Sport
5 November, 2025
Tributes flow for former Mount Isa Rugby League captain
Kevin Brasch was a respected school teacher and led the Black Stars while living in Mount Isa.
The Queensland rugby league community will pause tomorrow to remember Kevin Brasch AM, a man whose influence on the game extended from the heart of the Outback to the top tiers of Australian rugby league.
He passed away on October 23, aged 91, leaving behind an enduring legacy of leadership, fairness and service to the sport he loved.
While Brasch’s name became synonymous with rugby league administration at the state and national levels, it was his time in Mount Isa that forged one of the most formative chapters of his life.
In 1964, while working as a school teacher in the mining city, Brasch captained a North West Queensland representative side that took on the touring French team – an event still fondly remembered by older locals who packed into Kruttschnitt Oval to see world-class rugby league played in the bush.
Brasch, an outstanding halfback, was unable to lead his side to victory that day, with the strong French team winning 23-14.
According to the Mount Isa Mail, there was concern about whether the captain would be fit to play following an injury to his right leg during the previous week's local football game.
"I was kicked just above the knee and the muscle has swollen," Brasch told the local newspaper.
That was not the only concern he had.
After kicking 20 goals in the previous three competition games, his kicking boot fell apart, forcing him to scramble to get it fixed or replaced in time for the French clash.
Those who knew him in Mount Isa recall not just a talented footballer, but a man who raised standards and expectations wherever he went.
As captain/coach of Black Stars, he introduced training discipline, encouraged junior development and made sure Mount Isa representative players felt they were part of the wider rugby league family.
His contribution helped put Mount Isa on the map as a serious rugby league centre.
Born in Brisbane, Brasch began his football career with Valleys in the 1950s before moving to England to play with Huddersfield and Whitehaven.
His playing career was only one part of a remarkable journey. He became a school principal and later a respected administrator, serving as chairman of the South East Division in Brisbane for nearly two decades and later taking on senior roles with both the Queensland Rugby League and the Australian Rugby League.
Brasch’s steady hand and integrity were widely admired, particularly during the Super League war of the 1990s when he briefly served as ARL chairman.
He was also instrumental in Queensland’s 1983 tour of England, managed State of Origin and international sides, and played a central role in shaping the modern governance of the game.
In recognition of his decades of service, Brasch was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia in 2015 for his significant contribution to rugby league at local, state and national levels.
It was a fitting honour for a man who devoted much of his life to ensuring the game was well-run and accessible to all, from city suburbs to far-flung communities like Mount Isa.
Queensland Rugby League chairman Brian Canavan described him as “a passionate and hard-working person in our game, with a genuine interest in developing young players”.
Others who worked alongside him echoed those sentiments, remembering Brasch as fair-minded, meticulous and humble – a man who preferred results on the field to recognition off it.
A memorial service will be held tomorrow to celebrate the life of Kevin Brasch. It will be held from 10.30am at the Norths Devils Rugby League Club in Nundah.