Wikipedia

Rugby league in Sydney

Rugby league in Sydney is the city's most popular sport,[1] with over 200 clubs in the city across levels of competition ranging from the fully professional National Rugby League to grassroots open age and junior leagues.

Rugby League in Sydney
A game in Sydney's metro competition
Governing bodyNew South Wales Rugby League
First played1908; 116 years ago (1908)
Clubs162 (divided in 18 divisions)
Club competitions

History edit

By the 1890s Rugby football had taken hold in Sydney, thwarting attempts by Victorian rules and soccer to gain the ascendancy. The game continued to grow becoming the most popular code of football in NSW, until the issue of professionalism led to a schism in 1908 and the formation of the New South Wales Rugby Football League. The NSWRU lost many players including the great Dally Messenger to the new sport of rugby league, which became the most popular sport in Sydney by attendance and public interest by World War I.

The NSWRFL premiership was continued on the successful basis of the first competition in 1908. In 1929 Jersey Flegg was appointed to the position of president of the NSWRFL and in 1941 he became chairman of the Australian Rugby League Board of Control. At the time of his death in 1960, aged 82, he was still serving in these roles.

When NSWRFL president Flegg died in 1960, Bill Buckley replaced him and also became boss of the Australian Rugby League, a position he remained in from 1960 until his death in 1973. In 1973 Kevin Humphreys was appointed President of New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) and Chairman of Australian Rugby League (ARL).

In 1983 Humphreys was succeeded in these positions by Ken Arthurson. Under Arthurson the clubs in the NSWRL expanded outside the borders of the state and even the country until in 1994, after administering its 87th consecutive premiership season, the NSWRL was replaced by the Australian Rugby League as club football's peak administrative body.

Notwithstanding the hand over of control of the game at the elite level across Australia to the commission, the NSWRL did retain responsibility for both the administration of the New South Wales rugby league team in State of Origin series, as well as day-to-day management of the state-based New South Wales Cup second-tier premiership, as well as junior representative competitions.

In modern times, the NSWRL has 82,397[2] (450,000 including variants) participants, the vast majority of which are located in Sydney as the state's main population centre.

Ron Massey Cup edit

Main article: Ron Massey Cup

The Ron Massey Cup (formerly known as the Bundaberg Red Cup and Jim Beam Cup) is a semi-professional development level rugby league competition in New South Wales currently comprising 9 teams drawn from the Sydney metropolitan area.

Club Moniker Home Ground Suburb Founded (Joined*)
  Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles H.E. Laybutt Fields Blacktown, New South Wales 1964 (2012)
  Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Hammondville Oval Canterbury-Bankstown, New South Wales 1937 (2023)
  Glebe Dirty Reds Goddard Park Concord, New South Wales 1908 (2015)a
  Hills District Bulls Crestwood Oval Hills District, New South Wales 1964 (2016)
  Kaiviti Silktails Silktails Churchill Park, Lautoka Lautoka, Viti Levu, Fiji 2019 (2020)
  Mount Pritchard Mounties Aubrey Keech Reserve Mount Pritchard, New South Wales 1927 (2007)
  Ryde-Eastwood Hawks T.G. Millner Field Ryde, New South Wales 1962 (2003)b
  St Marys Saints St Marys Leagues Stadium St Marys, New South Wales 1908 (2016)c
  Wentworthville United Magpies Ringrose Park Wentworthville, New South Wales 1963 (2003)

Sydney Shield edit

Club Moniker Home Ground Suburb Joined
  Glebe Dirty Reds Wentworth Park Concord, New South Wales
2017–
  Cabramatta Two Blues New Era Stadium Cabramatta, New South Wales
2023–
  Hills District Bulls Crestwood Oval Hills District, New South Wales 2012–
  Moorebank Rams Hammondville Oval Moorebank, New South Wales 2017–
  Mount Pritchard Mounties Aubrey Keech Reserve Mount Pritchard, New South Wales
2023–
  Penrith Brothers Brothers Parker St Reserve Penrith, New South Wales 2018–[a]
  Ryde-Eastwood Hawks Lidcombe Oval Ryde, New South Wales 2019–
  St Marys Saints St Marys Leagues Stadium St Marys, New South Wales 2016–[a]
  Wentworthville United Magpies Ringrose Park Wentworthville, New South Wales 2012–

Macarthur Conference edit

Main article: Macarthur Division Rugby League

First Grade and Reserve Grade edit

Club Moniker Home Ground Premierships Premiership Years
  Camden Rams Kirkham Park, Elderslie 10 1948, 1951, 1978, 1994, 1997–98, 2000, 2002, 2016, 2022
  Campbelltown City Kangaroos Fullwood Reserve, Claymore 11 1946, 1949, 1969–71, 1973–75, 1980, 1983, 2017
  Campbelltown Collegians JRLFC Collies Campbelltown Stadium 0 None
  East Campbelltown Eagles Waminda Oval, Campbelltown 1 2012
  Mittagong Lions Mittagong Sports Ground, Mittagong 10 1937, 1945, 1959, 1962–64, 1967, 1988, 1991, 1995
  Oakdale Workers Bears Sid Sharpe Memorial Oval, Oakdale 2 1993, 2011
  Narellan Jets Jets Narellan Sports Ground, Narellan 2 1996, 2004
  Picton Magpies Victoria Park, Picton 13 1935, 1966, 1981, 1985–87, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2013–15, 2018
  The Oaks Tigers Dudley Chesham Sports Ground, The Oaks 3 1976, 1977, 1992
  South West Goannas Narellan Sports Ground, Narellan 0 None
  Thirlmere-Tahmoor Roosters Thirlmere Sports Ground, Thirlmere 6 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2019, 2020

Third Grade edit

Club[3] Moniker Home Ground
  Campbelltown City Kangaroos Fullwood Reserve, Claymore
  Campbelltown City (2) Wallabies Fullwood Reserve, Claymore
  East Campbelltown Eagles Waminda Oval, Campbelltown
  Mittagong Lions Mittagong Sports Ground, Mittagong
  Picton Magpies Victoria Park, Picton
  The Oaks Tigers Dudley Chesham Sports Ground, The Oaks
  Warragamba Wombats Warragamba Sportsground

Open Age edit

Club[4] Moniker Home Ground
  Appin Dogs Appin Park
  Eaglevale St Andrews Magpies Benham Reserve
  Glenquarie All Stars Bradbury Oval
  Liverpool Catholic Club Raiders Liverpool Catholic Club Sporting Complex
  Minto Cobras Benham Reserve
  Mt Annan Knights Jack Nash Oval
  Oran Park-Gregory Hills Chargers Wayne Gardner Reserve, Oran Park
  Warragamba Wombats Warragamba Sportsground

NSWRL Conference competitions edit

See also: Sydney Combined Competition

The NSWRL Conference Competitions are a set of competitions for clubs in the Sydney rugby league districts of Balmain, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cronulla-Sutherland, Manly-Warringah/North Sydney, Parramatta and St. George.[5]

Metro Open Age Gold edit

The competition is holding one top grade division in 2023, similar to the now defunct Sydney Combined Competition.[6]

Club Moniker Home Ground Suburb District
  Avalon Bulldogs Hitchcock Park Avalon Beach, New South Wales Manly-Warringah/North Sydney
  Belrose Eagles Eagles Lionel Watts Oval Belrose, New South Wales Manly-Warringah/North Sydney
  Berowra Wallabies Warrina Oval Berowra, New South Wales Manly-Warringah/North Sydney
  Cromer Kingfishers St Matthews Farm Cromer, New South Wales Manly-Warringah/North Sydney
  East Hills Bulldogs East Hills Castle Hill, New South Wales Canterbury-Bankstown
  Forrestville Ferrets Forestville Park Forestville, New South Wales Manly-Warringah/North Sydney
  Harbord United Devils Harbord Park Harbord, New South Wales Manly-Warringah/North Sydney
  Hills District Bulls Crestwood Oval Baulkham Hills, New South Wales Parramatta Junior Rugby League
  Moorebank Rams Hammondville Oval Moorebank, New South Wales Canterbury-Bankstown
  Narrabeen Sharks Lake Park Narrabeen, New South Wales Manly-Warringah/North Sydney
  Ryde-Eastwood Hawks Lidcombe Oval Ryde, New South Wales Balmain District Junior Rugby League
  Wentworthville United JRLFC Magpies Ringrose Park Wentworthville, New South Wales Parramatta Junior Rugby League

Central Northern Open Age edit

The Central Northern Open Age competitions are for clubs in the Sydney rugby league districts of Balmain and Manly-Warringah/North Sydney. The following clubs are participating in Central Northern District competitions in 2023. This competition's Gold division is merged with Central West for 2023 as Metro Open Age Gold (see above).

Central Northern Open Age Silver edit

Club Moniker Home Ground Suburb District
  Asquith Magpies Storey Park Asquith, New South Wales Manly-Warringah/North Sydney
  Bondi United United Bondi Bondi, New South Wales South Sydney District RFL
  Concord-Burwood Wolves Wentworth Park Concord, New South Wales Balmain District Junior Rugby League
  Cromer (2) Kingfishers St Matthews Farm Cromer, New South Wales Manly-Warringah/North Sydney
  Leichhardt Tigers Birchgrove Oval Leichhardt, New South Wales Balmain District Junior Rugby League
  Leichhardt Wanderers N/A Sydney Balmain District Junior Rugby League
  Sydney University Lions University Oval University of Sydney Balmain District Junior Rugby League
  TAFE NSW Polecats N/A Sydney Balmain District Junior Rugby League
  Willoughby Roos Willoughby Park Willoughby, New South Wales Manly-Warringah/North Sydney

Central Northern Open Age Bronze edit

Club Moniker Home Ground Suburb District
  Asquith (2) Magpies Storey Park Asquith, New South Wales Manly-Warringah/North Sydney
  Carlingford Cougars Cougars N/A Carlingford, New South Wales Balmain District Junior Rugby League
  Harbord United Devils Harbord Park Harbord, New South Wales Manly-Warringah/North Sydney
  Leichhardt (2) Wanderers N/A Sydney Balmain District Junior Rugby League
  Macquarie University Warriors Macquarie University Ryde, New South Wales Manly-Warringah/North Sydney
  Pennant Hills-Cherrybrook Stags Greenway Park Pennant Hills, New South Wales Manly-Warringah/North Sydney
  Redfern All Blacks All Blacks Pioneers Park Redfern, New South Wales South Sydney District RFL
  Sydney University (2) Lions University Oval University of Sydney Balmain District Junior Rugby League
  TAFE NSW (2) Polecats N/A Sydney Balmain District Junior Rugby League

Central West Open Age edit

Central West Open Age is the premier rugby league competition clubs in the Parramatta and Canterbury-Bankstown districts of Sydney. The competition features 12 clubs in 2023, in a single division, with its gold clubs playing in the Metro Gold competition.

Central West Open Age Silver edit

Club Moniker Home Ground Suburb District
  All-Saints Toongabbie Tigers C.V. Kelly Park Toongabbie, New South Wales Parramatta Junior Rugby League
  Bankstown Sports Club Bankstown Sports Club Bankstown, New South Wales Canterbury-Bankstown
  Berala Bears N/A Berala, New South Wales Canterbury-Bankstown
  Canley Vale Kookaburras Adams Park Canley Vale, New South Wales Parramatta Junior Rugby League
  Chester Hill Hornets N/A Chester Hill, New South Wales Canterbury-Bankstown
  Greenacre Tigers N/A Greenacre, New South Wales Canterbury-Bankstown
  Guildford Owls Mccredie Park Guildford, New South Wales Parramatta Junior Rugby League
  Kellyville Bushrangers Kellyville Park Kellyville, New South Wales Parramatta Junior Rugby League
  Lalor Park Kookas Cavanagh Reserve Lalor Park, New South Wales Parramatta Junior Rugby League
  Merrylands Rams Merrylands Oval Merrylands, New South Wales Parramatta Junior Rugby League
  South West Sharks N/A Sydney Parramatta Junior Rugby League

Parramatta JRL Open Age edit

Main article: Parramatta Junior Rugby League

Clubs edit

Club Moniker Suburb
  Austral City Bears Austral, New South Wales
  Baulkham Hills Brumbies Baulkham Hills, New South Wales
  Hurricanes Hurricanes Sydney
  OLQP Bulldogs Sydney
  South West Sharks Sydney
  Winston Hills (1) Hawks Winston Hills, New South Wales
  Winston Hills (2) Hawks Winston Hills, New South Wales

Penrith District Rugby League edit

Main article: Penrith District Rugby League

Division 1 edit

Club Moniker Suburb
  Colyton Colts Colyton, New South Wales
  Cambridge Park Panthers Cambridge Park, New South Wales
  Emu Plains Emus Emu Plains, New South Wales
  Glenmore Park Broncos Glenmore Park, New South Wales
  Minchinbury Jets Magpies Minchinbury, New South Wales
  North West Magpies Richmond, New South Wales
  Penrith Brothers Brothers Penrith, New South Wales
  St Clair Comets St Clair, New South Wales
  St Mary's Saints Saints St Marys, New South Wales
  St Patricks Saints The Ponds, New South Wales
  Windsor Wolves Windsor, New South Wales

Division 2 edit

Club Moniker Suburb
  Doonside Roos Doonside, New South Wales
  Hawkesbury Hawks Hawkesbury, New South Wales
  Lower Mountains Mounties Penrith, New South Wales
  Riverstone Razorbacks Riverstone, New South Wales
  Quakers Hill Quakers Quakers Hill, New South Wales
  Western City Tigers Penrith, New South Wales

Division 3 edit

Club Moniker Suburb
  Colyton Colts Colyton, New South Wales
  Cambridge Park Panthers Cambridge Park, New South Wales
  Doonside Roos Doonside, New South Wales
  Emu Plains Emus Emu Plains, New South Wales
  St Clair Comets St Clair, New South Wales
  St Patricks Saints The Ponds, New South Wales
  Windsor Wolves Windsor, New South Wales

Southern Open Age edit

Main article: Cronulla-Sutherland District Rugby Football League

Southern Open Age is the premier rugby league competition clubs in the Cronulla-Sutherland and St. George districts of Sydney. The competition features 12 clubs in 2023, across two divisions, Gold (First Grade) and Silver (Second Grade).

Southern Open Age Gold edit

Club Moniker Home Ground Suburb
  Como-Jannali Crocodiles Scylla Bay Oval Como, New South Wales
  De La Salle Caringbah Saints Captain Cook Oval Caringbah, New South Wales
  Engadine Dragons ANZAC Oval Engadine, New South Wales
  Gymea Gorillas Corea Oval Gymea, New South Wales
  Kogarah Cougars Todd Park Kogarah, New South Wales
  St John Bosco Bulldogs Boystown Oval Sutherland, New South Wales
  St Joseph's Kangaroos Kareela Oval Sutherland, New South Wales

Southern Open Age Silver A[7] edit

Club Moniker Home Ground Suburb
  Como-Jannali Crocodiles Scylla Bay Oval Como, New South Wales
  De La Salle Caringbah Saints Captain Cook Oval Caringbah, New South Wales
  Gymea Gorillas Corea Oval Gymea, New South Wales
  Renown United United Renown Park Sydney, New South Wales
  St John Bosco Bulldogs Boystown Oval Sutherland, New South Wales
  St Joseph's Kangaroos Kareela Oval Sutherland, New South Wales
  Taren Point Titans Gwawley Oval Taren Point, New South Wales

Southern Open Age Silver B[7] edit

Club Moniker Home Ground Suburb
  Aquinas Colts Blaxland Oval Sutherland, New South Wales
  Cronulla-Caringbah Sharks Cronulla High School Cronulla, New South Wales
  Engadine Dragons ANZAC Oval Engadine, New South Wales
  Kingsgrove Colts Beverley Hills Park Kingsgrove, New South Wales
  Riverwood Legion Club Riverwood Riverwood Park Sutherland, New South Wales

South Sydney District Rugby League edit

Main article: South Sydney District Junior Rugby Football League

A Grade edit

Club[8] Moniker Suburb
  Coogee Dolphins Coogee, New South Wales
  La Perouse United Panthers La Perouse, New South Wales
  Mascot Juniors Jets Mascot, New South Wales
  Matraville Tigers Matraville, New South Wales
  Redfern All Blacks All Blacks Redfern, New South Wales
  South Eastern Seagulls Malabar, New South Wales

A Reserve edit

Club[8] Moniker Suburb
  Alexandria Rovers Rovers Alexandria, New South Wales
  Coogee Dolphins Coogee, New South Wales
  La Perouse United Panthers La Perouse, New South Wales
  Mascot Juniors Jets Mascot, New South Wales
  Marrickville RSL Kings Marrickville, New South Wales
  Matraville Tigers Matraville, New South Wales
  Moore Park Broncos Moore Park, New South Wales
  Redfern All Blacks All Blacks Redfern, New South Wales
  South Eastern Seagulls Malabar, New South Wales

Junior Comepetitions edit

There are currently ten junior rugby league competitions in Sydney. These are:

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Played in one Sydney Shield match in 2020, prior to the suspension of the competition due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Australia. Did not enter a team when the competition recommenced in July 2020.

References edit

  1. ^ "What is Australia's most popular sport?". The Roar. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  2. ^ Ausplay Participation Report by State (2022) Rugby League
  3. ^ "Competition: 2023 MACARTHUR OPEN 3RD GRADE Draw". www.playrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  4. ^ "Competition: 2023 MACARTHUR OPEN AGE MENS Draw". www.playrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  5. ^ "Association: NSWRL Conference Competitions". www.playrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  6. ^ "Competition: 2023 METRO COMBINED OPEN AGE MENS GOLD Draw". www.playrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  7. ^ a b "Competition: Southern Sydney Open Men Silver Draw". www.playrugbyleague.com. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  8. ^ a b "Competition: 2022 A Grade Draw". www.playrugbyleague.com.
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