- Queanbeyan Whites
The Queanbeyan Whites are a
rugby union team based in Queanbeyan,New South Wales . They were established in 1954 and in 1955 first played in the ACTRU Competition. They won the competition in their first year and then went on to win it again four times- including a run of three successive premierships from 1981-1983.They have had many rugby super-stars play for them including Australia's test try scoring record holder
David Campese ,Ricky Stuart - who captained the team in 1987, andMatt Giteau - Australia's highest ever paid rugby player. Several lesser known, yet prominent, players have also made appearances for the Whites including Wallabies playersDavid Grimmond and Peter Ryan and Brumbies super-subIpolito Fenukitau .Club leaders for season 2008 are Josh Hastings (1st Grade Captain), Mark Henjak (Club Captain), Daniel Hawke Co-Club Captain. Support Leadership Group- Matt Sillis, Sam French, Josh Goodall, Paul Calgaro.
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.
2008 Season
The 2008 season saw a slight change in personnel at the ACTRU Premiers. Scrum Half Jimmy Maher was misssing for the year after being signed to a lucrative deal with
Nottingham powerhouse,West Bridgford and was replaced by a very capable Rhyain 'Horse' Caine fromNew Zealand . The Whites also welcomed Daniel Yakapu fromMelbourne and HP Swart fromSouth Africa . The 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 he 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 Gade and Colts proving that their minor premierships were no fluke."2008 Grand Final Results"
"COLTS"
Queanbeyan Whites DefeatedUni-Norths Owls 25 - 18
"SECOND GRADE"Queanbeyan Whites DefeatedGungahlin Eagles 31 - 14
"FIRST GRADE"Queanbeyan Whites Defeated Easts 22 - 15Ziggy Gift
The Ziggy Gift is a celebration performed at the end of each season by a club rookie. It is named after club legend Graeme 'Ziggy' Pohl. Each year the streets of Queanbeyan are filled with spectators hoping to catch a glimpse of the naked runner performing this prestigious traditional duty. The honour roll of the Ziggy Gift is a follows;
2008 Cameron Stanely
2007 Hugh Thornton
2006 Sam French
2005 Richard Windsor
2004 Nathan McGrath
2003 Paul Thomas
2002 Anthony Whitman
2001 Geoff Dean
2000 Marty Frost
1999 Ben Heydon
1998 Andrew Radnedge
1997 Graeme 'Ziggy' Pohl
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