CLUB HISTORY

In 1987 Doctor Graeme Jones (vice Chancellor of CAE ) went to the Gold Coast TAFE in Ashmore looking for a ground to have an under 19 team to play and train at as the CAE was just built and had no sporting facilities. Peter Lingard was a teacher at TAFE and a rugby tragic was co-opted to meet with Doctor Graeme to look at the HEEB St ground and the change rooms (which evolved into THE CLUBHOUSE) Peter then agreed to meet with several CAE students keen to form a Rugby side.

James Kemp, Robert Nye and Ben McGrath and a couple more lobbed into Peters office keen and full of youthful vigor. A training session was planned and 8 or 9 came to practice. Peter recruited some more TAFE students including Scott Mcinaly Mark Melrose. The first practice game was planned against the only other planned U19 team Eagles. Down on numbers, eagles and Colleges fielded mixed age teams. Lingard being the oldest U19 at 35++ and Jules Lundin in his youthful 20’s.

U19 competition did not get off the ground that year so we competed in the 3rd grade and dragged in Admin officer Ian Lambden, Groundsman Jules Lundin, Col Dobbie, Steve Fromont plus others, all wished they were U19.

The Colleges name derived from the then Gold Coast TAFE College (home ground) and the then Gold Coast College of Advanced Education which became Griffith University. The KNIGHTS name came after one of the many social evenings after training when the esky (no bar in those days) was empty again. The First strip was white shirt, green shorts with green and yellow hooped socks. Both CAE and TAFE used green, yellow and white in their logos at the time.

Such was the camaraderie and social enjoyment (evident throughout the Knights history) the team made the finals against stern opposition, as we were looked at as just a student team and easy to beat. Surfers’ thirds, with many experienced old hands, were the only side we had not had a victory over during the season loomed as our Major Semi opponents. Somewhere there are photos of the game and it was a battle Royale (some body remarked the photos looked more like a battle field than a rugby game with weary bodies everywhere) Colleges were victorious. And the form side surfers could not beat the Alligators in the following weeks Preliminary Final. The GF was against a very formidable Alligators team and Colleges rose to the occasion. Winners of the 3rd Grade GF.

The Following year was a mixed 2nd/3rd grade competition, but the knights were born and many fine individuals have made great contributions to the club. Too many to mention, but all appreciated.

Fund raising in the first couple of seasons relied on Raffles at Ashmore tavern, and some student union donation from the CAE. The TAFE supplied the field and shed and the lights came via a grant from the state government obtained by the local member of parliament Mick Veivers (our first Patron and former Rugby league great). Our First major construction was pouring the concrete slab in front of the Club house where everybody helped and enjoyed plenty of beers afterwards as at all knights events.

In 2014 Griffith University Approached the club as their largest and most successful sporting club and asked us if we would consider changing our colors to Red Black and White which has been the Universities corporate colours since the early 90s. Along with a strong funding partnership put in place with the university, the club realized this would cement our identity in the community as the Griffith Uni Rugby Club creating closer ties to the students and provide further opportunities for our members and sponsors.  2015 saw the Club Run out in Red and Black for the first time.