Funeral Service Update:
Queensland Rugby Union Honorary Life Member Dick McGruther O.B.E., who is eulogising Greg at Friday's service, has requested that capped Queensland Representatives and Life Members who are able to attend, wear their QRU Caps (where available).
A celebration of Greg's life will be held at 3:30pm, Albany Creek Memorial Park - 400 Albany Creek Road, Bridgeman Downs, Lakeview Chapel, before continuing, from 5:00pm, at Wests Rugby Union Club - Memorial Park, 65 Sylvan Rd, Toowong.
The Queensland Rugby Community is mourning the passing of Vintage Red, QRU Life Member, QRU Board Member and Easts and Wests legend Greg Core, who passed away in the early hours of Monday morning.
“Crash-tackling teenage centre Greg Core..” (Red! Red! Red!, p171) raced through the Premier Rugby ranks to earn his debut for Queensland, against Fiji at the Exhibition Ground, in June 1961.
A notably versatile back, Greg played at inside and Outside Centre, Left and Right Wing as well at Blind and Open Side Flanker.
His 11 State caps included national sides Fiji, New Zealand and France (twice) in Queensland’s maroon, before his final match in August 1968 Greg did not lose his connection to Rugby, excelling similarly through the administrative ranks to sit on the newly incorporated Queensland Rugby Union Limited’s first Board of Management in 1992.
Serving alongside influential administrators Dick McGruther, Norbert Byrne, Leo Williams, Terry Doyle, Roger Herring, John Breen and John Muir, Greg stood down from the Board in 1994, continuing on as a member of the Judicial Appeal Committee for 14 years, from 1999 to 2013.
In recognition of his service to the game in Queensland, encompassing on and off field success, Greg was made Queensland Rugby Union’s 55thHonorary Life Member in 2001.
Reds and Wallabies captain, and coaching legend Barry Honan recalled Greg as, “without a doubt the toughest footballer I played against in Australia. He was sometimes a bit late to a tackle but only because of his poor eyes. He’d not only tackle you but grind you into the ground.”
(Red! Red! Red! p190)
Greg remained an enthusiastic QRU Life Member, Vintage Red, and was among the first to request his Representative Cap after the 2017 release of the Queensland Rugby Union Cap Project.
Greg maintained a positive influence on Queensland Rugby for 60 years and will be sorely missed at all levels of the game.
