Dave Brown (1900s athlete)

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Dave Brown was a pioneer of rugby league in Australia. He played in the opening 2 seasons of the new sport for Eastern Suburbs, one of 9 foundation clubs that competed in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition during that first season.

A centre, Brown appeared in 14 matches for the Eastern Suburbs club during the 1908 and 1909 seasons, including the NSWRL's first match and first premiership decider. He shouldn't be confused with the legendary Dave Brown, also a centre, who played for the Eastern Suburbs club in the '30s.

In the 1909 season Brown represented Australia in a match against a touring New Zealand Māori side. Brown also appeared in series between rugby league's 'Kangaroos' and rugby union's 'Wallabies'.

Like so many rugby league players of that time Brown was a former rugby union player, in 1907 he took part in the rebel series against the New Zealand 'All Golds' that helped to launch rugby league in Australia. In its appreciation the NSWRL awarded Brown life membership in that organisation.