The Gallagher Australian Club Championship has been run and won, with Albion’s own Brothers Rugby Club emerging victorious over the famous Randwick District Rugby Union Football Club 25-18 on Saturday, March 16.
Over 5000 passionate supporters turned up at Crosby Park on the day to bear witness to what is undoubtedly one of the most significant events ever held at the park.
The record crowd were treated to a stunning display of interstate club rugby featuring representative players on both sides, including Reds fly-half Lawson Creighton and Junior Wallabies and Reds Winger Tim Ryan in the Butcher Stripes, and 95-cap Wallaby Kurtley Beale playing in Randwick’s iconic Myrtle Green.
With current Rugby Australia Chairman, Daniel Herbert, Queensland Rugby Union Chairman Brett Clark and Reds CEO David Hannam in attendance, some of the code’s most eminent personalities were seen around the ground.
When asked his thoughts on the day, Herbert was quick to praise the event as a celebration of the club game.
“It’s a brilliant day for rugby. We’re very proud and pleased to see how Brothers has put this on and how they’ve made it not only about Brothers, but included other clubs from across the country,” Herbert said.
Other major matches on the day saw Brisbane’s Wests Bulldogs, who finished runner-up to Brothers in the Queensland Premier Rugby Grand Final in 2023, ran out convincing winners over Canberra’s Tuggeranong Vikings 52-19 in the Challenger’s Match, and the Roma Echidnas defeated the Maroochydore Swans 31-12 in the Country v Coast game.
Brothers Executive General Manager Lochie Lawrence was thrilled with the event, and hopes it leads to further interstate fixtures hosted at Crosby Park in the near future.
“I believe that this event will be seen in years to come as the revival of major interstate club rugby.”
“Having 5000 people come and see the best clubs from Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra at a suburban rugby ground is truly a result to be proud of, and just further demonstrates how passionately club rugby is supported,” Lawrence said.
Brothers will formally get their 2024 season underway in April where they will attempt to become the first back-to-back Queensland Premiers since 2003.
Their first home game of the season will be against Souths Magpies on April 20.
