Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union

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, 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 accommodating age groups 6 through to 17.

• Hamilton
  • Nickname: Hawks
  • Colours: Blue and Gold
  • Home Ground: Passmore Oval, Wickham
  • Joined competition: 1968
  • Premierships:1978, 1982, 1990 (tied), 2002, 2008, 2010.

• Lake Macquarie
  • (formerly known as Boolaroo)
  • Nickname: Roos
  • Colours: Maroon,Yellow and Dark Blue
  • Home Ground: Walters Park,Boolaroo
  • Joined competition:
  • Premierships: Nil

• Maitland
  • Nickname: Blacks
  • Colours: Black, with white trim
  • Home Ground: Marcellin Park, Lorn
  • Joined competition:
  • Premierships: 1969, 1974(tied), 1976-7, 1983, 1991, 1994, 1998-99.(9)

• Merewether Carlton
  • Nickname: Greens
  • Colours: Dark green
  • Home Ground: Townson Oval, Merewether
  • Joined competition:
  • Premierships: 1947, 1958, 1973, 1974 (tied), 1979 (tied), 1980, 1989, 2007, 2011 (9)

• Nelson Bay
  • Nickname: The Gropers
  • Colours: Blue,Black and White
  • Home Ground: Strong Oval,Nelson Bay
  • Joined competition:
  • Premierships: Nil

• Singleton
  • Nickname: The Bulls
  • Colours: Red and Black
  • Home Ground: Rugby Park,Howe St Singleton.
  • Joined competition: 1990
  • Premierships:1992,1995-7 (4)

• Southern Beaches
  • Nickname: Beaches
  • Colours: Blue and Gold
  • Home Ground: Cahill Oval,Belmont
  • Joined competition: 2007
  • Premierships: Nil

• 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, 1955–56, 1960, 1963–65, 1975, 1981, 1993, 2001, 2005, 2009 (14)

• The Waratahs
  • Nickname: Waratah
  • Colours: Red, with white trim
  • Home Ground: Waratah Oval
  • Joined competition: 1944
  • Premierships:1946, 1950–53, 1957, 1967–68, 1970–72, 1979 (tied), 2003, 2006 (14)

Clubs competing in the lower First & Second Division competitions include:

• • Coalfields
  • Cooks Hill
  • East Maitland
  • Griffins
  • Medowie
  • Muswellbrook
  • Newcastle Dragons
  • Pokolbin
  • Singleton Army
  • Southern Lakes

Premiers

Australian 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.

• 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 -) 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
• Patrick Walsh (1879–1953) Carlton - 3 Tests
• Keith Walsham (1941 -) University - 2 Tests
• Charlie White (1874–1941) Maitland - 3 Tests

References

• http://www.nhru.com.au
• Mulford, John (2005). Guardians of the Game: "The History of the New South Wales Rugby Union 1874-2004. Sydney.