Since I cant sleep I've been milling around on here. I found a doc I made early in the year on Rugby in Newcastle Hunter and the clubs so I've posted it here first to give you some background info and then I'll talk about Singo and the comps str/wknes.
A good general history of the NHRU can be found here…
http://www.nhru.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=61
A good general history of the HWRU (women’s) can be found here…
http://www.hunterwomen.rugbynet.com.au/default.asp?id=11170
Both the above websites give good info in regards to the premierships won, who has represented at higher honours, etc.
NHRU Comp Structure (mens)
Premier 1
Premier 2
Premier Colts
Premier 3
A Grade
B Grade
C Grade
Some clubs are only in the premier comp, others only in the grade comp, others are in the premier comp + a team or two in grade comp but in premier rugby you must be able to field P1, P2, P3, & Pcolts to qualify for premier Rugby.
Premier, as it is suggested by its name the top comp. Grade rugby may be viewed by some as rugby for the social types that just want to keep playing or as a stepping stone for new clubs or clubs with young/inexperienced teams to build up to field a premier club. I still think the grade comp has some very competitive Rugby. The grade comps have their own titles to play for and it can be just as competitive and mean as much to those playing in the premier comps.
NHRU Clubs
Coalfields: from Cessnock, the greyhounds/mongrels, grade comp.
http://cessnock.rugbynet.com.au/
Cooks Hill : the brown snakes, relatively new young club, started off very competitively in the grade comp.
http://cookshill.rugbynet.com.au/
Dragons: also called Newcastle Welsh out Maryland way, grade comp (they also have a golden oldies team)
“The Newcastle Dragons was formed in 1984 as the Newcastle Welsh Rugby Union Club at the Premier Hotel in Broadmeadow and has always had a team playing grade rugby in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley Rugby Union competition. At this point in time the club was based in Hamilton.” Really nice guys too, have told the HWRU that they’d love to have a women’s team.
http://newcastledragons.rugbynet.com.au/
Easts (formally Eastern Districts) : Returned to premier Rugby in 2013. Suburb is Mayfield.
(as of 2013 I have not yet found their web page, will update as info comes to hand).
East Maitland : Tenambit area, eagles, grade comp
Reformed in 2007 and entered into the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union. Been placed in the finals each year.
http://myrugby.rugby.com.au/myrugby/find_club.asp?clubid=882055
Griffins: this team has moved home a fair bit but currently plays at Dangar park (the former ground of Mayfield East/Eastern Districts), grade comp.
“In 1991, Tech College Rugby Club and Port Hunter Rugby Club merged to form ‘Tech-Port’. They then changed the name to the ‘Griffins’.
Both of these clubs boast proud histories. The Tech College Rugby Club was formed back in 1948 whilst Port Hunter/ Stockton Rugby Club emerged way back in 1895, (disbanding and reforming many times).
A Golden Oldies side, the "Hunter River Mullets", also supports the Griffins.” (taken from social club site).
http://newcastlegriffins.rugbynet.com.au/
Hamilton: the hawks, premier & grade comp.
Founded in 1966 with just two junior teams, the club now supports five senior grades, a women’s team as well as junior teams. Based at Wickham Park off Albert Street. (taken from club website).
http://www.hamiltonhawks.com.au/page11880/Home.aspx
Lake Macquarie/Boolaroo : the roos, premier comp
Been around since 1929. Back then called Boolaroo Rugby Club. Over the years won numerous trophies and premierships and have had players who have gained representative honours, representing Newcastle, Country and NSW. (taken from the clubs website).
http://www.lakemacquarierugby.com/
Maitland: blacks (as in the colour, not being racist), premier comp.
Started in 1877. In the 2000 season there were 197 registered juniors at Maitland. From under 8s through to under 18s, 160 registered seniors and 80 Old Boys. Today the club boasts four senior sides, an "Old Boys" team, strong juniors (taken from club website & cut down a bit by me as it was quite a long bit of text).
http://maitlandrugbyclub.com.au/
Medowie: they field two sides in the grade comp, couldn’t find anything on their club history.
http://medowierugby.com/rugby/
Merewether-Carlton: the greens (or the slime as everyone else calls them)
“Merewether Carlton is the most successful club in the Newcastle competition. The rugby club was formed in 1930 from the amalgamation of Cooks Hill Carlton and Cooks Hill Surf club. Cooks Hill Carlton was established in 1887, making it one of the oldest clubs in Australia. For two years the jersey was sky blue with a Waratah emblem until the NSWRU requested a change. Bottle Green was then chosen. The club won six 1st Grade Premierships between 1930 and 1940 and sixteen first XV Grade Premierships to date – the last being in the 2007 season. The club has been Club Champions on nineteen occasions in its long history, a record that no other club has surpassed. This includes being club champions in the last five consecutive seasons – 2005 to 2009. The club proudly fills the maximum number of teams possible in the Newcastle Competition comprising of five senior grades, a colts and a women’s side. The club boasts approximately 200 senior and 150 junior registered players.” (taken from clubs website, cut down on extra text).
http://merewethercarlton.com.au/
Muswellbrook: the heelers, grade comp. Couldn’t find anything about their history.
http://muswellbrook.rugbynet.com.au/
Nelson Bay: the gropers, premier comp.
“Formed in 1978 as part of Port Hunter Rugby (Stockton). Nelson Bay Rugby Club (‘The Gropers’) was established in 1983 – Celebrated 25 Years in 2008; Strong financial, sponsorship and supporter base; Terrific social environment and family friendly as well;” (taken from club website)
Port Hunters an old club my maternal grandfather/father figure may have played for according to a family friend (jesus christ I hope so I always thought he played league), I'm going to look into this and may post info on the old disbanded club at a later date as it seems an interesting piece of history.
http://nelbaygropers.rugbynet.com.au/
Pokolbin: the reds, grade comp.
“Our Club is one of the newest Rugby Clubs in Australia being incorporated in January 2006. However we are not the first Pokolbin Rugby Club as one existed up until the early 1970’s. We are researching those early times and will keep you updated on our finds.
The current club was conceived on the fourth September 2005 in a restaurant overlooking Auckland Harbour by four Rugby nuts recovering from another loss to the Allblacks. We figured the only way to fix Australia’s problem was to create a club driven by the love of Wine , Rugby and the good times associated with both.
Initially it was decided to only have a social club (no playing) to enjoy the after game sports. The NHRU hadn’t had a request to form a non-playing club before and encouraged us to drag some guys out of the cellars and vineyards and get a team together. This was duly done , the phones ran hot , we had a team in division three , rounded up some great sponsors and now the Pokolbin Reds are a reality.
Our home ground is a lovely oval in the spectacular Hunter Valley Gardens complex right in the heart of Winecountry. Rugby days are casual and relaxed with lovely pitch side marquees hosting a lively crowd watching champagne rugby and consuming world renown Hunter Valley wines. If you are planning a visit to the Hunter Valley check our playing schedule and come along for a great day of rugby fun. If rugby is not on, you will always find someone to chat rugby at the neighboring Harrigans Irish Pub.
Sound financial base, very good support from players and locals.” (taken from club website, left most unedited as the area it talks about is some of the best in the Hunter – worth giving it a plug).
[Cannot find webpage as of 2013]
The Waratahs: the tahs, premier & grade comp.
Couldn’t find their club history on what looked like a very comprehensive website. There is a past greats & honour roll though.
[Update! 2013 there website appears to be no more, I will try to add the link if they sort it]
Singleton: the bulls, UPDATE 2013 the Bulls were in premier Rugby but have taken the route themselves to the Grade comp due to player number issues. New website link below.
"Since the creation of the Club in 1967, the Singleton Rugby Club has forged a long and proud tradition of producing quality rugby players and premiership teams.
Having produced two Wallabies and another NSW Waratah in the past 20 years, the Singleton Rugby Club can safely clam to be NSW Country's best nursery for developing rugby talent.
The Singleton Rugby Club can also boast field and club facilities that are the envy of sporting clubs around the nation, available for use by Club Members and the public." (taken from latest webpage).
http://www.singletonrugbyclub.com.au/
Singleton Army: the lions, grade comp. Not much info about the lions to be found but I know from when there was a women’s team there too that keeping their defence players was an issue because of postings/deployments.
Southern Beaches: beaches, premier comp.
“The Southern Beaches Rugby Union Club has been competing in the Newcastle and Hunter Premier Rugby competition since 2007 and is already achieving great success with the colts bringing home both minor and major premierships in 2010. The club has 4 senior teams which compete in Premier 1, Premier 2, Premier 3 and the Colts competitions. The junior division of the club has been competing since 1995 and has achieved a significant number of Minor and Major premierships throughout its short history.” (taken from clubs website)
http://www.southernbeachesrugby.com/
Southern Lakes: the hammerheads, grade comp.
“The Southern Lakes Rugby Union Club is based at Morisset on the south western shores of Lake Macquarie.
We play in the NHRU (Newcastle Hunter Rugby Union) competition. We encourage and support Hunter representative players.”
“The Southern Lakes Rugby Union Club "The Hammerheads" is a family orientated rugby club, located in the beautiful Lake Macquarie area of the lower Hunter Valley of NSW. We are lucky enough to be situated within a short distant from the beaches of Newcastle, the Vineyards of the Hunter Region, and also only a short drive from the Central Coast and Sydney.” (club and social websites, that’s all I could find)
I remember playing a semi at their ground I liked the place.
http://www.slru.com.au/
University (Newcastle): the (angry) seahorses, premier comp.
“Kicking off in 1955, the Club is the oldest continuously functioning University sporting Club with a proud history. The Club has nurtured many young players, including Wallabies and Wallaroos. Season 2010 was very successful with all teams playing in the finals series. Both men and women players gained Regional, NSW Country and National Representative honours. Tobie McGann and Margaret Watson were members of the Australian Wallaroos at the World Cup in England. Matthew Dun and David Kennedy were selected for the Australian Rugby Shield winning NSW Country Cockatoos - Matthew for the fourth year running and David for the third.” (edited to cut down on text, taken from Uni forum website)
http://newcastleuni.rugbynet.com.au/
Wanderers: two blues (or poons as everyone else calls them), premier and grade comp.
“Wanderers are one of the most successful Rugby Clubs in the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union.
Since the inception of Wanderers in 1924, we have won many premierships in all grades and continue to do so today. In that time, no less than 10 club members have represented Australia, 19 have earned State guernseys and 35 have been selected for N.S.W. Country.
The Wanderers club was founded in 1924 under the banner of the GPS Old Boys, by a small yet enthusiastic group of players and administrators, many of whom had played schoolboy rugby with either Newcastle Boys' High or private colleges in Sydney. The following year the Wanderers name was adopted.” (edited big time their history section was text heavy but these are the main points from their club site).
http://wanderersrugby.com.au/home.aspx
HWRU (Womens) – played during the war, went away then re-emerged in the nineties
Current 2013 Teams
Lake Macquarie
Wanderers
Merewether-Carlton
University
Previously up to 12 teams approx at one time and another time x2 divisions of about 6 teams, the main issue isn’t a lack of interest but rather a lack of structure on the club scene. Wanderers, Merewether-Carlton & Uni are foundation clubs that have never folded in the comp's history. Lake Mac have been in & out over the years but as of 2013 have a strong squad.
Hamilton harps folded in 2013 after about 11 players moved on mainly due to moving interstate for work/family reasons or travel overseas. It was very disappointing to see the Harps fold for the 1st time in their history but the team is hoping returning players in 2014 will see the return of the club (I'm hoping double for this as I was set to play for them!).
HJRU (Juniors) – this is the area I know the least about but I know the following
HJRU has ages U7’s – U18’s
Clubs involved
Easts (Mayfield east/eastern districts) – play out of Dangar park
Hamilton
Lake Macquarie
Maitland
Medowie
Merewether-Carlton
Nelson Bay
Pokolbin
Singleton
Southern Beaches
Wanderers
The Waratahs
Some clubs field two or more teams in the same age group. The most populated junior clubs are Merewether-Carlton, Wanderers & Maitland. University has no juniors as yet but almost created the clubs first U16s team a few years back but had one too many short which was a shame as the boys at training were very enthusiastic about joining the club. There are a few girls amongst the boys I am told but predominantly boys.
School age Rugby
I know absolutely nothing about the boys school system other than my old school had a team in yr11 & 12 and some of the player are now in league. So there is a comp I know that much.
There is a school girl comp that is very popular and there is also a Hunter school rep team that recently played a visiting rep team from Canada. From the numbers I’ve seen at these events over the last couple of years is that if half of these girls went onto club rugby rather than the trickle we currently get then in 2-3 years time we’d have possibly a two grade comp of about 6 teams each.
