Queanbeyan Whites
Encyclopedia
The Queanbeyan Whites are a rugby union
team based in Queanbeyan
, New South Wales
.
The Whites broke a 24 year premiership drought by winning the ACTRU Premier Division
John I Dent Cup Grand Final in 2007 in which they defeated the Gungahlin Eagles
33-12, a match they never looked like losing. The September 1 Grand Final win was made all the more sweeter by the Queanbeyan Colts side, who also won their grand final on the day, beating the Tuggeranong Vikings
.
The following 2008 season proved to be arguably the finest in Whites history with First, Second and the Colts grades finishing the season as minor premiers. The club was also awarded the honour of Champion Club and Club Champions for the first time ever.
However the icing on the cake came for the Mighty Whites at Viking Park
on grand final day. Three premierships were delivered in style with First Grade, Second Grade and Colts proving that their minor premierships were no fluke.
, Ricky Stuart
(who captained the team in 1987) and Matt Giteau
(Australia's highest ever paid rugby player).
Several lesser known, yet prominent, players have also made appearances for the Whites including Wallabies
players David Grimmond and Peter Ryan as well as Brumbies super-sub Ipolito Fenukitau
. Other notable former players include legendary Rugby League player David Furner
and current Australian Rugby League representative star Terry Campese
of the Canberra Raiders
.
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...
team based in Queanbeyan
Queanbeyan, New South Wales
Queanbeyan is a regional centre in the Southern Tablelands in south-eastern New South Wales adjacent to the Australian Capital Territory. The city's mixed economy is based on light construction, high technology, manufacturing, service, retail and agriculture. It is the council seat of the...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
.
Club history
The Queanbeyan Whites were established in 1954, joining the ACTRU Competition in 1955. The Mighty Whites, as they are also known, went on to win the ACTRU Premiership in their first year and then went on to win it again four times; including a run of three successive premierships from 1981-1983.The Whites broke a 24 year premiership drought by winning the ACTRU Premier Division
ACTRU Premier Division
The ACTRU Premier Division is a rugby union club competition based in Canberra, Australia, and conducted by the region's governing body, the ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union. It contains four Senior Grades of competition plus Colts, and is competed by the seven ACT Premier Division clubs, plus...
John I Dent Cup Grand Final in 2007 in which they defeated the Gungahlin Eagles
Gungahlin Eagles
The Gungahlin Eagles are a rugby union club based in Gungahlin, Australian Capital Territory.-Club history:The club was founded as the Daramalan RUFC club in 1967, going on to win two premierships...
33-12, a match they never looked like losing. The September 1 Grand Final win was made all the more sweeter by the Queanbeyan Colts side, who also won their grand final on the day, beating the Tuggeranong Vikings
Tuggeranong Vikings
The Tuggeranong Vikings are a rugby union club based in Tuggeranong, Australian Capital Territory. It is supported by 5 licensed clubs based in Wanniassa, Greenway, Conder, Chisholm and Narrabundah. The club has been successful in the local, and national competitions...
.
The following 2008 season proved to be arguably the finest in Whites history with First, Second and the Colts grades finishing the season as minor premiers. The club was also awarded the honour of Champion Club and Club Champions for the first time ever.
However the icing on the cake came for the Mighty Whites at Viking Park
Viking Park
Viking Park is an 8,000 capacity stadium in Canberra, Australia. It has a rectangular playing surface which is used to host rugby union matches. It is home to the Tuggeranong Vikings and all matches in the ACT rugby finals are played here. The Canberra Vikings also played there in 2004 & 2005 when...
on grand final day. Three premierships were delivered in style with First Grade, Second Grade and Colts proving that their minor premierships were no fluke.
2008 grand final results
Grade | Winner | Score | Runner Up |
---|---|---|---|
1st Grade | Queanbeyan | 25 - 18 | Easts Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Club Canberra The Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Club Canberra, based out of Griffith, Australian Capital Territory , was founded in 1938.-History:'Easties' as they are affectionately known by their club members, has a rich and proud history.. The club is responsible for producing some of Australia's most talented... |
2nd Grade | Queanbeyan | 31 - 14 | Gungahlin Eagles Gungahlin Eagles The Gungahlin Eagles are a rugby union club based in Gungahlin, Australian Capital Territory.-Club history:The club was founded as the Daramalan RUFC club in 1967, going on to win two premierships... |
Colts | Queanbeyan | 22 - 15 | Easts Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Club Canberra The Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Club Canberra, based out of Griffith, Australian Capital Territory , was founded in 1938.-History:'Easties' as they are affectionately known by their club members, has a rich and proud history.. The club is responsible for producing some of Australia's most talented... |
Notable players
The Whites have had many rugby super-stars play for them including; Australia's test try scoring record holder David CampeseDavid Campese
David Ian Campese , also known as Campo, is a former Australian rugby union player. Campese was capped by the Wallabies 101 times, and held the world record for the most tries in test matches until Daisuke Ohata scored his 65th try playing for Japan on 14 May 2006...
, Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
(who captained the team in 1987) and Matt Giteau
Matt Giteau
Matthew Giteau is an Australian rugby union footballer, a former international who now plays for the French Top 14 side Toulon. He attended St Edmund's College, Canberra, which has produced other Wallabies including George Gregan, Matt Henjak and the former rugby league star and now coach Ricky...
(Australia's highest ever paid rugby player).
Several lesser known, yet prominent, players have also made appearances for the Whites including Wallabies
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
players David Grimmond and Peter Ryan as well as Brumbies super-sub Ipolito Fenukitau
Ipolito Fenukitau
Ipolito Fenukitau is a Tongan rugby union footballer. He has played over 10 times for the Tonga national rugby union team, including representing them at the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa and 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia...
. Other notable former players include legendary Rugby League player David Furner
David Furner
David Furner is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Canberra Raiders of the NRL...
and current Australian Rugby League representative star Terry Campese
Terry Campese
Terry Campese is an Australian professional rugby league footballer, of Italian descent for the Canberra Raiders of the National Rugby League competition...
of the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
.