Parramatta Two Blues
Full name | Parramatta "Two Blues" Rugby | |
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Nickname(s) | Two Blues | |
Founded | 1879 | |
Location | Parramatta, Sydney, Australia | |
Ground(s) | Granville Park | |
Coach(es) | Gerrard Fasavalu | |
Captain(s) | Andrew Cox | |
League(s) | Shute Shield | |
General Manager | Michael Bell | |
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Official website | ||
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Parramatta Two Blues Rugby is a rugby union club based in the second CBD of Sydney, Parramatta NSW Australia. The club was formed in 1879 and competes in the Shute Shield run by the New South Wales Rugby Union. One of the oldest clubs in the Sydney Premier Rugby competition the club has produced nineteen wallabies over the years, starting with the great Bill Cerutti in 1936 through to the club's current, Tatafu Polota-Nau. To date Parramatta has played in eight First grade grand finals.
History
Parramatta Two Blues Rugby Club has enjoyed 130 years of top grade rugby in Sydney's premier competition and is one of only five clubs (Manly, Randwick, Parramatta, Gordon & Warringah) to have never been relegated from the Top Grade.
Founded in 1879 as Cumberland, the Club played in a senior Competition with University, Wallaroos, Waratah, Redfern and Pirates until 1899 when the existing system was disbanded.
The Club changed its name to Parramatta and was admitted to the Sydney First Grade competition in 1934 contesting its first grandfinal in 1945, a 9-3 defeat to Sydney University. The 1950`s and 1960`s were lean years but the development of a strong junior competition assured a sharp improvement in standards.
Former Wallaby Rod Phelps took over as captain-coach in 1971 and for three years he improved Parramatta`s standing in the rugby fraternity. Grand final appearances in 1974 and 1975 showed that the club was well on its way to becoming a force to be reckoned with.
Finally with the influx of young players in this period Parramatta won its initial First grade premiership in 1977, a 17-9 victory against Randwick under coach Peter Fenton. The Two Blues had waited 44 years to sample the sweet taste of victory but the wait was worthwhile.
The Club then played in the 1979 and 1984 grand finals going down to Randwick on both occasions but revenge would be sweet in 1985 and 1986 when the underdogs from Sydney`s west succeeded in beating the Galloping Greens to win consecutive premierships under coach Paul Dalton.
Four of Parramatta`s favourite sons switched codes with success. Ken Kearney a Wallaby in 1947 and '48, Ray Price a Wallaby between 1974 and 1976, Tony Melrose 1978 and 1979, and Andrew Leeds 1986 and 1988 all wore the Two Blues with pride before switching codes. Leeds and Peter Kay, capped against England in 1988, were the club`s most recent Wallabies until Tatafu Polota-Nau played 2 Tests on the Wallabies 2005 Tour against England and Ireland.
Club information
- Club Name: Parramatta Two Blues
- Nickname: Two Blues
- Founded: 1879
- Home-stadium: Merrylands RSL Rugby Park (Formerly Granville park)
- President: Geoff Baldwin
- General Manager: Michael Bell.
- Director of Coaching: Gerrard Fasavalu
- Club Captain: Joshua Whale
- 2014 1st Grade Co Captains: Andrew Cox, Tomu Mataika
- Uniform colours: Navy-Blue and Sky-Blue
- Premiership Titles: 3 titles: 1977, 1985, 1986
Representative Players
Professional Rugby Players
- Tatafu Polota-Nau - New South Wales Waratahs
- Adam Coleman - Western Force
- Taqele Naiyaravoro - New South Wales Waratahs
- Sitiveni Mafi - Western Force
- Chris Seuteni - CA Brive
- Iese Leota - Stade Montois
- Steven Bortolussi - Petrarca Padova Rugby
- Oliver Saunders - NTT Shining Arcs
- Daniel Yakapo - Rugby Viadana
- Sosene Anesi - RC Timişoara
Australian Representatives
- Tatafu Polota-Nau - Australia National Rugby Union Team
- Daniel Yakapo - Australian national rugby union team (sevens)
- Andrew Vatuvei - Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union
- Alex Sulusi - Australian women's national rugby union team
- Chloe Butler - Australian women's national rugby union team
- Nita Maynard - Australian women's national rugby union team
- Hanna Sio - Australian women's national rugby union team (sevens)
- Andrew Cox - Australia Barbarians Rugby Team
- Josh Kaifa - Australian Barbarians Rugby Team
- Mika Polota Nau - Australian Barbarians Rugby Team
- Rodney Ma'a - Australian Barbarians Rugby Team
2014 Parramatta Rugby Squad | |||
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Props
Hookers
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Locks
Halfbacks |
Loose Forwards
Midfielders |
Back Three-Quarters
(c) Denotes team captain - Most players are capable of playing - Squad only include players who |
Parramatta Two Blues Staff
International Representatives
Country | Name | Debut |
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Australia | Bob Brown | Debut: 1975-05-24 vs. England in Sydney Aus / Fullback / (Wallaby 575) |
Australia | Phil Clements | Debut: 1982-09-11 vs. New Zealand in Auckland, NZ / Lock / (Wallaby 631) |
Australia | Patrick Cooper | Played for Wallabies is 1965 |
Australia | Bill Cerutti | Australian Rep in 17 Tests & made famous the number 13 Jersey in the 1920s-30s. |
Australia | John Griffiths | Played for Wallabies in 1982 |
Australia | Andrew Leeds | Debut: 1986-09-06 vs. New Zealand in Auckland, NZ / Fullback / (Wallaby 658) |
Australia | Peter Kay | Debut: 1988-06-12 vs. England in Sydney, Aus / Prop / (Wallaby 669) |
Australia | Ken Kearney | Debut: 1947-06-14 vs. New Zealand in Brisbane, Aus / Hooker / (Wallaby 346) |
Australia | Martin Knight | Debut: 1978-06-11 vs. Wales in Brisbane, NZ / Centre / (Wallaby 593) |
Australia | Adrian McDonald | Played for Wallabies in 1983 |
Australia | Tony Melrose | Debut: 1978-09-09 vs. New Zealand in Auckland, NZ / Flyhalf / (Wallaby 601) |
Australia | Rod Phelps | Debut: 1955-09-03 vs. New Zealand in Dunedin, NZ / Fullback / (Wallaby 412) |
Australia | Mick Martin | Debut: 1980-05-24 vs. Fiji in Suva, Fiji / Wing / (Wallaby 612) |
Australia | Don Price | Forward Toured Fiji with the Australian Rugby Union Team in 1980 |
Australia | Tatafu Polota-Nau | Debut: 2005-11-12 vs England in Twickenham, England / Hooker / (Wallaby 806) |
Australia | Ray Price | Debut: 1974-05-25 vs. New Zealand in Sydney, Aus / Flanker / (Wallaby 573) |
Australia | Eric Tweedale | Debut: 1946-09-14 vs. New Zealand in Dunedin, NZ / Prop / (Wallaby 336) |
Australia | Stan Wickham | Played for Wallabies in 1901 to 1906 |
Australia | Lance Walker | Debut: 1982-08-28 vs. New Zealant in Wellington, NZ / Hooker / (Wallaby 629) |
Tonga | Sitiveni Mafi | Lock, Flanker for Tonga Debut in the 2010 Pacific nations Cup |
Tonga | Sateki Tuipulotu | Debut:1994-07-17 vs. Fiji at Nuku A'lofa, Tonga / Fullback / (Tonga Player 368) |
Tonga | John Fonua | Debut: 2002-06-15 vs. Samoa at Nuku A'lofa, Tonga / Wing / (Tonga Player 472) |
Tonga | Damien Fakafanua | Centre/Wing for Tonga in 2012 Pacific Nations Cup |
Fiji | Taniela Rawaqa | Fullback/Flyhalf for Fiji. The Second Highest point scorer in Pacific Nations Cup at 103 Points |
Samoa | Lua Vailoaloa | Halfback for the Manu Samoa in 2011 Pacific Nations Cup and non travelling reserve in 2011 Rugby World Cup |
Samoa | Fa'avaivai Tanoa'i | Debut: 1996-07-13 Vs. Tonga at Apia, Samoa / Flyhalf |
New Zealand | Sosene Anesi | Debut: 2005 vs. Fiji in Albany / Fullback,Wing / (All-Black 1054) |
Canada | Evan Olmstead | Debut: 2011 Canada U20 Vs. Georgia in Tbilisi, Georgia / 2nd Row/Flanker/No.8 |
Philippines | Oliver Saunders | Current Philippines Rugby player and Top point scorer (Flyhalf) |
Philippines | Kenneth Stern | Current Philippines Rugby Player (Winger) |
Honours
Grand Finalists and Premiers
- 2000 4th Grade
- 1998 5th Grade
- 1997 5th Grade PREMIERS
- 1992 4th Grade Colts
- 1987 1st Grade Colts
- 1986 1st Grade PREMIERS - d. Randwick 30-12
- 1985 1st Grade PREMIERS - d. Randwick 19-12
- 1984 1st Grade (Randwick defeated Parramatta)
- 1984 3rd Grade
- 1982 3rd Grade
- 1982 2nd Grade Colts
- 1981 2nd Grade Colts
- 1981 3rd Grade Colts PREMIERS
- 1979 1st Grade (Randwick defeated Parramatta)
- 1979 4th Grade PREMIERS
- 1979 1st Grade Colts PREMIERS (Joint)
- 1978 2nd Grade Colts
- 1977 1st Grade PREMIERS - d. Randwick 17-9
- 1977 5th Grade
- 1976 3rd Grade PREMIERS
- 1976 5th Grade
- 1976 1st Grade Colts
- 1976 2nd Grade Colts PREMIERS
- 1975 1st Grade (Northern Suburbs defeated Parramatta)
- 1975 1st Grade Colts
- 1975 2nd Grade Colts
- 1974 1st Grade (Randwick defeated Parramatta)
- 1945 1st Grade (Sydney University defeated Parramatta)
Life Members
Greg Baker
Bruce Coggins
Denis Garlick
Lorraine Holman
Pat Holman
Frank Lawson
Jack Liversedge
Allan Minett
Roger O'Neill
Morris Sutton
Eric Tweedale
200 Club
The following players have played over 200 Grade games for Parramatta Two Blues
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Parramatta Junior Clubs
- Blacktown JRUFC
- Dundas Valley JRUFC
- Hills JRUFC
- Merrylands JRUFC
- Norwest JRUFC
- Liverpool JRUFC
Notable Juniors from Parramatta Two Blues
- Jeremy Su'a - Canterbury Crusaders
- Sam Wykes - Western Force
- Jamal Idris - Gold Coast Titans
- Sisa Waqa - Melbourne Storm
- Jorge Taufua - Manly Sea Eagles
- Leon Bott - Retired
References
External links
- http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby-gold/former-all-black-soseni-anesi-joins-parramattas-two-blues/story-fndpt9s1-1226427514708
- http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/rugby-gold/the-parramatta-two-blues-progress-to-shute-shield-finals/story-fn8ouzvd-1226454443914
- http://parramatta-advertiser.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/two-blues-future-looks-bright/
- http://parramatta-advertiser.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/farewell-parramatta-two-blues-go-with-our-blessing/
- http://parramatta-advertiser.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/hooker-revs-up-rookies/
- http://www.nswrugby.com.au/NSWRugby/News/NewsArticle/tabid/374/ArticleID/7371/Default.aspx
- http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/rugby-gold/former-all-black-soseni-anesi-joins-parramattas-two-blues/story-fn8ti7yn-1226427514708
- http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/hookers-humility-keeps-him-in-touch-with-roots-20120706-21mdx.html
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