Briars Rugby

Briars Rugby is an Australian rugby union club playing in the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union competition. The club currently plays at Rothwell Park.

History
The Briars Rugby Club was formed on 7 August 1918, by an assembly of fourteen boys aged between 9 and 13 years, convened at the disused fowl yard situated on Bob Clark's property. The name "The Briars Sporting Club" was chosen. This was later renamed to "The Briars Sporting Club". For the club's colors, a piece of red cloth with the emblem "T.B.S.C" (The Briars Sporting Club) embroidered in gold letters, contributed by Mrs. Rudd, was the initial choice, but the club's colors were later changed to maroon and gold by collective preference.

Cricket and rugby matches were played by the club's members. Cricket matches were held in member Bob Clark's backyard, while rugby was played in local paddocks. A pledge against smoking was taken on November 6, 1918, although its legitimacy waned when its legal validity was questioned. The club also had a swear box to curb the use of profanity, but was later abandoned.

Between 1919 and 1924, the club held annual sports carnivals. The first carnival, held at St. Luke's Oval, included 22 events and 20 participants. The club's badge and motto were introduced during the Second Annual Athletic Day in 1920. The motto Virtus Animusque Praesens ("Virtue and Spirit in the Present") was proposed by Mr. Dennis, the neighbor of Geoff Whiddon.

The club had 34 members by 1920. On January 31, 1920, the Briars' Library was opened with 78 books donated by nine boys at its inception, which grew to 241 books within a year.

The club held a fireworks display on Empire Night in 1920.

In 1923 the club's formal participated in the 2nd Grade N.S.W. Junior Rugby Union with a match against Paddington, which the club lost. The club won several subsequent matches, culminating in its first football premiership in the 1925 season, and the club established a 2nd XV rugby team.

Briars acquired a club room at 34A George Street, Burwood in October 1929. On its centenary the club had 250 members and supporters. They subsequently won 18 premierships. The club formed an associated women's rugby team, which later became two senior women's teams, which won in the Plate Final at the Borneo 7s in Malaysia. The club's Women's President is David Lannan, and the Coach is Trent Eagle.

Honours

 * Club Champions (Division 1): 1930, 1940, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1964, 1966
 * Kentwell Cup Premier (Div 1): 1940, 1949, 1952, 1964, 1965
 * Burke Cup Premiers (Div 1): 1925, 1934
 * Barbour Cup (Div 1): 1990
 * Whiddon Cup (Div 1): 1936, 1971, 1975
 * Barraclough Cup (Div 2): 1997
 * Club Champions (Division 3): 1995, 2006
 * Clark Cup (Div 3): 1995, 2006
 * Nicholson Cup (Div 3): 2014