Odyssey_Park the 2nd
Stan Wickham (3)
I guess Pats Colts side doesn’t count then??
Sydney Subbies 2025
- Thread starter Lindommer
- Start date
Footyhead67
Bob McCowan (2)
Key word is Grade not Colts
HogansHeros
Dave Cowper (27)
Correct, Colts does not count as Grade.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Yes? No.... Maybe!
I really can't predict what will happen in future years, and I'm a few steps removed from all the divisional calculations so would hesitate to guess.
What I THINK is that we need to look at a flexible model for future years.
As a Union - and I'm talking Subbies - we're having to chop and change to accommodate the proclivities of the player base i.e. it is bloody hard to pin down some of these guys in terms of commitment for a given season. Life happens. Particularly if you try to make plans in November and then summer takes a hatchet to all that.
Look at the UK model: most clubs at our level have an A squad, reserves, and get promoted or relegated based on that. They've still got a good culture around it, with a club structure down to juniors, and local rivalries etc. Of course it involves money, so it is different in that case.
Is 4-5 Grades + Colts sustainable? For the top 12-14 clubs it might be. Perhaps there is a basic line that needs to be drawn under those clubs, and accept that nobody else is going to breathe that rarefied air; that we need to accept that First Division Subbies is no longer something to which a club like mine can aspire.
(Here you can just insert my regular diatribe about the game not helping itself because of poor alignment blah blah blah.)
Subbies alone cannot drag clubs into a situation where everyone knows their Division come January and draws are out before Australia Day for the top 2 competitions.
We need a stakeholder meeting with NSWRU, SRU, Subbies, Womens, and Juniors to actually join the dots, and understand without cooperation we're going to continue to see erosion. It isn't just about money.
Work smarter not harder etc.
CrashBandicoot2
Frank Row (1)
Bad mail from myself earlier.
Sydney Irish in Div 2 is a great show of strength and hopefully they keep improving to be a Powerhouse!
Clubs with Colts make up Div 3
Clubs without colts are in Div 4.
The ultimate ressie
Herbert Moran (7)
Theory
If Irish start climbing the divisions
Given their close proximity to Waverly could we potentially see more expats be enticed to play for Irish as opposed to the waves in the future?
From my experience playing against them they are a great club with a top notch culture
Potential is endless if they can recruit well
If Irish start climbing the divisions
Given their close proximity to Waverly could we potentially see more expats be enticed to play for Irish as opposed to the waves in the future?
From my experience playing against them they are a great club with a top notch culture
Potential is endless if they can recruit well
The Ghost of Bernie
Allen Oxlade (6)
As mentioned the club's goal is to move up a Division however the grade results aren't there yet.
There's not a lot of good to be gained from moving up a Division only to be handed your backside each week. People soon stop enjoying the game.
I do think there's a bit of a gulf between the numbers of player required to run in Div 2 v Div 3. Perhaps making 4th grade in Div 2 optional could assist?
Like most clubs we are always looking for the shorter stature, bigger boned, thick neck type of player and that is one area that is an on going issue. We had a young bloke who'd played with Mosman turn up last week. Every week first timers introduce themselves, where they're from, who they've played with, star sign etc. When he announced he was a prop there was almost group hugs going on...almost.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Per my comments about competition structure above: I think we're headed to a point where 3 Grades + Colts might be the limit for most clubs.
And in my opinion the Colts should play first
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
I find that interesting as they're supposed to have a culture second to none and teams coming out of their ears
parkfootyenthusiast2
Chris McKivat (8)
I don't think they'll ever be able to compete with the Waves in terms of facilities and location. Coogee, though VERY popular amongst the Irish, isn't Bondi. I do think there is a cool opportunity for an England vs Ireland style match if the two sides do ever find themselves in the same div however. If the rumours about Irish in Div 2 are true, then I'm excited to watch their journey. They've built a fantastic club, great culture, integration of women's side has been excellent, and they play winning footy (no matter how painfully boring it is to watch
).
KentwellCup>ShuteShield
Charlie Fox (21)
Never seen them play.
Do they seriously play a NH 10 man style of rugby? would be quite funny if they actually did.
Do they seriously play a NH 10 man style of rugby? would be quite funny if they actually did.
parkfootyenthusiast2
Chris McKivat (8)
They do indeed, they're very good at it and have some big solid blokes in the pack to execute it well. They're every bit of the Irish label they've got. Makes for good, stylistic contests though, given the likes of Merrylands, Sydney Harbour, Knox etc. all play a much faster, more expansive style of game - and obviously it works for them since they overcame all of the above on their way to championship glory last year in both grades.
KentwellCup>ShuteShield
Charlie Fox (21)
This is some good preseason chat.
Everyone should give a comment on every clubs playing style. It's funny cause clubs never really change up their playing style.
Everyone should give a comment on every clubs playing style. It's funny cause clubs never really change up their playing style.
KentwellCup>ShuteShield
Charlie Fox (21)
Otherwise news out of the Colleagues Camp which ive heard on the grapevine.
Some big players coming down out of Sydney Uni and Easts (Colleagues usual recruiting grounds).
Also a preseason trial down at Orange next weekend (another Colleagues recruiting ground).
Some big players coming down out of Sydney Uni and Easts (Colleagues usual recruiting grounds).
Also a preseason trial down at Orange next weekend (another Colleagues recruiting ground).
Based on recent revelations, this is how I see the divisions shaking out this year:
Div 2
St Pats
UNSW
Petersham
Briars
Forest
Sydney Irish
Div 3
Epping
Hills
Sydney Harlequins
Beecroft
Merrylands
Sydney Harbour
Hawkesbury Valley
Penrith
Knox
Old Barker
Lane Cove Old Ignatians
Hornsby
Div 4
Western Raptors
Canterbury
Renegades
Wakehurst
Chatswood
Redfield
Kings
Blacktown
Div 2 is pretty obvious with a relegated forest and a recently announced promotion for Sydney Irish. After the Beecroft debacle last year, I’m sure Subbies have made sure they can put out at least 3 grades comfortably.
Div 3 in turn, becomes a 12 team division with Epping, Hills and Beecroft joining from Div 2 and Hornsby coming up from Div 4 which they have confirmed on socials. Penrith is a bit of an assumption but they have indicated a desire to enter at Div 3 previously. Not sure if they’ve managed to get colts off the ground.
Div 4 would ideally stay at 8 clubs in that case, hopefully Kings will give two grades another crack this year and have a bit more success and numbers than last year. I had to pick a club to move up from Div 5 last year and most likely would be Blacktown. They had plenty of numbers last year and would likely be keen to get two grades on the park.
I’ll probably end up wrong but who cares, I just want to see some draws to get me hyped for this year.
Div 2
St Pats
UNSW
Petersham
Briars
Forest
Sydney Irish
Div 3
Epping
Hills
Sydney Harlequins
Beecroft
Merrylands
Sydney Harbour
Hawkesbury Valley
Penrith
Knox
Old Barker
Lane Cove Old Ignatians
Hornsby
Div 4
Western Raptors
Canterbury
Renegades
Wakehurst
Chatswood
Redfield
Kings
Blacktown
Div 2 is pretty obvious with a relegated forest and a recently announced promotion for Sydney Irish. After the Beecroft debacle last year, I’m sure Subbies have made sure they can put out at least 3 grades comfortably.
Div 3 in turn, becomes a 12 team division with Epping, Hills and Beecroft joining from Div 2 and Hornsby coming up from Div 4 which they have confirmed on socials. Penrith is a bit of an assumption but they have indicated a desire to enter at Div 3 previously. Not sure if they’ve managed to get colts off the ground.
Div 4 would ideally stay at 8 clubs in that case, hopefully Kings will give two grades another crack this year and have a bit more success and numbers than last year. I had to pick a club to move up from Div 5 last year and most likely would be Blacktown. They had plenty of numbers last year and would likely be keen to get two grades on the park.
I’ll probably end up wrong but who cares, I just want to see some draws to get me hyped for this year.
HogansHeros
Dave Cowper (27)
2 Conference Div 3?
The Ghost of Bernie
Allen Oxlade (6)
First split training session for LCOI grade and colts with a total of just under 70 in attendance.
Basically from the split it appears that we will have two colts sides, along with the two grade sides. How that will work I'm not sure. Whether one side plays as a Halligans colts side I don't know but it's not a bad problem to have. Ideally you want to have the club all play together but for everyone to get a game there may have to be some separation.
With all that being said getting colts to commit to a full season can sometimes be like hearding cats. To use a mixed metaphor we will tick that box when we cross it.
Basically from the split it appears that we will have two colts sides, along with the two grade sides. How that will work I'm not sure. Whether one side plays as a Halligans colts side I don't know but it's not a bad problem to have. Ideally you want to have the club all play together but for everyone to get a game there may have to be some separation.
With all that being said getting colts to commit to a full season can sometimes be like hearding cats. To use a mixed metaphor we will tick that box when we cross it.
HogansHeros
Dave Cowper (27)
Sounds like you have the perfect amount of colts for 1 colts team.