East Coast Aces
Encyclopedia
The East Coast Aces were an Australian rugby union
football club that played in the now defunct Australian Rugby Championship
. The Aces were formed as one of two Queensland based clubs that participated in the inaugural season of the championship, which started in August 2007 (the other being the (Ballymore Tornadoes
).
Based in Carrara Stadium
, on the Gold Coast
, the club represented the southside of Brisbane
, as well as the south of Queensland
, in the domestic Australia
n club competition. The team colors were black
, blue
and gold
.
The East Coast Aces were disbanded with the end of the competition after just one season. During its debut season the club suffered significant financial losses and its average home attendance was just 1,428, the lowest in the competition.
. The name, logo and team colors were unveiled on 14, February 2007, by the Queensland Rugby Union
(QRU). Steering Committee Chairman for the Aces said the team had selected a name that would embrace the various stakeholders at club level. He added that "Our team will draw on players and supporters from Cairns to Coolangatta – and possibly even rugby fans in northern NSW - in what is an exciting development for the code in Queensland,". Details regarding the teams jerseys and coaches are yet to be revealed.
On 23 February John Boe was announced as the coach of the Aces, a former All Black
and World Cup
coach (leading Samoa
at the 2003 tournament
as well as in the past being assistant coach at both the Chiefs and the Highlanders. Boe is also head coach at the Breakers - one of the Ace's feeder teams. The selection process of Queensland's (Aces and Tornadoes) two coaches were overseen by Reds head coach Phil Mooney.
played two pre-season matches at the venue during 2007. At one point it was rumored that both of Queenslands teams in the competition would play out of Ballymore Stadium
. However, in November 2006 it was confirmed that the location of the teams stadium would be on the Gold Coast.
that competed in the Queensland Premier Rugby
competition (which ran prior to the start of the ARC season). These clubs included; Easts Tigers
, Souths
, Sunnybank and the Gold Coast Breakers
. The team also drew on players from the Queensland Country Heelers
- the state's Australian Rugby Shield
team.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
football club that played in the now defunct Australian Rugby Championship
Australian Rugby Championship
The Australian Rugby Championship, often abbreviated to the ARC , was a domestic Rugby union football club competition in Australia which ran for only one season in August–October 2007...
. The Aces were formed as one of two Queensland based clubs that participated in the inaugural season of the championship, which started in August 2007 (the other being the (Ballymore Tornadoes
Ballymore Tornadoes
The Ballymore Tornadoes were an Australian rugby union football club that played in the now-defunct Australian Rugby Championship. The Tornadoes were formed as one of Queensland's two clubs that will participate in the inaugural season of the championship, starting in August 2007...
).
Based in Carrara Stadium
Carrara Stadium
Carrara Stadium is a sporting venue on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, located in the suburb of Carrara....
, on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, the club represented the southside of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, as well as the south of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, in the domestic Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n club competition. The team colors were black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
, blue
Blue
Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
and gold
Gold (color)
Gold, also called golden, is one of a variety of orange-yellow color blends used to give the impression of the color of the element gold....
.
The East Coast Aces were disbanded with the end of the competition after just one season. During its debut season the club suffered significant financial losses and its average home attendance was just 1,428, the lowest in the competition.
History
The inaugural Australian Rugby Championship, starting in August 2007 included 8 teams, of which 2 will be based in QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. The name, logo and team colors were unveiled on 14, February 2007, by the Queensland Rugby Union
Queensland Rugby Union
The Queensland Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Queensland. It is a member and founding union of the Australian Rugby Union.-See also:*Queensland Reds*Australian Rugby Union*The Wallabies*Rugby union in Queensland...
(QRU). Steering Committee Chairman for the Aces said the team had selected a name that would embrace the various stakeholders at club level. He added that "Our team will draw on players and supporters from Cairns to Coolangatta – and possibly even rugby fans in northern NSW - in what is an exciting development for the code in Queensland,". Details regarding the teams jerseys and coaches are yet to be revealed.
On 23 February John Boe was announced as the coach of the Aces, a former All Black
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
and World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
coach (leading Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
at the 2003 tournament
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
as well as in the past being assistant coach at both the Chiefs and the Highlanders. Boe is also head coach at the Breakers - one of the Ace's feeder teams. The selection process of Queensland's (Aces and Tornadoes) two coaches were overseen by Reds head coach Phil Mooney.
Stadium
The East Coast Aces played their home games at Carrara Stadium. The Queensland RedsQueensland Reds
The Queensland Reds represent Queensland in the sport of rugby union in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby competition. Prior to 1996 they were a representative team selected on merit from the rugby union club competitions in Queensland...
played two pre-season matches at the venue during 2007. At one point it was rumored that both of Queenslands teams in the competition would play out of Ballymore Stadium
Ballymore Stadium
Ballymore is the name of a rugby union stadium situated in Herston, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia. It was the home of Queensland Rugby Union, and used to be the home ground for the Queensland Reds and the Brisbane Strikers Football Club. The Queensland Reds have since moved to Suncorp Stadium...
. However, in November 2006 it was confirmed that the location of the teams stadium would be on the Gold Coast.
Franchise area
The team drew on players aligned with clubs from the south side of the Brisbane RiverBrisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
that competed in the Queensland Premier Rugby
Queensland Premier Rugby
Queensland Premier Rugby is a club rugby union competition in Queensland, Australia. Ten clubs compete in the competition, eight of which are from Brisbane, with a club each from the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast also competing. The competition has been contested in its present form since 1929...
competition (which ran prior to the start of the ARC season). These clubs included; Easts Tigers
Easts Tigers Rugby Union
The Easts Tigers are a rugby union club based in Brisbane, Queensland. They currently compete in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition. The club was formed in 1947, and has won the Brisbane premiership three times...
, Souths
Souths Rugby
Souths are an Australian rugby union club, based in Brisbane, Queensland. They currently play in the Queensland Premier Rugby club competition...
, Sunnybank and the Gold Coast Breakers
Gold Coast Breakers
The Gold Coast Breakers are an Australian rugby union club, based on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The team competes in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition, which is a state-club competition....
. The team also drew on players from the Queensland Country Heelers
Queensland Country Heelers
The Queensland Country Heelers are the team representing Queensland Country in the Australian Rugby Shield competition. As such, the team draws on players from clubs taking part in the Queensland Country Championship and Queensland Outback Championship....
- the state's Australian Rugby Shield
Australian Rugby Shield
The Australian Rugby Shield is a national Rugby union competition intended to unearth new talent and foster rugby union development outside the traditional Rugby states New South Wales and Queensland....
team.
Inaugural squad
Props
Hookers
Locks
|
Back row
Centres
Wings
|
Fullbacks
Halfbacks
Flyhalves
|
Records
| ARC seasons | ||||||||||||
| Year | Played | Win | Draw | Loss | PF | PA | Diff | Bonus (4 tries) | Bonus (Loss <7pts) | Points | Place | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 163 | 343 | -180 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 8 | Did Not Compete |
External links
- East Coast Aces on QRU.com.au
- Australian Rugby Championship on rugby.com.au