The Queensland Rugby community is mourning the death of beloved Rugby character Peter ‘Doubles’ Daley OAM who passed away on Sunday 26 November.
Doubles has left an incredible mark on Queensland Rugby, despite having never played a game.
He is the youngest Life Member of Souths Rugby club at 29-years-old, the 60th Life Member of Queensland Rugby, a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia and is one of our Union’s most loved and respected characters.
Born in 1956, Doubles was educated at St Laurence’s where he fostered his lifelong love for sport.
Although an eye defect prevented him from playing contact sports, Doubles ran the touchline at the school’s Rugby games, scored the cricket and played in the band during his time at St Laurence’s.
With passion and drive aplenty, he was appointed as President of the school’s sports committee, and after being told to raise his own funds to finance the committee’s activities, an idea which would change his life was born.
After seeing doubles tickets being sold at a Queensland match at Ballymore, the then 15-year-old Doubles printed of a sheet of paper with all 225 possible first scorer combinations and photocopied them on the school printer.
He took his tickets to sell at St Laurence’s 1st XV matches and following several weeks of successful fundraising, his classmates provided him with a nickname which would never leave, ‘Doubles’.
Upon finishing school in 1974, Doubles received a surprising letter from Souths Rugby Club, inviting him to join their club.
Doubles was immediately installed on the club committee and was a made a delegate to the Queensland Rugby Union Council.
From manager to secretary, he served in almost every possible off-field role possible at Souths, and after ten-years at the club, he became the youngest Souths’ Life Member at 29-years-old.
All the while he continued to sell his tickets at Rugby matches. From the Ballymore hill, to Souths’ home of Chipsy Wood Oval and the corporate suites of Suncorp Stadium, he sold his doubles tickets, raising funds for a long list of charities and grassroots Rugby. He estimates that he sold over 340,000 tickets, with his charm and quick-wit ensuring Doubles raised over $1 million during his 30-years of selling tickets.
In 1986, a week after Souths’ Grand Final win over Brothers, Peter married his beloved Karen, who stood beside him in every endeavour until she lost her own battle with cancer 10-years ago.
Doubles' work in Rugby also saw him establish and run competitions and pathways programs, including the Australian Schoolboys Sevens, which ran successfully for 20-years under his guidance.
To reflect his immense and unique contribution to Rugby in Queensland, Doubles was made the 60th Life Member of the QRU in 2012, the 130th year of the Union.
In 2022, Doubles was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to Rugby Union and the community.
Doubles will forever be synonymous with Queensland Rugby.
His efforts in fundraising and nurturing the growth of grassroots Rugby have left our game in a far better position than he found it, while his wit, charisma and enthusiasm will be sorely missed by all those who knew him.
Peter is survived by his daughter Danielle.
The QRU will announce funeral details in due course.
