Our Club
About
Brothers Rugby Club stands as Queensland’s oldest continuously active “Premier” Football Club of any code, with an unbroken tradition spanning 120 years. Founded in 1905 by the Christian Brothers Old Boys Association, our club has produced 91 Australian representatives (including 77 Wallabies), 260 Queensland players, and claimed 28 Brisbane “A” Grade premierships.
Wearing our iconic navy and white “Butcher Stripes” – a heritage that traces back to St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace – Brothers has never gone into recess and has competed in every season since formation. Our legacy extends beyond the playing field, with six Wallaby captains among our ranks and significant contributions to rugby administration at state and national levels.
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Our Honour Boards
Early Development (1963–1990) Brothers’ junior program began in 1968 when Charlie Seymour and Life Member Merv Hazell established the Sub-Junior section (Under 13–17) with teams in Under 14 and Under 16 competitions.
The club’s vision extended beyond Crosby Park, helping establish satellite clubs: Brothers-Everton Park (1969) and Brothers-Mt Gravatt (1970), both designed to tap into traditional feeder schools and develop rugby in broader Brisbane regions.
The Ascot Clayfield Merger A significant expansion occurred in 1991 when Brothers merged with Ascot Clayfield Sub-Junior Club, creating Brothers-Ascot Clayfield Junior Rugby Club. This merger produced an impressive 20 teams across 11 age divisions in the first season.
Rebranding and Growth Capitalizing on the senior club’s centenary in 2005, the junior club rebranded as Brothers Junior Rugby Union Club, adopting the famous navy and white “Butcher Stripes” across all teams. This alignment strengthened the pathway from junior to senior rugby.
Championship Success The junior club achieved back-to-back Brisbane Junior Rugby Union “Club of the Year” titles in 2010 and 2011, fielding 50 teams with 740 registered players. Growth necessitated expansion to St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School’s Windsor Park facility in 2013 for younger age groups (U6–U9).
Diversification In 2014, Brothers launched the Touch Association, introducing all-girls competitions from U8 to U16, making Brothers one of Queensland’s largest junior sports clubs and demonstrating commitment to inclusive rugby development.
The Foundation Years (1905–1920) The Christian Brothers College Football Club was formed at the Carlton Club Hotel on Queen Street on 2 March 1905. After initially playing in plain hoops, the club adopted its famous navy and white “butcher stripes” in 1906 when a Scottish supplier incorrectly sent irregular hoops — a happy accident that became our enduring identity.
Under captain Tom Gaffney and coach Austin Gralton, Brothers secured their first premiership in 1907, defeating Valleys 18–8. This victory launched the club’s first golden era (1911–1919), capturing five premierships and five Hospital Cups.
The Golden Eras The first (1911–1919) established the club’s reputation with players like Jimmy Flynn, Australia’s youngest-ever captain at 20 years and 39 days. The 1914 Second Test against the All Blacks at the Gabba featured eight Brothers players in the Australian squad.
During World War I, when rugby union was suspended, Brothers competed in rugby league as “Merthyr Football Club” (1917–1918) and “Carlton Football Club” in junior grades, maintaining club unity during difficult times.
The second golden era (1946–1953) saw premiership victories in 1946, 1949, 1950, 1951, and 1953 under coach Joe French. This period coincided with Brothers becoming the first Brisbane club to secure its own ground at Crosby Park, Albion in 1949.
The third golden era (1971–1984) was the most successful, delivering 10 premierships in 14 years, including an unprecedented five consecutive titles from 1980–1984. This period featured legends like Tony Shaw and Paul McLean, both future Wallaby captains, and contributed significantly to Queensland’s rugby revival.
Modern Era After the 1987 premiership, Brothers endured a 22-year drought before capturing the Hospital Cup in 2009, defeating Souths 26–19 at Ballymore. The club also claimed the Thomas Welsby Memorial Cup, Keith Horsley Memorial Trophy, and QRU State Cup that year.
Notable modern-era players include John Eales (1999 World Cup-winning captain), Rod McCall, Sean Hardman, Sam Cordingley, and James O’Connor, maintaining Brothers’ tradition of producing elite talent.
Our History
Established in 1905, Brothers Rugby Club is proud to be the oldest continuously active “Premier” Football Club of any football code in Queensland. Founded by members of the Christian Brothers Old Boys Association, which itself was made up of alumni from St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace, St Joseph’s College Nudgee and St James’ College, our club has a proud heritage wearing its iconic Butchers Stripe kit derived from the colours worn by St Joseph’s College Gregory Terrace at the time.
The club has run continuously since this time, and has been one of the nation’s greatest contributors to Rugby Union, with hundreds of state and national representatives being developed, including such luminaries as David L’Estrange, Tony Shaw, Paul McLean, Rod McCall, John Eales and James O’Connor.
Indeed, whilst Brothers has produced many fine players, the Club’s contribution to rugby also extends to administration of the code. The likes of Redmond Byrne from the 1910’s, Jack Ross and Mick Lyons in the 1930’s, 40’s & 50’s, Kevin Hodda in the 50’s, Dick McGruther in the 70’s, 80’s & 90’s and both Paul McLean & Tony Shaw as Presidents of the QRU & ARU have all contributed to the growth of Rugby Football in Queensland.
Now entering its 120th year, Brothers Rugby Club continues to be one of the country’s most eminent rugby clubs.
Community
Brothers Rugby Club is more than a sporting organisation – we are a community built on tradition, excellence, and the development of character both on and off the field. Our members, from current players to Old Boys spanning seven decades, form a network that extends far beyond rugby.
The 2015 merger between Brothers Old Boys and Brothers Juniors created a unified Brothers Rugby Club, ensuring the long-term future of what many consider Australia’s Greatest Rugby Club. This integration strengthened our community pathway from Under 6 through to Premier Grade, creating opportunities for lifelong involvement in our club family.
Our community extends to the Crosby Park facility, which serves as both our spiritual home and a gathering place for celebrations, fundraising events, and the countless stories that bind our members together across generations. The famous “Green Shed” remains a symbol of our humble yet proud heritage.
From the Christian Brothers schools that founded us to the diverse backgrounds of today’s members, Brothers continues to welcome all who share our values of mateship, respect, and excellence – ensuring our community thrives for another 120 years.
Player Milestones 2024
2024 Awards
