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 | |
 | |
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.
- Easts
- Nickname: Easts
- Colours: White and Navy
- Home Ground: Dangar Park, Mayfield
- Joined competition:
- Premierships:1954, 1987, 1990 (tied), 2000, 2004 (5)
- Hamilton
- Nickname: Hawks
- Colours: Blue and Gold
- Home Ground: Passmore Oval, Wickham
- Joined competition: 1968
- Premierships:1978, 1982, 1990 (tied), 2002, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015 (8)
- Lake Macquarie
- (formerly known as Boolaroo)
- Nickname: Roos
- Colours: Yellow, Maroon and Dark Blue
- Home Ground: Walters Park,Boolaroo
- Joined competition:
- Premierships: 0
- Maitland
- Nickname: Blacks
- Colours: Black, with white trim
- Home Ground: Marcellin Park, Lorn
- Joined competition:
- Premierships: 1969, 1974(tied), 1976, 1977, 1983, 1991, 1994, 1998, 1999.(9)
- Merewether Carlton
- Nickname: Greens
- Colours: Dark green and white
- Home Ground: Townson Oval, Merewether
- Joined competition:
- Premierships: 1947, 1958, 1973, 1974 (tied), 1979 (tied), 1980, 1989, 2007, 2011 (9)
- Nelson Bay
- Nickname: Gropers
- Colours: Blue,Black and White
- Home Ground: Strong Oval,Nelson Bay
- Joined competition:
- Premierships: 0
- Singleton
- Nickname: Bulls
- Colours: Red and Black
- Home Ground: Rugby Park,Howe St Singleton.
- Joined competition: 1990
- Premierships:1992, 1995, 1996, 1997 (4)
- Southern Beaches
- Nickname: Beaches
- Colours: Blue and Yellow
- Home Ground: Alan Davis Field, Gateshead
- Joined competition: 2007
- Premierships: 0
- University
- Nickname: Students
- Colours: Maroon and White
- Home Ground: University Oval No 1.
- Joined competition: 1957 in first grade (1955 in the lower grades)
- Premierships: 1959, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988 (8)
- Wanderers
- Nickname: Two Blues
- Colours: Sky blue and Royal blue
- Home Ground: No. 2 Sports ground, Newcastle West
- Joined competition:
- Premierships: 1945, 1949, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1975, 1981, 1993, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2014 (15)
- The Waratahs
- Nickname: Waratah
- Colours: Red, with white trim
- Home Ground: Waratah Oval
- Joined competition: 1944
- Premierships:1946, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1957, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1979 (tied), 2003, 2006, 2013 (15)
Clubs competing in the lower First & Second Division competitions include:
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Premiers
First grade premiers (1945 onwards):[1]
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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]
- Neil Adams (Noodles) (1925–1986) Merewether Carlton - 1 test
- Cyril Burke (1925-) Merewether Carlton / The Waratahs - 26 Tests
- Walter Cobb (1870–1933) Centennial - 2 Tests
- Michael Cocks (1945 -) Brisbane Waters - 10 Tests
- Terrence Curley (1938 -) Wanderers - 11 Tests
- Declan Curran (1952 -) The Waratahs - 4 Tests
- Michael Fitzgerald (1955 -) The Waratahs
- William Gardner (1929 -) Newcastle - 1 Test
- Ronald Harvey (1933 -) The Waratahs - 2 Tests
- Phil Hawthorne (1943–1994) Wanderers - 21 Tests
- John Hipwell (1948 - 2013) The Waratahs - 35 Tests
- Peter Horton (1945 -) The Waratahs - 21 Tests
- Michael Jenkinson (1940 -) Wanderers
- Hubert Jones (1888–1919) North Newcastle - 3 Tests
- Alexander MacNeill (1947 -) Newcastle Referees Assoc - 16 Tests
- Sydney Malcolm (1903 -) South Newcastle - 12 Tests
- John Marshall (1926 -) The Waratahs - 1 Test
- Ronald Meadows (Twinkletoes) Wanderers - 6 Tests
- Steve Merrick (1968 -) Singleton - 2 Tests
- Dr. Herbert Moran (Paddy) (1885–1945) Newcastle - 1 Test
- Joshua Stevenson (1883 - ?) South Newcastle
- Dominic Vaughan (1960 -) The Waratahs - 5 Tests
- Patrick Walsh (1879–1953) Carlton - 3 Tests
- Keith Walsham (1941 -) University - 2 Tests
- Charlie White (1874–1941) Maitland - 3 Tests
References
- ↑ "1st Grade Premiers". NHRU. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ↑ "Australian Rwpresentatives". NHRU. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
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Sources
- Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union website
- Mulford, John (2005). Guardians of the Game: "The History of the New South Wales Rugby Union 1874-2004. Sydney. ISBN 0-7333-1625-5. Retrieved 11 May 2013.