You keep saying this as though anyone who isn't attending QPR on a Saturday isn't rugby's core audience. What's the total audience of QPR crowds/players, 4k-6k across 4 games?
In my circle of rugby supporters who spend more money than we should on Reds/Wallabies merch and tickets, none of them are attending QPR matches. It was the same in Sydney; out of my rugby mates, none of them attended the Shute Shield and found it hard to engage with the comp, and yet the Shute Shield fanatics act as though the game revolves around them.
Yeah, the timing sucks definitely, but those attending the QPR aren't the only rugby fans in Brisbane.