Brisbane's most successful rugby club, with 24 First Grade Premierships, 60 Australian representatives and eight Australian captains, will this week celebrate its heritage round as part of 130 years of rugby in Queensland.
The University of Queensland Rugby Football Club (University) will mark the occasion by hosting GPS Old Boys Rugby Union Club (GPS) on Saturday May 25 at St Lucia.
As part of the celebrations, each club in Queensland has been allocated a heritage round to highlight its history and achievements both on and off the field.
University, whose players are affectionately known as "Red Heavies", is marking its 102nd season in 2013.
Fullback Will Tuffley said the team takes great pride in the celebrations and relished the challenge of facing a red-hot GPS team.
"It's pretty important," Tuffley said.
"We really pride ourselves on these kinds of things - UQ is more than just a rugby club, it's where you get your mates from and it becomes a huge part of your lifestyle."
Tuffley, who has been at the club since 2004, has been through all the ups and downs at the club in recent years including the 2011 floods which devastated South-East Queensland and University's Premier Grade win in 2010 - their first in 20 years.
"It was tough for a long time but a lot of that core group stuck around," Tuffley said.
"We'd lose 50-nil every week, but winning that Premiership in 2010 when we turned it around was just awesome."
Tuffley was always meant to be a Red Heavy; his father Robert played rugby for the club in the mid-1970s.
"Dad took me to a few games to see the Heavies play the Vikings who had Matt Giteau playing for them," Tuffley said.
"He also still shows me the old Grand Final video where he scored a try against Wests."
Tuffley said the club had a strong culture in terms of work ethic and pride.
"You see guys like Mark Loane who have worn the jersey and part of it is really respecting the opportunity you have," Tuffley said.
"It's all about having a crack - whether it's playing Premier Grade or 6th Grade you give it your all."
"It's not just about rugby either, you look at some of the guys who have played here and it's about quality on the field and quality off it."
Kick-off for the heritage round clash against GPS is 3pm.
Media: Josh Dutton, 0434 982 163 or rugbypr@uqrugby.com
