 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2014) |
| Rugby union in Queensland | |
|---|---|
 Queensland Reds fans celebrate their title win in 2011 | |
| Governing body | Queensland Rugby Union |
| State team | Queensland Reds |
| First played | 1876 |
| Registered players | 21,234[1] |
Club competitions | |
Audience records | |
| Single match | 52,499 (2013) Wallabies vs British & Irish Lions (Lang Park, Brisbane) |
Rugby union in Queensland has traditionally been one of the most popular professional and recreational team sports in the state.[citation needed] Rugby union was introduced in the British colony's capital Brisbane in 1876. Initially it struggled to gain a foothold due to the popularity of Australian rules there until it got its break in 1882 with the first inter-colonial matches against New South Wales, and the formation of the Northern Rugby Union.[citation needed] Between 1885 and 1887 it became the dominant code after the leading schools association decided to play it exclusively and after 1890 spread virtually unopposed throughout the colony.[citation needed]
The rise of professional Rugby league in Queensland in 1908 and the Great War ultimately saw the disbandment of the Queensland Rugby Union (‘QRU’) after the 1919 season however it was later revived and continues to this day as ‘Queensland Rugby’. [citation needed]Despite increasing competition from three other football codes, rugby thrived in its niche nursery, with the Greater Public Schools competition and also representative football holding maximum prestige in the state. With the establishment of a permanent new home at Ballymore Stadium from the 1960s rugby experienced a golden era from the 1980s to 2000s. However it went into sharp decline in the 2010s and by 2018 was the least participated of the four major football codes in the state behind rugby league, soccer and AFL though representative matches still attract a significant audience. [citation needed]The Union has been reluctant to publish participation figures in recent years and has been focused on rebuilding the code.
Queensland's most notable product [citation needed]is Rugby Australia Hall of Famer John Eales who was Australia’s most successful Rugby captain. All of Queensland's Hall of Famers have also captained Australia and include Tim Horan, Des Connor, Tom Lawton Snr, Mark Loane, Paul McLean, Tony Shaw and Andrew Slack.