Founded in 1956, the University of Queensland’s (UQ) Red Lions have become one of the oldest Australian rules football clubs in South-East Queensland, building a proud legacy both on and off the field across seven decades of competition.
From humble beginnings fielding a single Senior side between 1956 and 1959, the club quickly expanded with a Reserves team added in 1960, and has continued to grow ever since.
At its peak, UQ fielded eight senior teams across 2013 and 2014, including five men’s teams, two women’s teams and a Colts side, all operating out of the club’s former home on Oval 7.
The Red Lions have also played a significant role in the growth of women’s football in Queensland, launching their women’s program in 2013 before quickly expanding to two teams. UQ later became an inaugural Bond University QAFLW club, helping pave the way for the elite women’s competition in Queensland.
Over the years, the club has developed a number of players who progressed to the AFL and AFLW system, including Brisbane Lions AFLW premiership captain Breanna Koenen, along with Sharni Webb, Dakota Davidson, Greta Bodey, Nat Grider and Maria Moloney.
While many have gone on to football success, the Red Lions’ connection to The University of Queensland has also seen a number of influential Australians pull on the jumper throughout the club’s history.
Former Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan, former Australian Sports Commission Chair and Tanarra Capital founder John Wylie, and philanthropist Bill Bowness are among the notable names to have played for the club.
Like any club with a long history, the Red Lions have also collected their fair share of stories and traditions along the way.
During the Brisbane floods in 2012, a speed boat famously washed up in the forward pocket of Oval 7, a moment that led to the area affectionately becoming known as “Proteus Pocket”.
The club’s famous “Red Lion” nickname is also believed to have originated during a trip to the Australian University Games in the 1970s, when the team stopped at the Red Lion Hotel in Armidale, New South Wales.
While much has changed over 70 years, one thing that has remained constant is the club’s welcoming culture.
With many players moving to Brisbane from interstate or regional areas to study at the University of Queensland, the Red Lions have long prided themselves on being more than just a club providing a community and support network for students and young people living away from home for the first time.
That culture has helped shape generations of players, both socially and competitively, with the club becoming well known for its strong social calendar and traditions, including events such as the annual iPod Shuffle night, Red Lion Idol and pool competitions.
As the Red Lions celebrate 70 years in 2026, the club’s legacy continues to reflect the unique role community football clubs play in bringing people together, on campus, across Brisbane and throughout Australian rules football in Queensland.
