Dave Brown (1900s athlete)

Australia rugby league player

Dave Brown was a pioneer of rugby league football in Australia. He played in the opening 2 seasons of the new sport for Eastern Suburbs, one of 9 foundation clubs that competed in the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) competition during that first season.

A centre, Brown,(Not to be confused with the legendary Dave Brown, also a centre, who played for the Eastern Suburbs club in the '30s) made 14 appearances for the East's club during the 1908 and 1909 seasons, including the NSWRL's first match and first premiership decider.

In the 1909, season Brown represented Australia in a match against a touring New Zealand Māori side that season Brown also appeared in several non-sanctioned matches between a rugby league's side known as the 'Kangaroos' and a rugby union side known as 'Wallabies'.

player Number:3

Like so many rugby league players of that time Brown was a former rugby union player, in 1907 he took part in the rebel series against the New Zealand 'All Golds' that helped to launch rugby league in Australia. In its appreciation, the NSWRL awarded Brown life membership in that organisation.

Dave Brown is recognised as the Eastern Suburbs club's 3rd player.

References

• E E Christensen's Yearbooks
• The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players