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Gordon Rugby Club

THE HIGHLANDERS

Club History

The original Gordon Rugby Football Club was established in 1927 on Sydney’s North Shore, playing in the Metropolitan Junior Competitions and its home games on Roseville Chase Oval. The club was disbanded in 1930, and the following year, many of its players transferred to the newly formed Roseville Junior Rugby Union Football Club, whose home ground was Chatswood Oval. In the 1935 season, the club won the Metropolitan Junior Club Championship, the Kentwell Cup and its second grade, the Bourke Cup.

Following its success, the club was admitted to the Grade Competition in 1936. It changed its name to the Gordon District Rugby Union Football Club, fielding four grade and two junior sides, which participated in the Metropolitan Junior Competition.

By 1939, the 1st XV had won the minor premiership but were defeated in the final by the ultimate premiers. Apart from the 4th-grade team winning a premiership in 1946, it was 1949 before Gordon won the Club Championship with its 1st and 4th-grade teams, with all four teams playing in the semi-finals.

In 1949, the club adopted a new jersey incorporating the Gordon tartan colours and its club song “A Gordon For Me”, emphasising the strong Scottish influence within the club.

First-grade premierships were achieved in 1949, 1952, 1956, 1958, 1976, 1993, 1995, 1998 and 2020. Over the years, the lower grade sides have played prominently at or near the top of the competition tables, with Gordon winning the Club Championship 14 times.

Many Gordon players have earned representative honours playing for the state and Australia – far too many to list here. Trevor Allan, who has won lasting international acclaim, together with Bob Davidson and Peter Sullivan, have all captained Australian touring teams.

In addition to the club’s attractive style of play, it is renowned for its dedication to promoting the game at all levels, its tremendous club spirit, its enthusiastic supporters and an excellent and supportive administration.

Under Gordon Rugby’s banner, the Gordon Rugby Football Club Ltd currently fields four grade and four colts sides, plus reserves and representative junior sides from village clubs Chatswood, Hornsby, Killara / West Pymble (KWP), Lane Cove, Lindfield, Roseville, St Ives and Wahroonga.

 

Gordon Highlanders – Where Does the Name Come From?

Our jersey is a representation of the Gordon tartan of Clan Gordon as adopted and worn by the 92nd Regiment of Foot, originally established in 1794 in
Scotland by the 5th Duke of Gordon and known as the “Gordon Highlanders”.

Renumbered the 92nd in 1798, the Regiment went on to see extensive action during the war against revolutionary France. From the Netherlands, Egypt, Denmark and the Peninsular War through to the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815, The Gordon Highlanders established a reputation as one of the most effective and dependable regiments in the British Army.

Gordon_Highlanders_Cap_badge

The Regiment adopted as its cap badge and motto the crest of the Dukes of Gordon. The main cap badge worn by the Gordon Highlanders bears the Royal Stag head of the Marquis of Huntly, which sits on a Duke’s crown. The surrounding ivy also represents the Gordon family.
The motto ‘Bydand’ is visible underneath the crown. This is a Scots word meaning ‘Steadfast’, not to run away from danger, to keep going whatever the difficulties.

Source: Gordon Highlander's Museum

 

What's in a name?

Club icon Spaldo passing on the history to the players.....

and what it means to play for the Gordon Club.

Club Song

A GORDON FOR ME

 

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YEAR FOUNDED

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Club Championships

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1st Grade Premierships

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2nd Grade Premierships

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3rd Grade Premierships

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4th Grade Premierships

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CLUB WALLABIES

Club Championships – 13 – 1949, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1990, 1993, 1998 & 2020

1st Grade Premierships – 9 – 1949, 1952, 1956, 1958, 1976, 1993, 1995, 1998 & 2020


Runners Up – 1950, 1955, 1957, 1967, 1969, 1972, 1980, 1992 and 2022.

2nd Grade Premierships – 5 – 1961, 1972, 1974, 1976 & 1981.


Runners Up – 1950, 1952, 1955, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1975, 1980, 2008 & 2009.

3rd Grade Premierships – 10 – 1959, 1960, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1983, 1993, 2008, 2009, 2019 & 2020


Runners Up – 1948, 1951, 1962, 1966, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1981, 1992, 1994, 1999 & 2000.

4th Grade Premierships – 18 – 1949, 1952, 1953,1955, 1958, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1999, 2000 & 2007.


Runners Up – 1950, 1954, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1977, 1983, 1987 and 2020.

Gordon Wallabies

Our players who have played for the Wallabies

Name Wallaby Number Position Caps
Frank O’Brien 310 Wing 2
Trevor Allan* 323 Centre 14
Brian Piper 334 Fullback 12
Athur Tonkin 355 Wing 6
Bevan Wilson 370 Prop 2
Robert (Bob) Davidson* 389 Prop 13
Brian Johnson 391 Flanker 9
James Phipps 399 Centre 11
Peter Phipps Touring Side Fullback  
Neil Latimer 428 Lock 1
Arthur Summons 431 Fly-Half 10
Eddie Purkiss 434 Flanker 2
Ken Yanz 437 Flanker 1
Don Logan 439 Scrum-Half 1
David Shepherd 495 No. 8 5
Desmond Carrick Touring Side Centre  
Rod Batterham 507 Wing 2
Bruce Taafe 530 Hooker 3
Peter Sullivan* 538 Flanker 13
David Burnet 548 Centre 6
Laurie Monaghan 567 Wing 17
John Ryan 584 Wing 6
Anthony (Tony) Daly 679 Prop 41
Steve Cutler 630 Lock 40
Mark Hartill 656 Prop 20
Anthony Ekert Touring Side Scrum-Half
Alistair Murdoch 711 Wing 2
Tim Wallace 718 Fly-Half 2
Anthony (Tony) Dempsey Touring Side Flanker  
Andrew Blades 733 Prop 32
Cameron Blades 738 Prop 1
John Langford 740 Lock 4
Mitch Hardy 735 Wing 7
Stirling Mortlock* 759 Centre 80
Jack Dempsey 909 No 8/Flanker 14

 

*  Wallaby Captain

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