Redfern All Blacks
The Redfern All Blacks, also known as RABs or Redfern, are an Indigenous Australian semi-professional rugby league club based in Redfern, New South Wales, They are a part of the South Sydney District Junior Rugby Football League. HistoryRedfern All Blacks is the oldest Indigenous Australian rugby league club in Australia.[1][2][3][4] It was co-founded in 1938 by Bill Onus and Wesley Simms,[5] during the Great Depression.[3][4][6][7] Some reports suggest that the club was officially established by a group of non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal people in 1944.[8] The club, often referred to as RABs or Redfern, was named after their black guernseys, part of the uniform provided by the South Sydney District Junior Rugby Football League in their first playing season.[6] At the time the club was formed, Aboriginal Australians were denied rights afforded to other Australians.[9] Socially, culturally and politically, the club was important to many Indigenous Australians in Redfern at the time, and the club today is central to the history of Aboriginal Redfern.[10][11] In 1969, Redfern's rugby team had already made a name for itself, and the team were invited to play in New Zealand against the local Māori team in 1971. The All Blacks left a significant impression on the Kiwis, defeating the Maori team in a number of games.[citation needed] In 1971, the Redfern All Blacks became one of the founding member clubs that formed the inaugural NSW Koori Knockout in which seven teams participated.[12] Notable players
Honours and records
2018 A Grade Squad
See alsoReferences
Further reading
External links |