Queensland Rugby Union
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The Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in the State of Queensland, Australia. It is a member and founding union of the Australian Rugby Union.
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[edit] History of rugby union in Queensland
see also: History of rugby union
On November 2, 1883, a meeting was held at the Exchange Hotel, in Brisbane and the decision was made to form a rugby association in the Colony of Queensland. Prior to this meeting, the game which was at the time called Melbourne Rules (now Australian rules football) dominated in Queensland. At this time, both of these codes were governed by the Queensland Football Association (QFA) and the rugby players were dissatisfied with their treatment at the hands of the QFA. The name of the newly founded union was the Northern Rugby Union, to distinguish it from the Southern Rugby Union, which was the governing body of rugby in New South Wales.
The formation of this new governing body generated large amounts of interest in Queensland. In fact, such was the development of rugby throughout the colony as a result of the formation of the new union, that the prestigious Great Public Schools' Association of Queensland (GPS) changed their main sport from Melbourne Rules to rugby. The top-level rugby competition begun by those schools all those years ago continues to this day.
The year 1893 saw the Northern Rugby Union formally constituted and the name changed to the Queensland Rugby Union. The first organised Brisbane club competition had begun in 1884, but in 1899, an annual trophy competition, the Hospital's Cup was introduced. This trophy is still contested by Queensland Premier Rugby Union clubs.
The first decade of the 20th century brought with it a drop in the fortunes of rugby union in Queensland. The advent of the professional code, rugby league, in New South Wales saw many union players leaving for Sydney to play league and get paid in the process, something which the amateur code of rugby union could not offer. In 1908, the QRU banned its players from going to Sydney to play league, which resulted in disgruntled players forming the Queensland Rugby League. Of particular note was that at this time, league put down strong roots in the bush and in working class communities and these areas are still the heartland of the modern game of rugby league.
World War I, from 1914 to 1918, was almost the final death blow to rugby union in Queensland. Many players went away to war and never returned, and the burgeoning popularity of the professional code saw some major clubs and all the GPS schools switch to rugby league. It seemed that the resultant disbandment of the QRU in 1919 heralded the end of rugby union in Queensland.
However, all was not lost. In 1928, the QRU reformed and the major clubs and GPS schools returned to union as a result of bickering amongst league officials. The Second World War saw the game struggle once more, but this time it was strong enough to pull through and rugby union continued to grow. In 1950, the QRU secured the use of Normanby at a nominal rent from the Brisbane Grammar School Board of Trustess. In 1961, the Queensland Junior Rugby Union was formed and 1963 saw the formation of the Country Rugby Union. And finally, in 1966, the QRU moved to the home of Queensland rugby union, Ballymore.
Having paid a secretary to perform various tasks during the 1960s and 1970s, Terry Doyle was appointed as the first chief executive officer of the QRU in 1980. He stayed with the QRU until 1996 and saw the organisation grow from one person to 32 personnel.
From 1980 to 1997, the QRU offices were located underneath the McLean Stand at Ballymore. In 1997, the administration arm moved to Mallon Street, in the Brisbane suburb of Bowen Hills. The Queensland Reds staff, however, remained at Ballymore and were joined in 1998 by the staff of the Reds Rugby College. And finally, in 2004, the administration personnel were relocated to the newly built Rugby House at Ballymore, bringing the entire organisation back to one location.
[edit] Queensland State Team
Main article: Queensland Reds
[edit] Intercolony/Interstate Matches
The year 1882 saw the first of many intercolony and interstate matches between Queensland and New South Wales rugby union teams. New South Wales took out the inaugural match, 28-4. The following year, Brisbane hosted its first intercolony match, defeating New South Wales 12-11 at the Eagle Farm Racecourse. Now days the Queensland team in the Super 14 the Queensland Reds face NSW, ACT & WA representative teams on a yearly basis.
[edit] Competitions
[edit] QLD Premier Rugby
QLD Premier Rugby is the equivalent to the Tooheys New Cup in NSW. There are ten teams that compete in the annual competition:
- Brothers Old Boys
- Easts
- Gold Coast Breakers
- GPS
- Norths/QUT
- Souths
- Sunnybank Rugby Union Club
- Sunshine Coast Stingrays
- University
- Wests
[edit] Brisbane Club Rugby
The next level down, and the traditional base of Queensland rugby, is Brisbane Club Rugby. Club rugby in Brisbane starts at a Under 7 years of age level and goes right up to an open age group level just below the premier level.
[edit] Important Dates
- 1876 - Earliest record of rugby being played in Queensland
- 1882 - First interstate matches between Queensland and NSW
- 1883 - QRU formally constituted (known as the Northern Rugby Union)
- 1883 - First interstate match in Brisbane; Queensland beating NSW 12-11 at Eagle Farm Racecourse
- 1884 - First organised club competition in Brisbane
- 1896 - First visit by a Queensland team to New Zealand
- 1899 - Queensland defeat Great Britain 11-3 at Exhibition Ground to record first win against an international team
- 1929 - Revival after code was inactive since start of First World War
- 1949 - Australian Rugby Football Union formally constituted
- 1961 - Formation of Queensland Junior Rugby Union
- 1964 - Sub-districts Rugby Union started
- 1965 - Queensland Country Rugby Union formed
- 1971 - Queensland Schools Rugby Union formed
- 1980 - Queensland defeated New Zealand All Blacks, their first win against New Zealand
- 1982 - Queensland defeated NSW 41-7 in Centenary match
- 1987 - Ballymore hosts five inaugural World Cup matches including quarter and semi finals
- 1992 - Queensland Reds won Super Six
- 1994 - Reds Super 10 champions
- 1995 - Reds Super 10 champions
- 1996 - Rugby becomes professional
- 1996 - Reds finish season on top of Super 12 table
- 1999 - Reds finish season on top of Super 12 table
- 2005 - Chris Latham wins Australian Super 12 player of the year for a record 4th year
- 2006 - Reds begin playing all Super 14 matches at Suncorp Stadium
