“There’s only one Tony Kube” - or so goes the old University club song.
But even Tasmanian Rugby Union stalwart Anthony Ronald Kube OAM is prone to the occasional mishap.
Like, for instance, rubbishing a recent string of emails from the Governor-General’s office as “spam” or nearly missing out on his 2025 Medal of the Order of Australia.
“Well, what happened was about six weeks ago, we got an email and it looked like spam so we ignored and then about a week later, we got another email and flicked it off,” Kube told rugby.com.au.
“The third time it came, it was on a Thursday which we thought was strange. So we checked it this time and it was saying we were nominated for an award and would we accept it the nomination by Friday?
“So, we wrote back, accepted the nomination and about 10 days ago they called us to let us know and keep it quiet. Lucky we opened the email - if we hadn’t opened it, it wouldn’t have happened!”
Few are more deserving in the 2025 King’s Birthday honours list.
Alongside his wife Linda, Kube has been at the heart of Tasmanian rugby since 1975 as a player, board member, coach, president and life member with both the TRU and with his beloved University club.
Now, he can can add an Order of Australia medal to that impressive list of shared accolades.
“Me and Lil (Linda), we’ve been through so much together and rugby’s been there the whole time,” Kube said.
“It’s wonderful camaraderie - I wouldn’t be where I am without Lil and all the blokes I’ve met through rugby and I’ve been so lucky for Lil and I to have this sort of experience.
“That’s 50 years I’ve now been involved with rugby at a senior level and no matter where you go, you’ll always run into someone in rugby, especially in Tassie.
“It’s like the army. I stepped from that family into another family and it’s never let me down.”
Tasmania University Rugby Club
- Patron, since 2009
- Inaugural Life Member, since 2017
- President, 1999-2002 and 2004-2008
- Scrum Coach, current
- Player, 1975-2012
- Member, since 1975
Boards and Appointments
- President, Greater Hobart Sub-Branch Vietnam Veterans, 2014, and since 2020
- President, Tasmanian Rugby Union, 2004-2007
- Life Member, Tasmanian Rugby Union, since 2025
- Council Member, Australian Rugby Union Council, 2000-2008
Community
- Co-Founder, Vietnam Veterans Walking Group, 2014
Australian Defence Force
- Member, Australian Army, 1970-1973
