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OUR HISTORY

It all began in 1960 when the Queensland Junior Rugby Union laid the foundation for the Brisbane Junior Rugby Union. Before the Queensland Junior Rugby Union's emergence, clubs had their teams playing informally, but the late 1950s sounded the call for rugby union beyond schoolyards, prompting the birth of the Queensland Junior Rugby Union and the formalization of junior rugby in clubs.

As the years unfurled, club rugby grew steadily, embracing state championships and interstate duels. The demand for a Sub-Committee to oversee junior rugby in Brisbane led to the birth of the Brisbane Competition Committee, entrusted with managing the competition and convening semi-annual meetings of Junior Club Presidents.

In the late 1980s, the competition hit a milestone by crafting a comprehensive set of Competition Rules. Simultaneously, Rob Melloy, the Competition Registrar, unveiled a ground breaking program for clubs to manage player details, generate team rosters, and track statistics. This program was linked to another program that produced competition schedules and points tables, marking a giant leap forward.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing. During the late '90s, concerns arose as the interests of the competition and the Queensland Junior Rugby Union occasionally diverged, with country members viewing the Queensland Junior Rugby Union merely as an extension of Brisbane clubs. In 1999, the Junior presidents embarked on the path to become the Brisbane Junior Rugby Union, a process that, though seemingly straightforward, demanded substantial groundwork. The Queensland Junior Rugby Union had to amend its constitution to accommodate the Brisbane Junior Rugby Union, necessitating the drafting of new rules of incorporation.

Crucially, the Queensland Junior Rugby Union entrusted the Competition Committee with proving its ability to self-govern, leading to the expansion of the committee, including the addition of a Treasurer. During this period, the Competition Rules were meticulously revised to encompass all changes and aspects governing the competition, including the unspoken Gentlemen's Agreements.

The years 2002 and 2003 marked the competition's autonomy, finally satisfying the Queensland Junior Rugby Union, which revised its Rules of Incorporation at the November 2003 AGM to pave the way for the Brisbane Junior Rugby Union.

In the formation of the Brisbane Junior Rugby Union, several individuals played vital roles, but three standouts who steered it to fruition were Des Drice, Rob Melloy, and Karl Shrubsole.

On February 21, 2004, the Brisbane Competition Committee conducted its final meeting, and the Brisbane Junior Rugby Union Inc. held its inaugural General Meeting, electing its first Committee:

  • President : Ron Warren

  • Vice President : Craig Eason

  • Treasurer :  Michael Glover

  • North Region Representative :  Shane Williams

  • South Region Representative :  Greg Cree

  • West Region Representative :  Andrew Gillies

 

Additionally, Elliot Hutchinson was appointed as the Competition Registrar/Secretary, and Brian O'Donnell represented the Queensland Rugby Referees Association as the Brisbane Representative. Rob Melloy assumed the role of the first patron, and Des Drice and Karl Shrubsole were appointed as Life Members.
 

The Brisbane Junior Rugby Union welcomed 19 clubs and five satellite clubs into its fold, marking the beginning of a vibrant rugby journey.

This rich history has seen the Brisbane Junior Rugby Union consistently follow Rugby Australia's pathway, even when in disagreement with certain changes. This dedication has provided invaluable data for the game's improvement. The Brisbane Junior Rugby Union has played a pivotal role in shaping competition rules and ensuring a consistent playing environment. Their innovative voucher system for paying referees, introduced in 1999, has proven a great success in retaining and attracting young referees.

The pioneering inclusion of a separate Walla age group for Under 6s in 2000 upheld the two-year age window for junior players. In 2005, the Under 12 Skills Development Carnival emerged as a pathway to representative rugby, offering more than just player development. It also nurtured coaches, managers, sports trainers, and referees while bolstering the administration capabilities of clubs. In 2006, the Carnival was aptly named in memory of Simon Abubakar, an instrumental figure in its inception.

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