club history.
About the Queanbeyan Whites.
The ‘Whites’ are a rugby union club based in Queanbeyan, NSW and were founded in 1954 before entering the ACT Rugby competition in 1955. We cater for the aspirational rugby athlete, right through to the social rugby player with both men’s and a women’s team playing in ACT & SNSW Rugby Competitions administered by Brumbies Rugby.
Our men’s 1st grade side play for the prestigious John I Dent Cup and our 2nd grade and colts side also play in the ACT Premier Rugby Competition and our 3rd and 4th grade sides compete in the two grades of the First Division Competition. Our recently re-established women’s side play in the Premier XV’s Competition and our junior club plays across multiple age groups.
Find out more about our premierships, international and notable players and life members below.
1982 First Grade Game
our philosophy.
The Whites aims to be a welcoming, open and inclusive family-friendly club. A club that respects the opposition and officials, winning humbly and losing gracefully, and recognises the contribution of all members
Queanbeyan Rugby Union Football Club aspires to be a community Rugby Union Club that:
Has the highest standard of personal and sporting values.
Is of sporting excellence and high achievement.
Generates an “esprit de corps” that ensures harmony, a sense of participation and pride.
Contributes to the City of Queanbeyan community.
Queanbeyan Rugby Union Team, 1901
rugby union in queanbeyan.
Rugby was played in Queanbeyan as early as 1878 and by the turn of the century district teams were playing for a host of cups including the O’Brien and Hurley Cup.
Queanbeyan District Football club was formed in 1894 and then came the Auld Lang Syne Club followed by the Juniors. The Juniors played their games at the Park. The Queanbeyan Football Club (1895-1901) with Robert T. Beatty as captain defeated every team in the district. (Queanbeyan -District and People).
premierships.
1st Grade
1959, 1981, 1982, 1983, 2007, 2008, 2010
2nd Grade
1964, 1982, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018
Colts
2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2017, 2019, 2020
3rd Grade
2012, 2013, 2015
4th Grade
1979, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020
how the whites was born.
Queanbeyan teams popped up with the East Queanbeyan Wallaroos, the Waratahs, Golden Eagles, the Red Black and Gold and the Warrigals. Bungendore added the Ironsides to the competition. The Seniors (QFC) faded away after 1901 and the Queanbeyan Warrigals, with a blue and white horizontal strip, took over and started to dominate the region.
Rugby then petered out and it was not until the late 1950’s that moves were made to establish a Queanbeyan club. A public meeting was held at Walsh’s Hotel and then a steering committee was formed, and the Whites made their debut in 1955. Some of the players had been with Easts including Peter Morton and Brian Tankey. In 1959 Queanbeyan defeated Royals 21-14 to take out the Club’s first premiership.
Volunteers building the Club’s first White House
international players.
Peter Ryan - Australia
David Grimmond - Australia
David Campese - Australia
Ricky Stuart - Australia
Matt Giteau - Australia
Anthony Fainga’a - Australia
Saia Fainga’a - Australia
Tevita Kuridrani - Australia
Nic White - Australia
James Stannard - Australia (7’s)
Lewis Holland - Australia (7’s)
Ipolito Fenukitau - Tonga
Viliame Iongi - Tonga
Jack Lam - Samoa
Seilala Lam - Samoa
Paul Calgaro - Malta
Guy Kennedy - Malta
Adam Kennedy - Malta
other notable players.
Graham Hughes - only player in amateur era to play 100 games for ACT
Robbie Coleman - Brumbies/Western Force
Anthony Hegarty - Brumbies
Les Makin - Brumbies
Jack Kennedy - Queensland Reds
Fred Kaihea - Brumbies
life members.
Graham Gordon - 1962 (deceased)
Bob Turner - 1964 (deceased)
Bill Woodger - 1973 (deceased)
Allan Ryan - 1973 (deceased)
Peter Morton - 1975 (deceased)
John Stuart - 1977 (deceased)
Colin Maxwell - 1980 (deceased)
Dennis Debenham - 1980 (deceased)
Peter Carter - 1983
John Moore - 1983
Graham Hughes - 1983
John Kaye - 1987
Errol Austin - 1987
Peter Stumbles - 1988
Ken Stumbles - 1990 (deceased)
Robert Stumbles - 1990
Robert Donnelly - 1997
Ron Coffey - 1997
Bruce Greentree - 2003 (deceased)
Phillip Hawke - 2006
Ray Watson - 2007
Ian Hunt - 2007
Pat Mathews - 2007 (deceased)
David Lewis - 2008
Robert Hitchcock - 2008 (deceased)
Michael Fahey - 2009
Melanie Debenham - 2010
Sean Debenham - 2013
David Jones - 2013
Ian Darmody - 2014
Michael Dyer - 2015
Peter Renshaw - 2018
Robert Brady - 2018
Franca Jones - 2021