The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys and renowned Townsville rugby league nursery Ignatius Park College have extended their long-standing relationship with a renewed two-year partnership running through 2026.
Ignatius Park has produced some of the finest players ever to don a Cowboys jersey including Life Member Kyle Feldt and premiership winner Michael Morgan as well as current squad members Tom Chester, Tom Duffy, Coen Hess and Jamal Shibasaki.
Ignatius Park is one of six schools with development partnerships with the Cowboys, which includes fellow Townsville rugby league powerhouse Kirwan State High School, Cairns’ Trinity Bay State High School and St Augustine’s College, Mackay’s St Patrick’s College as well as Rockhampton’s The Cathedral College.
As part of the partnership, Ignatius Park coaches and players will continue to be provided development opportunities through the Cowboys.
The school’s Aaron Payne Cup team and Open Girls side will have the opportunity to train at The Hutchinson Builders Centre with input from Cowboys Pathways Development Coach Mitch Dunn and NRLW Head Coach Ricky Henry.
“This takes us into our 13th year of partnership with Ignatius Park College and it has been the breeding ground of some of the greats of our club,” Cowboys General Manager of Football Micheal Luck said.
“The school shares many of the same values and traits in young men that we do at the Cowboys.
“This partnership is based on Ignatius Park players and coaches having access to our facility and staff to help them continue to strengthen their program.”
Ignatius Park College Principal Luke Thomson said the school was excited to continue its relationship with the Cowboys.
“This partnership has been wonderful for our school,” he said.
“The two organisations have a close alignment of values, which makes the partnership mutually beneficial for our school and the Cowboys.
“This provides a direct pathway to the top level of rugby league for those students who are at the elite level of schoolboy rugby league as well as a significant opportunity for our coaches to develop.”
