Rugby club set to turn 100

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Tags: rugby, sport, summer-2010

UQ players pack a scrum with the Sunshine Coast Stingrays in the 2010 Premier Grade final

The UQ Rugby Football Club confirmed its dominance of Queensland Premier Grade rugby by winning the 2010 grand final at Ballymore in September.

UQ overcame grand final debutants the Sunshine Coast Stingrays by eight points to win their first premiership trophy in 20 years.

The scoreline of 19–11 was particularly apt considering the University’s rugby history.

1911 was in fact the year the UQ Rugby Club was established – an event that will be honoured through the club’s Centenary celebrations next year.

UQ Rugby Club General Manager David Enfantie said the grand final win would make next year even more special for the club.

“I think the fact that we’ve had a really successful year will really cause a swell of old boys to come back and reengage with the club,” Mr Enfantie said.

“Obviously the centenary year is very significant, and we’re hoping that having a team that’s so successful and so exciting to watch will add to that significance,” he said.

Mr Enfantie said the club hoped to continue its dominance of Queensland rugby throughout its Centenary year.

“We’re looking to make it back to back wins for Premier Grade, and also to go back to back with the Doughty Shield,” he said.

The Doughty Shield is awarded each season to the most successful club across all grades.

UQ was the obvious choice for this award in 2010, with seven of its nine Brisbane competition teams making it to the finals.

Mr Enfantie said that despite the great season, there was room for improvement in 2011.

“After getting so many teams through to the finals, only two walked away with premierships,” he said.

“But the experience will do us well and we obviously want to learn from that and get a few more teams to premiership status next year.”

Premier Grade captain and UQ Sport Scholarship Ambassador James Hanson said the 2010 premiership was especially sweet for the veterans of the club.

“It was a great achievement and a pretty special moment,” Mr Hanson said.

“For a few years we had a lot of players coming and going but over the last two seasons we’ve pretty much kept the same group of guys together which I think really paid dividends.”

UQ Sport would like to congratulate the club on their impressive season and fantastic Premier Grade grand final victory.

By Simon Byrne

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