Rugby greats and Bond University alumni gathered on the Gold Coast on Friday night for the official launch of Phoenix Rising, a book chronicling the rich history of the Bond University Rugby Club.
The event was more than a celebration of a book—it was a night of nostalgia and camaraderie, bringing together some of the sport’s biggest names, including dual World Cup-winning Wallabies captain John Eales AO, former Irish hooker Francis Canavan, Gold Coast rugby stalwart Terry Jackman and legendary Australian rugby figures Greg Cornelsen and John Brass.
The book, authored by Andrew Hamilton, tells the remarkable story of Bond Rugby’s rise, fall, and resurgence.
The club’s three distinct eras, from the Gold Coast District Rugby Unions years, the Breakers’ entry into the Queensland Premier Rugby Union and the creation of the Bull Sharks are brought together for the first time.
Through the voices of former players, coaches, and administrators, it captures the club’s journey from its formation in 1988—before the University itself had even officially opened—through to its present-day success.
From legendary Wallabies, trailblazing Wallaroos and Olympians through to coaches, administrators and benefactors and on to volunteers and third grade battlers - Phoenix Rising is a celebration of the people that has made Bond University Rugby Club what it is today.
Vice Chancellor Professor Tim Brailsford reflected on the club’s evolution, noting that rugby has been woven into the fabric of Bond University from the very beginning.
“Even before the formal opening of Bond University, a rugby club had been established,” he said.
“The initial team comprised a motley crew of staff members who were still capable of pulling the boots on, supplemented by players drawn from the local community, and who were then joined by students as the campus opened for business.
“The Bond University Bull Sharks are now a permanent fixture in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition. The Club is a living exemplar of how tenacity, perseverance, and determination can prevail.”
John Eales, who has long been associated with Bond’s Rugby Excellence program, praised the role the University has played in the development of the game.
“Notwithstanding humble beginnings, the Club has always been ambitious and forward-thinking. Bond Rugby now enjoys an excellent reputation, and this book is testament to the hard work, passion and dedication of some legendary characters, most of whom have served unselfishly in unpaid roles,” Eales said.
Reflecting on the deep connection players have with their first club, Eales described it as a bond like no other.
“It is special, and I think that is because it is the first team you chose to play for,” he said.
“You play your school footy, but your parents made that decision about where you would go to school. And you might make rep teams, but again, that is someone else selecting you to play. But your club—that is your choice, a commitment you make, a community you choose to be a part of, and I think that is why the connection with your club is always so strong.”
Bond University Rugby has built a formidable reputation in recent years, winning multiple premierships and setting the benchmark in women’s rugby, including a three-peat of Queensland premierships and securing the national Sukkar Cup. The night was a fitting tribute to the people and moments that have shaped the club’s history, while also looking ahead to an exciting future.
As the final pages of Phoenix Rising were signed and shared among past and present players, one thing was clear—Bond Rugby’s story is far from over.