, Regional Sport Coordinator

Term 2 Speed & Agility Program
Registrations are now open via Parent Lounge – a fantastic chance for students to sharpen their skills and build confidence! Sessions kicked off on Thursday of Week 2 (30 April). 

Details
• Open to all students in Years 5–8
• Cost: $180 for 8 sessions delivered by elite-level coaches
• Day: THURSDAY mornings ONLY
• Time: 7:00am to 8:00am
• Venue: Whinstanes Oval
• Start Date: Week 2 – Thursday 30 April. 

This is a great opportunity to build speed, coordination and confidence in a dynamic and supportive setting.
Please note: In the event of cancelled sessions or extremely poor weather, sessions may be adjusted or rescheduled where possible. Thank you for your understanding.