Club rugby: Brothers legends honoured by Hill naming
Two Queensland rugby union icons will be honoured by their club Brothers this weekend when they have a hill named after them. Full story here
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One of Australia’s premier rugby clubs, Brothers, will this weekend honour two of its favourite sons in the naming of the “Tony Shaw-Paul McLean Hill”.
The Brothers, Queensland and Wallaby legends will be joined by family members, former team-mates and Brothers members and supporters on Saturday afternoon at Crosby Park.
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President of Brothers Rugby Club, Geoff Rodgers, said the club’s board unanimously supported this initiative which will continue into the redevelopment plans for Crosby Park.
“We have been planning to name the new grandstand in the to-be-redeveloped venue after Shawry and Paul, but as this has been temporarily put on hold as the State Government and Brisbane City Council deliberate over the final composition of the broader Breakfast Creek Sports Precinct, we decided it was important to honour two of our club’s greatest legends in the immediate term,” he said.
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“When the redevelopment does proceed, we will transfer the name to the “Tony Shaw-Paul McLean Stand” to forever recognise both their most significant contributions to our wonderful club.”
The “Tony Shaw-Paul McLean Hill” will be based on the western side of the main field at Crosby Park, Jack Ross Oval, directly across from the eastern Harry Shaw Hill, named in 1989 after Tony’s father and club luminary.
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“This is also part of embracing the club’s very rich heritage while continually evolving forward in all facets of the club – playing/coaching-wise, culturally, socially, commercially and operationally – to remain at the forefront of community rugby in this country,” Rodgers said.
“In terms of assets at the club we have already resurrected some old club names such as the Carmichael Room and International Room to complement the time-honoured Jack Ross Oval, Charlie Dahl Complex, Tom McCormack Place, Hobbits Bar and Grill, and our beloved Green Shed Bar – the historical heart of Brothers. We are considering some other “names” which will be rolled out over coming months.”
Founded in 1905, Brothers played at several grounds in and around Brisbane before taking up residence at Crosby Park, Albion, in 1949 where the American troops operated a refuse facility during World War II.
The club – which now has 2,400 registered playing members has 178 senior club premierships including 28 first grade wins, has produced 90 senior Australian (12 captains) and 264 senior Queensland (29 captains) representative players, and four Rugby Australia and six Queensland Rugby Union Presidents.
Shaw was the tough, relentless forward leading from the front, and McLean the gazelle-like back who guided teams effortlessly around fields and kept them in play with prodigious goal kicking.
Both arrived at Brothers in the early 1970s - Shaw from Gregory Terrace and McLean from Nudgee College, although he did most of his schooling at St Edmund’s College, Ipswich. Shaw played 84 matches for Australia (38 as captain) including 36 tests (15 as captain) and McLean 70 matches (four as captain) including 30 Tests (one as captain).
Shaw played 112 games for Queensland and McLean 100 games for Queensland.
“Despite all of these and many other recognitions at the highest level in our code, it is at Crosby Park where Shawry and Paul are most at home and their contributions most fondly savoured – including these days where they can be found serving beers or working on the BBQ at home games, and of course supporting and humbly passing on their wisdom to our coaches, players, board and staff,” Rodgers said.
“This is the unique essence and a central part of the DNA of both Shawry and Paul, and is strongly embodied in the culture of Brothers Rugby Club.”
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