History

Through the rich history of its foundation clubs, spanning over 75 years, RiverCity Water Polo Water Club (RCWPC) is one of the oldest operating water polo clubs in Queensland.

Through its foundation clubs RCWPC has participated in the Brisbane Water Polo Association competition since its foundation in 1957/58, when foundation club Qld Uni came 2nd to Leander in the A grade mens competition. Since that time RCWP and its foundation clubs participated in at least 27 mens A grade grand finals between 1957 and 2008 and 8 womens finals between 1973 and 2008.

RCWPC was formed around 1995-98 from the amalgamation of a number of junior and senior Brisbane clubs. These clubs included among others:

• Queensland University
• Queensland University of Technology
• Maygars
• Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School
• Indooroopilly Otters
• Brisbane Boys College

The book Water Warriors references its foundation clubs competing in A grade finals in Brisbane as early as 1948 (Qld Uni 1948) and 1965 (Maygars).  We would love to know more on this rich history.

Following initial amalgamations between QUT and UQ in 1995 the club was known as Combined Universities, Rivercity Universities from 1998 when the junior clubs joined and then RCWPC. RiverCity derived from the Somerville House River City Swim Club, where the club was based following the opening of the Murray Evans Sports and Aquatics Centre. 

RCWPC foundation clubs have traditionally represented players from the inner north (QUT Kedron park, kelvin grove, Gardens Point) and western corridor of Brisbane (St Lucia, Toowong, Kenmore, Indooroopilly, Ashgrove, etc). 

These amalgamations where undertaken at the request of Water Polo Queensland to create 4 super clubs to help compbat a stagnation of the sport. These included, Tugun/Barracudas (now UQ) Polo Bears from Pine Rivers and the Logan Warriors (Now Carina). 

To help resolve issues with limited pathways for players Rivercity, Polo bears and Warriors combined to create the Qld Breakers National League team. This helped create a boom in Qld male representation in the National team. The club continues to provide players to the Queensland Thunder National League teams.

The A Grade men’s team has won titles in each of the past three decades (from the 1990s, through to currently).   

The club has been lucky to have such a strong and loyal support base. It is always satisfying to see so many past players bringing their kids and grandkids back to play for the club:

• Club stalwart, Peter Bagster (a RCWPC Lifetime Member), has been a winning member of the A Grade men’s finals in each of the last five decades, three of them with RCWPC.  Peter STILL plays and coaches.
• Club President, Chris Deacon, played with Maygers from 1980 and still plays.
• Life member, Robert Sutherland, started with QUT in 1989, has been involved with the committee since 1992 and still plays and coaches for the club.
• Life member, Brad Lauder, started with QUT in 1994, has been involved with the committee since 1995, been a passionate advocate for the sport and still plays, referees and coaches for the club.

Since 1995 the club has struggled to find a permanent home pool that satisfies the needs of its membership. Since its creation the club has trained out of a range of venues including Somerville House, QUT, Valley, Centenary, UQ, Brisbane Boys Grammar, St Peters, Jindalee, All Hallows and Marist brothers. Having a permanent inner city base continues to be a primary goal of the club.