New South Wales Rugby Union
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The New South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU) is the organisation responsible for the sport of rugby union in most of the state of New South Wales, Australia. NSWRU is represented in the Super 14 competition by the NSW Waratahs. NSWRU also runs the Tooheys New Cup and the Shute Shield. The New South Wales Country Rugby Union and the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union (commonly known as Subbies) are also affiliated to the NSWRU.
The Far South Coast and Southern Inland unions of New South Wales are not affiliated with the NSWRU. They joined the ACT Rugby Union in 2004, which led to that body renaming itself the ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union.
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[edit] History
In 1874, the Southern Rugby Union was formed at a meeting at the Oxford Hotel, Sydney. This later changed its name to become the New South Wales Rugby Union. The first members of the Southern Rugby Union were Wallaroo, Sydney University, Waratah, Goulburn, Balmain (now Drummoyne), Mudgee, Victoria, Camden College, Newington College and the King's School and a competition was played that same year for the Sydney based teams. In 1882 the first inter-colonial match was played between NSW and Queensland. In what was to be a trend until the professional era NSW won the match 28-4.
The game continued to grow becoming the most popular code of football in NSW until the issue of professionalism led to the schism in 1908 and the formation of the New South Wales Rugby League. The NSWRU lost many players including the great Dally Messenger to the professional code which would also continue until the professional era.
After the outbreak of World War I the NSWRU suspended competition for patriotic reasons. This shutdown gave the infant game of rugby league an enormous headstart.
[edit] New South Wales state team
Main article: New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are the representative team of the NSWRU and compete in the Super 14 competition.
[edit] Grade Clubs
There are currently twelve clubs competing at the top level of NSW Rugby:
- Eastern Suburbs
- Eastwood
- Gordon
- Manly
- Northern Suburbs
- Parramatta
- Penrith
- Randwick
- Southern Districts
- Sydney University
- Warringah
- West Harbour
[edit] Defunct Clubs
- Glebe (1908 Australian Club Champions)
- GPS Old Boys
- Newtown
- Pirates
- Police
- South Sydney
- The Sydney Club
- Wallaroos
- YMCA
[edit] Competitions
(see also: Tooheys New Cup, Shute Shield)
The twelve NSWRU clubs above compete annually for the Tooheys New Cup. The Tooheys New Cup was first contested during the 2002 season, after the need for an elite, meaningful club competition to bridge the gap between the Shute Shield and Super 12 was identified. The Canberra Vikings were admitted into the competition for the 2004 and 2005 seasons but have since been omitted. The 2006 Grand Finalwas moved forward to September 2 to allow for the running of the inaugural Australian Provincial Championship.
An additional two teams compete for the Shute Shield:
The Shute Shield was presented to NSWRU in 1923, by the Sydney University Football Club for the 1st Grade Premiership Competition. The Shield is named in honour of the late Robert Elliott Shute, who died while playing for NSW against The Rest on June 6, 1922.
[edit] Suburban rugby
Below the NSWRU grade competition is the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union (commonly known as Subbies). With over 6000 players and 55 clubs this is believed to be the largest centrally organised rugby union competition in the world.
[edit] Country Rugby
The New South Wales Country Rugby Union is affiliated to the NSWRU and covers the majority of non-metropolitan areas of NSW. The Union is split into nine zones with 100 clubs and over 16,000 players. NSW Country is represented by the NSW Country Cockatoos in the Australian Rugby Shield.
[edit] See also
- Rugby union in Australia
- New South Wales Waratahs
- Queensland Rugby Union
- Australian Rugby Union
- The Wallabies
[edit] External links
- NSW Rugby Union
- SMH Article on Club rugby
| New South Wales Rugby Union clubs: |
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Sydney Grade Rugby| Eastern Suburbs | Eastwood | Gordon | Manly | Northern Suburbs | Parramatta | Penrith | Randwick | Southern Districts | Sydney University | Warringah | West Harbour | |
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Subbies Rugby | New South Wales Rugby Union | NSW Waratahs |
