Ian Schubert and Mitchell Aubusson Awarded Life Membership

Two of the Sydney Roosters' greatest clubmen in Ian Schubert and Mitchell Aubusson have been awarded Life Membership of the Club.

During the 2022 Annual General Meeting in the Sydney Cricket Ground Members' Pavillion on Thursday night, Schubert (player 650) and Aubusson (player 1067) were both bestowed with Life Membership by Roosters Chairman Nick Politis AM. 

Schubert, named man of the match in the 1975 Grand Final, played 149 games from 1975 to 1982 for the Roosters and represented Australia on seven occasions in the 1975 World Series as well as the 1978 and 1982 World Cup campaigns.

A popular figure amongst the Club, Schubert is also a member of the Sydney Roosters Centurions - a team named in 2007 of the greatest players to have played over 100 games for the Roosters. 

Off the field, Schubert is a highly-respected administrator, which includes a role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Club, before holding a position as the NRL's salary cap auditor for nearly two decades. As of writing, Schubert is currently the Club's salary cap compliance officer. 

For it to be officially is nice, but this Club has already had me for life.

Mitchell Aubusson Sydney Roosters Life Member

Aubusson - a three-time Premiership-winner for the Roosters in 2013, 2018 and 2019 - currently holds the Club record as the most-capped player with 306 appearances between 2007 and 2020.

Featuring for Country Origin and the NRL All Stars in the representative arena during his glittering fourteen-year career, Aubusson also captained the Roosters to a remarkable Auckland Nines title in 2017.

Regarded as one of the greatest players to have pulled on the Roosters jersey, Aubusson played a pivotal role in the Club's recent success and is fondly remembered for his versatility and selflessness as a teammate.

Currently, Aubusson holds multiple roles at the Club as a recruitment officer, in football operations, as a Club ambassador and as the Head of the Sydney Roosters Academy.

It’s a great club, with a great front office all the way through to the players in the middle of the field. It’s great to be here, it was great to come back, I’ve gone off from time to time but I’ve always found my way back.

Ian Schubert Sydney Roosters Life Member

“First of all, I want to thank Nick and the board for this great honour,” Aubusson said.

“Most people know what this great Club means to me, and I’ll be forever grateful for it. I knew I was coming to a place that demanded success, that was in Grand Finals and was going to make me better.

“As soon as I got here, it was more than that. It was full of love – people who loved the Club and respected you. I really felt that when I first came here. They made me feel like I was at home, like I was walking into the Ballina Seagulls.

“Over time, the welcome feeling I felt, I wanted to bring that same feeling that I had to the people that have come in. I’m hopeful that I’ve done that and I’m forever grateful to be part of this Club.

“For it to be officially is nice, but this Club has already had me for life.”

Schubert echoed Aubusson's sentiment and reminisced on his time at the Club since his debut as an eighteen-year-old in 1975.

“It does seem quite a while ago now, but I was fortunate, young and silly but Jack Gibson brought me down here and showed a lot of faith in me," he said. 

“The Club has done so ever since, a lot of water has passed under the bridge, a lot of players have gone through this great Club and a number are still here staying here. 

“It’s a great club, with a great front office all the way through to the players in the middle of the field. It’s great to be here, it was great to come back, I’ve gone off from time to time but I’ve always found my way back.

“I’m very proud to have been a part of it with my 149 games. We’ve had some great coaches here and some great people all the way through, and most certainly some long-standing ones.

“The support for the players at this Club is second to none. It must be remembered that whilst we were here from 1908 onwards, we’ve had substantial success all the way through, and it’s about sustaining that success into the next few decades.

“I think we’ve got ourselves in a position over the last few years to push towards continued success.  It’s a strong Club with a great front office. It will last a long time and I’m happy to be here.”

The Club would like to congratulate both Ian Schubert and Mitchell Aubusson on their achievement.