Brothers Rugby League Club has a proud history dating back to its formation in 1919. In the late 1930s, a dispute arose concerning the club’s name. At the time, Catholic Bishop Basil Roper opposed the association of the name “Brothers” and St Mary’s College with non-Catholic players who might be involved in the club. As a result, most members transitioned to a team called Charlton. However, Charlton struggled financially and was eventually disbanded.

During this period, Reverend Dean Michael of Holy Name had a rugby union team known as “YCW,” competing in the local rugby union competition. When rugby union went into recession during the war years, Rev. Michael decided to enter the team into the local rugby league competition. He assumed the role of President, with Jack McGaw serving as Secretary. Together, they worked to establish a new club, which they named the All Whites Rugby League Club.

Why “All Whites”?
The name was practical and reflective of wartime challenges. Supplies of all kinds were scarce, and the only available jerseys were white—hence the name. Approximately 50 years later, due to insurance and incorporation requirements, the club reverted to the name Brothers. In 2005, the club embraced its origins by officially renaming itself Brothers Toowoomba.

Rugby League in Toowoomba
By the late 1950s, rugby league was thriving in Toowoomba. The four senior clubs—Valleys, Newtown, Souths, and All Whites—had reserve-grade teams that matched the quality of their top-grade squads. Junior rugby league, however, was limited to school-based weight divisions, which often created mismatched competitions. A 12-year-old might find themselves facing off against a much younger opponent in the same weight class.

Modern junior rugby league began to take shape in 1970, thanks to the efforts of Kev Hamilton and Pat Herbert. The governing body at the time, Darling Downs Junior Rugby League (now known as Toowoomba Junior Rugby League), set up a proper competition under Kev Hamilton’s leadership as founding President. Early trials attracted significant interest, proving there was a strong appetite for junior league.

Under the leadership of All Whites Seniors President Jack Lee, Keith Doyle organized a meeting at the All Whites clubhouse. Pat Herbert was elected President of the new junior club, with Neville Gaffney as Secretary and Brian Condon as Treasurer.

The competition initially included Newtown and All Whites, with Souths and Valleys joining later. Other regional teams such as Clifton, Pittsworth, Cecil Plains, Oakey, and Millmerran also participated, though some clubs came and went. By 1973, the league featured teams ranging from Under 9s to Under 14s.

Brothers Junior Rugby League Today
Today, Brothers Junior Rugby League is driven by a dedicated committee of volunteers who are passionate about developing players from a young age. Over the years, the rules, field sizes, ball sizes, and playing times have been adapted to suit different age groups, ensuring players grow their skills progressively in a fun and supportive environment.

At Brothers, we proudly live by our motto:
“We’re Mates for Life.”

Go the Mighty Leprechauns!