James Cook University will take on the might of Townsville's 3rd Brigade this Friday, October 31, with the University looking to defend its overall crown in the annual "Battle of the Icons" Uni vs Army Games.
This always popular sporting event promises plenty of action as JCU and 3rd Brigade's best and brightest sporting talents do battle across rugby, basketball, netball, mixed touch football, mixed netball, and soccer.
JCU took bragging rights in the event last year for the first time since 2018, winning five of the eight events to claim the overall crown.
Teams competing in basketball, netball, soccer, and touch football will vie for a Battle of the Icons Cup, while the traditional JCU Chancellor's Cup and JCU Commander's Cup will be held for the men's and women's rugby games respectively.
All games will be held on the same day, with basketball and netball played at Townsville Stadium followed by soccer, mixed touch football, and rugby at Joe Baker Field on JCU's Bebegu Yumba campus.
JCU Student Association Acting Sport and Recreation Manager Vincent Gardiner said Uni vs Army is one of the University's most anticipated events of the year.
"It's always great to see our students and the Army's 3rd Brigade really getting behind and wanting to get involved in either playing or supporting their teams in this event," he said.
"I think our teams have got the confidence from last year and the get go to be able to go out there and perform strongly again.
"It's an exciting opportunity for JCU and all our students. Several of them have recently participated in the UniSport Nationals on the Gold Coast so they've had that experience of competing at an elite level.
"To see two of the largest organisations in Townsville coming together makes for a fantastic atmosphere on the day, and there's a real competitive spirit on and off the field."
The commander of 3rd Brigade, Brigadier Ben McClellan, paid tribute to the event's long history and said the games are an excellent opportunity for both sides to enjoy some friendly competition.
"We have been doing this competition for 24 years now so it really is an iconic struggle between the two institutions," he said
"We are the underdogs this year, so we're coming off a bit of a losing streak last year, and we're determined to win this prize back and take it back to where it rightfully belongs, which is just behind the University at Lavarack Barracks.
"In the military, because we're a team-based organisation, there's no individuals, so we're all about being a champion team, not a team of champions. This is a chance for us to do exactly that on the sporting field against another icon in this city.
"On Friday afternoon, we're going to check our friendship with JCU at the door and we're going to come in and try to wipe the floor with them."
