On Sunday morning the Redmen lost one of their best.
Andrew Rowe, known as Rowie to all was one of the club's best ever fullbacks. He was incapable of kicking the ball so he just ran it back every time.
On Sunday morning Rowie went for a morning jog and his heart just failed.
Rowie played in the 3rd XV in his final year at Riverview before starting his years with Old Iggies in 1992. He had a short spell playing colts for Norths, but then returned to the fold in 1997.
He played about 7 years in First Grade in both Barraclough and Kentwell Cup.
He was a member of our most accomplished team, winning the Kentwell Cup Grand Final in 2002.
Rowie continued playing down the grades and recorded more grand final wins with the Sutherland Cup in 2004 & 2005.
Rowie's talent as a player was recognised in our 40th year anniversary celebrations, when he was named as our best ever Fullback in the Old Iggies Team of the Century.
Please remember Rowie & his family in your prayers. Rowie is survived by his wife Claire, and his kids Harry, Will, Johnny, Sam.
He will be greatly missed by all that new him and we have lost a true gentlemen.
The club will advise funeral details when we are advised.
Greg Easy
President OIRFC
We invite you all to remember Rowie by Posting your best memories of Rowie below.
We invite you all to remember Rowie by Posting your best memories of Rowie below
38 comments:
In the late 1990's I fondly remember having a move called "Splinter" were Rowie would chime in at fullback and split the centres. It worked every time as Rowie had a great knack of breaking tackles. The best was a game against Colleagues at Woollahra and "Splinter" worked 3 times that day. Rowie & "Splinter" was the only reason we won that day. I will miss him.
God bless you Rowie - we are shocked and saddened by what has happened mate - and we will never forget you. You were and are one of the best this club has ever produced, on and off the field.
Chilla
i remember coaching rowie when he first came down to the old boys. He was all arms and legs and didnt have the greatest hands but he had the 2 assets that all great players have - courage and timing. In my almost 30 year association with the club Andrew Rowe was the best " first tackle breakers" this club has ever had. He will be greatly missed.
Guy Coleman
Rowie was such a gentleman and terrific player. He trained hard, played hard and cared for everyones well being.
I recall Splinter as well. It was a great move, but it didn't work very well when Rowie wasn't playing.
Drifter was the other damaging move - splitting 13 and 15.
The 1st phase moves just worked better with Rowie.
I remember (especially in the backs)our spirits would lift when Rowie was named in your team.
Not only did you get a great player but you also seemed to switch on that little bit more at training. Many times I would hear - "TIGES-SHUT UP WILL YA". Many times I would also - "Oh yes sorry Rowie".
Sorely missed.
Tiges
I just want to echo the thoughts & sentiment for Rowie. I am in total disbelief. What an amazing player and such a great guy. You will be sorely missed and my thoughts are with you and your family in this tragic time. What an ANZAC!!!
"Burnovski"
Matt Burnham
So sad and shocked to hear this news, Gone too soon Rowie!! you will indeed be sorely missed! you were a pleasure to watch on the rugby field and a great person off the field.God bless!
K
All,
Some of you will remember in the early 2000's I regularly organised a Tens team called the Wallabok Lions. As always, we seemed to have a cavalcade of hard pigs, but something of a popgun attack out wide. Eventually we'd always turn up some good backs, but it never happened as easily as it did with the forwards.
One year, I think about 2003, we had about 2-3 good backs, but were sorely lacking gas and "elusivity". I was a bit worried, until one night at training I came across Lon-Rowe and asked if he was interested. As always, Rowey was keen and enthusiastic, and I slept better that night.
Well, if ever there was a player tailor made for the Tens game, it was Lon-Rowe. A great buster of tackles, and reluctant kicker, he was supremely comfortable in the wide open spaces at the back. For the guys from other clubs who hadn't played with Rowey before, it took them a game or two to catch on, but once they did, they realised that the best thing you could do was that when Rowey got the ball, just get on his hip and trail him. He would always make a half break and when that happened he would put the nearest man into a gap. He had a happy knack of making average players around him look very good.
During that time we beat a few good teams - Manly at Cowra Tens; won Orange Tens one year and had some good results. Rowey was often responsible. There were some good players in those teams - ex-Wallabies Richard Harry and Warwick Waugh; first graders Marc Avery, Mark Challender and Trevor Walsh - and the questions was regularly asked about Rowey..."Who is this guy, and why isn't he playing grade somewhere?". Luckily for us, Rowey liked his rugby social as well as serious.
I ran into him a few weeks ago outside the QVB and we were giggling about some email banter with other Redmen on the infamous Red Loop. As always, Rowey was happy and smiling. We talked about our sons, and he was every inch the proud dad.
I was stunned to get the news yesterday. Stade de Ryde just won't be the same without Rowey's big smile on the sideline, or his counter-attack from the back.
Goodbye mate.
Loges.
I echo all the comments above - commiserations to Claire, the boys, his family and all his mates. It was hard to comprehend the news when the email came through from Oracle yesterday. Just a reminder to all of us to enjoy what we have whilst we can. One thing we'll all enjoy are the memories of the great Rowey at full tilt slicing up opposition defences....
Vale Rowey
Rowie - you will always be one of the greats!
Your exploits on the rugby field are well known to many in the Redmen rugby family. Every time you put on the red jersey you were in the thick of it. You were often the one to spark the attack - just follow Rowie (if you could keep up with him) and you would be well served. Boy, did you have some wheels - not to mention a side step, swerve, great cover tackles - you had it all my friend. Old Iggies were very lucky to keep you in the fold and you were personally responsible for many happy moments for the faithful supporters at Stade de Ryde.
As we also learned, off the field you were a man of great loyalty and respect. You were always modest with your successes and you managed to put your team and family and friends first at all times. You also had a cheeky side and a great sense of humour which made for many laughs and stories. I can recall when you and Frogga's knee accidently collided at training circa 2001 and your nose was splattered across your face...your reaction was just to get on with it and hope the team didn't suffer.
Rowie, you did yourself proud mate! Your wife, your four amazing sons, your family, your friends, your teammates and your club are so proud and honoured. You are a champion!
Harro
Rowus, you were the prince of fullbacks. Your try in the 04 Donnie Sutherland GF was unforgettable. You were also the Prince of men, a fantastic, loyal, larrakin of a great mate. Your devotion to Claire and the boys was inspiring. Your legacy will always live on.
Amongst the many great Redmen I have had the pleasure of meeting, Rowie is right up with the best. His ability on the field was legendary, but it was ability to make training enjoyable with his witty jibes and self deprecation that I will long remember, he was an absolute pleasure to be around. Rowie knew he was good rugby player, but readily took the p*ss out of himself. He played with the Redmen to enjoy the game with his mates, have a beer and a joke, then get on with the important things in life.
As the guys have mentioned in other posts, the things you associate with Rowie's rugby consist of words such as: carving, slicing, elusive, free spirited, having a go, exciting, tackle breaker. There were no negatives associated with Rowie's rugby.
Thanks Rowie for playing with the Redmen, and thanks for all the great memories you are leaving us with.
Oracle
I have a smile on my face as I remember Rowie. Heart goes out to his wife and little boys. "Best player in the club" and an even better bloke. Toby Tancred.
A tragic loss to Rowie's family, his mates, the Redmen and the greater Riverview community. Rest in Peace Rowie. God Bless.
Great player, top man, superb dad. Prayers to his family and close mates.
Way too soon Rowie. Rest easy.
Payto
Dear Rowie
I suspect that you know that so many people are thinking of you and your family right now. It was an honour to know you mate. I clearly remember your try against Colleagues in the dark circa 95 to win the Kentwell game on the bell at Colleagues - it was freakish and it was Campese-esque. Post returning from offshore, you continued to wow the crowds at Stade de Ryde with everything you did at the Red Men and the Kentwell victory in 02 was just superb. But way above all this mate was your devotion to Claire and your kids and your broader family. This is what made you the guy you were. You are much missed. Vale. Snix
This is the kind of news you hate to hear but sadly seem to all too often. A fundamental and infuriating injustice. Both Sandy and myself were richer for the time we got to spend in Rowey’s company, as short as that time was. Our hearts go out to his family.
He was the best of mates. Loyal, confident but humble, stoic (some may say stubborn) always there with a smile, a gee up, an encouraging word, always genuinely happy for your successes but defiant in the face of technology. He was a remarkable footballer, happy to play with those blessed with less skills. He could change direction on a six-pence with any slowing of pace.
I remember playing Oatley at Oatley in Baraclough 1996. I think we called "splinter" 3 times that day. Each ended with Rowie scoring under the sticks with barely a shackers hand touching him. Boggy was happy to be the decoy and not to have to run, Stowie was pissed he didn't get the pill, The Perkins brothers were just punching on and Jimmy was broken down in back play.
Now for us to turn our attention to Claire and the boys, to ensure Rowie's character is not forgotten but lives on with them, through us. We will miss you buddy.
Grats
A great man , sensational Rugby player and outstanding bloke .
Pleasure knowing and playing footy with you Rowie ......
Long live the memories and well being of your family
Crazy
Very rare to find a fullback who can "chime" and "inject", even rarer to find one who could do it both on and off the field ! We will miss you mate.
Toby
What a privilege to have played with such an amazing player. One of the best.
There is no one that could have made my sister as happy as you, and you are the only man I trusted with her. I LOVE you and MISS you mate.
Richo
A couple of weeks ago a group of us including Rowie and several other Redmen had a great night out in Balmain. Plenty of frosties and goon over a slap up feed or Rodney Eade as Rowie termed it. This turned out to be our own last supper with a great mate. I will always cherish this night out. Rest in Peace buddy, we miss you so much.
Al Meadows rated Rowie as the best player he had ever played with and that is an impressive international field.
An honour knowing Rowie and a privilege to play footy with him. A most affable character who is sadly missed.
Trout
Rowie - a better mate we could not wish for. You were a champion in every sense of the word. You epitomise everything the Old Iggies and Riverview community stands for - courage, commitment, passion, respect, care, character, humbleness. An amazing career spanning across 15 years at the club. You made things look easy on the rugby field - that laconic walk, loping run, quick step and blistering jet-like pace. You loved carving them up. After a typical match of beating countless defenders, setting up and scoring tries and defusing bombs you would say to him "Rowie, sensational game" - his reply "Yeh, I did all right". Put simply he loved playing with his mates. In later year's it was wonderful to see him bring Harry down to watch - the young fella just loved seeing his Dad play and feeling part of the team, singing the club song as the photos above attest. Indeed Harry has the makings of a very good sportsman and am sure will follow in his Dad's footsteps along with Will, Johnny and Sam. In recent year's Rowie coached the local soccer team at St Thomas' Willoughby - he was terrific with all the kids. Most of all, you were a loving husband of Claire and sensational Dad to your four sons. We will do everything we can to support Claire and the boys in the future. And we will watch them grow possessed with the wonderful qualities of their Mum and Dad. Miss you deeply mate. You will always live on. Purple
I had the pleasure of playing with Rowie a number of times both for Iggies and with the Wallabok lions. He had the around game, the ability to defuse a high ball, tackling a rampaging second row, cutting a defence to shreds or putting a player into space. Rowie was the complete package on and off the park, he loved to have a beer and was a great guy to socialise with.
My sympathy goes out to his family he has left behind. The world is a lesser place without Rowie.
Jacko
Rowie,
My time spent playing for the red white and blue has been blessed with meeting such a great bunch of blokes. You my friend were one of the greatest.
Ohhahh
Before any Redmen would take the field, you would look around the red, white and blue jerseys that surround you and there would be certain players that would inspire enormous confidence in you as you took the paddock....Rowie was without question one of those men. You knew that when Rowie had the 15 strip on his back that it was always going to be a good game, good fun and the opposition were in for a tough afternoon. But having played on the ding-a-ling alongside Rowie on a number of occassions, it was also incredibly hard to know where the hell he was going when he had the pill in his hand. In fact, I would say that "running off Rowie's hip" was more often by accident than by design!!
It was a privilege to play alongside such a talented rugby player, such a great bloke and we will miss him dearly. All our thoughts are with Claire and the little Rowies, who we hope will pull on the 15 jersey of the Redmen in the years to come and will no doubt inspire the same confidence in their team mates and deliver the same laughs, friendship and good times as their dad did for us.
Vale Rowie, we'll miss you mate.
Broom
Every year since our late twenties I would ask Rowie when he was going to retire and he would flash those big pearly whites "maybe next year mate". His passion, commitment and enthusiasm for footy were reflected in everything he did.
We are all amazingly lucky to have known you. You will be missed.
Will Ward
I was wandering along one of those very long deserted beaches up in far far nth Qld and the phone beeped twice. 'Mates 4 Life' Oracle and Timmo had come through with the most wicked and unpalatable news. The Old Iggies 'family' is a very special one and after several years reserving and hanging about the mighty 5ths, I know Rowie and his core group of mates very well. You guys have a big job to do but the best news is I know you can honour the great Rowie because you are good blokes, decent human beings and very tight knit, adaptable and capable. The funny thing about Rowie is he was one of the quietest in the sheds or aftermatch but bloody cheeky and funny. I even found that at Norths Rugby way back when I first met him. 'It's always the quiet ones you have to worry about' don't they say! Rowie epitomised this saying! But I always felt he had the heart of a lion and really cared for the simple things in life and that is obvious even from a casual observer such as myself. It's really an admirable quality. Rowie's life is now placed in the hearts of his living mates, his sons and those who care so much for him. If just one of those 4 beautiful young men are half the bloke their old man was, well we're all much richer for it. Rowie thanks a lot for everything mate. I feel honoured.
garlo
Have tried, for a few days now, to come to terms with this absolute tragedy. Rowey was one of the greats.... Great man, great footballer, great bloke, great father, great husband.... This club and anyone whose life Rowey touched is infinitely better for the experience. You will be sorely missed mate.
Schmodd.
Rowey, what a tower of a man.
Loved being off the field and on with him, at school and with the Redmen. Just off the phone to HardBody who also enjoyed it. It was a particular pleasure for me to see Rowey pull HardBody into line when he got too carried away with a Falcon call during a Grand Final one year.
The Andrew Rowe legend lives on through each of us.
Gus and HB Stuart
Fellow Wallabok, you will live on through all of us. What a moment today with many many many friends, family and teammates gathered to share a moment of reflection.
To See Claire any your boys run onto that field today made every other rugby memory shuffle down the ladder and showed the strength your family has and the support is all around.
We miss you and you will never be forgotten.
Stevo
What more can be said? Fantastic bloke, super talented footy player and the epitome of a great teammate and clubman. I'm still in shock but great to see so many old yet familiar faces last night celebrating Rowie's too short life. Thoughts and prayers for Claire, the boys and their extended families. Too soon mate, too soon. Rest in peace Rowie. Macca
Boys,
I know it's taken me a while to get around to posting on this blog, but I can't help but keep thinking of Rowie and his much loved family. I ofcourse remember his on and off field expolits as so well said above - trying to stay in support of Rowie on the field was a tough assignment. He didn't know where he was going, so waht chance did the rest of us have! (other than head towards the oppositions try line).
I also remember one of the last times I saw Rowie down at Ryde International. I was there with my little daughter and he was there with his sons - how times had changed.... But to see him with his boys was just as inspirational as watching him run on the field.
We'll miss you Rowie - Rest in Peace.
Liam
What a loss for us all. Andrew was such a great person and he will be sadly missed. My heart goes out to his family - they were the love of his life and what a proud Dad. We'll miss you Andrew. Mrs C
Rowie,
It has been a little over 6 months since we lost you. It feels like a lot longer. I think about you everyday mate. A lot has taken place these 6 months to celebrate your life and to ensure Claire and the boys are looked after. It has been incredibly uplifting to see your wonderful wife show amazing strength & courage. When I see your boys I see you. The Xmas Long lunch was great, Claire and Rowie Snr were there continuing the tradition. The boys had a great day at the 1st days Cricket, another tradition you loved. I miss you deeply mate.
Rowie,
It's 1 year today when you left us mate, can't believe it's been a year, feels a lot longer. Claire organised mass today which was brilliant. We are getting together tonight to celebrate your wonderful life, share stories laughter and tears over a few frosties. Hardly a day goes by when I don't think about you mate.
It's been 4 years since we tragically lost one of our dearest mates, and it's important we stop to reflect on the void that's been left, as well as the amazing effort Claire has put into raising the wonderful Rowe Boys.
Rowie left an indelible mark on so many of us, and his spirit lives on amongst a close group of mates who think of him each and every day, along with the Old Iggies rugby community.
Raise a glass today, lads, in honour of a great man taken far too soon. Buttsy
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