Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union

Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union
Sport Rugby Union
Jurisdiction Newcastle and Hunter Region
Abbreviation NHRU
Founded

1888

(as Northern Branch)
Affiliation New South Wales Rugby Union
Regional affiliation New South Wales Country Rugby Union
Official website
www.nhru.com.au
New South Wales

The Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union is one of Australia's oldest rugby union organisations, with a history dating back to the mid 19th century. The union is based in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

History

Rugby Union was established in Newcastle on 5 June 1869, when the Volunteer Artillery team (8 players) challenged United Cricket Club (11 Players). The match was played in Centennial Park (currently Lowlands Bowling Club).

On 1 May 1877, a meeting at `Ship Inn` saw the foundation of Newcastle Football Club. 1887 also saw the formation of the Wallsend and Maitland Clubs.

In 1888, a meeting of Newcastle, Advance, West Maitland, Union and Ferndale Clubs saw a branch of the Southern Rugby Football (later NSWRU in 1892) established, this was known as the Northern Branch. This was the formation of the Newcastle Rugby Union.

Early clubs in the competition included Advance (1880); West Maitland (1885); Oriental (1885); Union (1885); Ferndale (1885); Waratah (1885); Raymond Terrace (1886); Carlton (1887); Centennial (1887); Lambton (1888); Wickham Albion (1888) and Greta (1890).

In 1911, the Northern Branch disbanded but was reformed in 1912 to be known as the Newcastle Branch. During 1915 - 1924, little rugby was played due to World War I and its aftermath. After a match between GPS Old Boys (Wanderers) and Novocastrians at Empire Park in 1925 a decision was made to reform the Newcastle Rugby Union; this was beginning of the current First Grade Competition.

During the period, the Hunter Valley Rugby Union was formed which consisted of clubs like Singleton, Muswellbrook and Scone but in 1996, the Hunter Valley Zone amalgamated with Newcastle to form the current Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union.

Current clubs

The Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union now consists of 20 clubs across 3 Divisions plus a women's competition. There is a junior competition (Hunter Junior Rugby Union) accommodating age groups 7 through to 18.

Clubs competing in the lower First & Second Division competitions include:

  • Cessnock Coalfields
  • Cooks Hill Brown Snakes
  • East Maitland Eagles
  • Newcastle Griffins
  • Medowie Marauders
  • Muswellbrook Heelers
  • Newcastle Dragons
  • Pokolbin Reds
  • Singleton Army Lions
  • Southern Lakes Hammerheads

Premiers

First grade premiers (1945 onwards):[1]

Year Premiers                               
2015 Hamilton
2014 Wanderers
2013 The Waratahs
2012 Hamilton
2011 Merewether Carlton
2010 Hamilton
2009 Wanderers
2008 Hamilton
2007 Merewether Carlton
2006 The Waratahs
2005 Wanderers
2004 Easts
2003 The Waratahs
2002 Hamilton
2001 Wanderers
2000 Easts
1999 Maitland
1998 Maitland
1997 Singleton
1996 Singleton
1995 Singleton

Year Premiers                              
1994 Maitland
1993 Wanderers
1992 Singleton
1991 Maitland
1990* Easts & Hamilton
1989 Merewether Carlton
1988 University
1987 Easts
1986 University
1985 University
1984 University
1983 Maitland
1982 Hamilton
1981 Wanderers
1980 Merewether Carlton
1979* Merewether Carlton & Waratahs
1978 Hamilton
1977 Maitland
1976 Maitland
1975 Wanderers
1974* Merewether Carlton & Maitland
1973 Merewether Carlton
1972 Waratahs
1971 Waratahs
1970 Waratahs

Year Premiers                              
1969 Maitland
1968 Waratahs
1967 Waratahs
1966 University
1965 Wanderers
1964 Wanderers
1963 Wanderers
1962 University
1961 University
1960 Wanderers
1959 University
1958 Merewether Carlton
1957 Waratahs
1956 Wanderers
1955 Wanderers
1954 Easts
1953 Waratahs
1952 Waratahs
1951 Waratahs
1950 Waratahs
1949 Wanderers
1948 Technical College
1947 Merewether Carlton
1946 Waratahs
1945 Wanderers

Notes: *Tie for Premiership

Grand Final Results (from 2008-present)

Year Minor Premiers Final result Final details
Winner Score Runner-up Venue
2008
Hamilton
Hamilton 35 - 20 University #1 Sportsground, Newcastle
2009
Wanderers
Wanderers 21 - 20 Merewether Carlton #1 Sportsground, Newcastle
2010
Merewether Carlton
Hamilton 39 - 34 Maitland #1 Sportsground, Newcastle
2011
Merewether Carlton
Merewether Carlton 20 - 16 Hamilton #1 Sportsground, Newcastle
2012
Hamilton
Hamilton 46 - 0 Merewether Carlton #2 Sportsground, Newcastle
2013
Hamilton
Waratah 17 - 15 Hamilton #2 Sportsground, Newcastle
2014
Wanderers
Wanderers 20 - 17 Southern Beaches #2 Sportsground, Newcastle
2015
Hamilton
Hamilton 14 - 7 Wanderers #2 Sportsground, Newcastle

Test representatives

The following players have played a Rugby Union Test for Australia. The first player from the Newcastle region to represent Australia was C.J.B. White from the Maitland Club in 1899.[2]

References

  1. "1st Grade Premiers". NHRU. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  2. "Australian Rwpresentatives". NHRU. Retrieved 1 August 2014. |archive-url= is malformed: wildcard (help)

Sources

External links

Club websites

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