A superb all-around athlete, David (aka Davey) Brienzo wrestled in high school and spent his spare time climbing mountains, cross-country skiing, and exploring the outdoors.
That natural athletic ability carried seamlessly into rugby when he joined the club as a rookie in 1976.
From the start, Davey developed into a brilliant attacking scrum half, modeling his game after Welsh great Gareth Edwards.
His growth as a player was also shaped by a remarkable rugby era, including the opportunity to meet members of the legendary Welsh backline — Phil Bennett, the Williams partnership in the centers, and JPR Williams at fullback.
Through club tours and international exposure, Davey embraced world-class rugby and brought that inspiration into his own game.
He played in Milwaukee through 1981 before moving to Denver, Colorado, where he spent two seasons with the Queen City Rams. Wherever he played, Davey’s creative flair made him unpredictable and dangerous. Opponents often struggled to adapt to his vision and attacking instincts, while his superb ball handling and low error rate made him a consistent contributor in every phase of play.
In addition to his contributions with the Harlequins, Davey also played four seasons of representative rugby. One of his most memorable moments came in the early 1980s at the Milwaukee lakefront, when the Wisconsin Selects faced Swansea University, the reigning European University Champions.
With only minutes left and Swansea leading by a narrow margin, Davey and teammate — and 2009 Hall of Fame inductee — Joe McCook executed a favorite back row play. McCook took the ball from the back of the scrum and offloaded to Brienzo, who broke through multiple defenders to score the go-ahead, game-winning try.
It was a magical moment, built on skill, vision, and teamwork — and just one example of the impact Davey made throughout his rugby career.
In recognition of an outstanding rugby career defined by athleticism, creativity, and memorable performances on the pitch, Davey becomes an inaugural Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2009).
