Queensland Football Association (1880–1890)

Rugby at the time of the QFA's founding was in disarray, with Rangers Football Club (1876–1878) and Bonnet Rouge Football Club (1876–1878) folding two seasons earlier, however many of Brisbane and Wallaroos best players preferred to play both codes so rugby matches were facilitated during the season on a Saturday every 4 weeks.

[4] The move was to backfire as the breakaway Northern Rugby Union (NRU) formed, taking disgruntled clubs and players with it.

[7] The QFA was under heavy fire for its neglect in Australian Football in 1890[8] with clubs increasingly folding it had prepared no formal fixture for the season.

It disbanded at the end of the season as the majority of its member clubs all folded and joined the ranks of rugby and soccer.

However, following a decade long hiatus, Australian rules saw renewed interest during the Federation of Australia and fans in Queensland at the turn of the century regrouped floating the idea of a new competition that would endure in the state.

These clubs initially played Australian Rules before breaking away to form the grammar schools rugby competition in 1887.

Representatives of clubs outside of the main competition area (Brisbane and Ipswich) were granted representation by proxy in 1883.