Season 2025 – October Update

The club’s Annual General Meeting was held at the Willoughby Hotel on Sunday, 19 October.

Prior to the meeting, life members, ex-presidents, and long-standing committee members Ian ‘Moose’ Meers and Karl Houghton indicated their desire to step down. Both on behalf of myself and the club more broadly, I thank them for the years and years of service they have given to the club. They are dedicated clubmen through and through.

Given that, they have not entirely abandoned us. Karl will be pulling on the boots for yet another season in our resurrected Seniors team in Season 2026 to celebrate our 80th year and, unencumbered by Committee responsibilities, he must already be a good chance for Player of the Year. And Moose has indicated he will continue to coordinate Brothers in the City, the club’s annual get-together and major fundraiser. But in amateur rugby, just as in life, no one is irreplaceable, and so we’ve replaced them and added a few more jobs.

The 2026 committee will consist of:

President: Rodger Shanahan
Vice-President: John Andrews
Secretary: Tristan Howe
Treasurer: Nick Carson
Ordinary Members: Liam Casey, Scott Carroll, Bernadette Brannan
Special Advisers: Sean Brannan (Old Boys Liaison), Justin Moodie
Non-Committee Position: Justin Gates (St Pius X College liaison)

Congratulations or commiserations to all those appointed. Nice also to note the (re) connection of two Brannans to the club. The family has already given sterling service to the club over many years, and they have volunteered their services again to help us get to the next level. Bernadette will be focusing on re-raising the dormant Brothers basketball team, as part of the club’s overall growth strategy.

BASKETBALL

Those new to the club may not be aware that, until COVID, Brothers/CBOBS basketball was a thing for decades, as was cricket for many decades as well. Bernadette Brannan was an integral part of that basketball heritage. In the club’s 80th year, it seemed as good a time as any to bring back basketball, and Bernadette has put her hand up to do just that. There will be more information on basketball in 2026 in future updates and on our socials.

RUGBY

Preparations are continuing for Season 2026, our 80th year of playing community rugby.

We need players to fill all the teams we plan on putting on the field next year – a Women’s team, a Colts (U/21) and a Seniors team.

The Colts and Women’s coaches are already set, and we are currently working through some potential Director of Rugby/Seniors coach candidates. It is a paid position.

If anyone knows of someone who still wishes to apply for the position, details are on the website and we are still taking applications for a couple of weeks – please send them to president@brothersrugby.com.au

SAVE THE DATE

Some dates for the New Year:

Wednesday January 28 – Preseason training at Roseville Chase commences

Saturday January 31 – Brothers man the Bunnings BBQ at Chatswood Bunnings

February – university O Week recruiting – dates TBA

More dates of relevance as they come to hand