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:

Premiers

First grade premiers (1945 onwards):[1]

Notes: *Tie for Premiership

Grand Final Results (from 2000-present)

Year Minor Premiers Final result Final details
Winner Score Runner-up Venue
2000
 Wanderers
 Eastern Districts 23 - 22 Wanderers St John Oval, Charlestown
2001
 Wanderers
 Wanderers 20 - 3 Eastern Districts The Gardens, Birmingham Gardens
2002
 Hamilton
 Hamilton 23 - 8 Wanderers The Gardens, Birmingham Gardens
2003
 Wanderers
 Waratah 21 - 15 University The Gardens, Birmingham Gardens
2004
 Eastern Districts
 Eastern Districts 22 - 20 Wanderers The Gardens, Birmingham Gardens
2005
 Waratah
 Wanderers 10 - 3 Waratah Passmore Oval, Hamilton
2006
 Waratah
 Waratah 22 - 10 University Passmore Oval, Hamilton
2007
 Merewether Carlton
 Merewether Carlton 24 - 23 Hamilton #1 Sportsground, Newcastle
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
2016
 Hamilton
 Hamilton 37 - 28 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. Archived from the original on 5 August 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2017.

Sources

Club websites

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