Sydney Subbies 2025
- Thread starter Lindommer
- Start date
footy_footy
Ward Prentice (10)
All for giving the clubs as much time as possible to try and get themselves sorted but I just can't see Div 2 being a functional 8 club division. Would require dramatic turnaround from Epping, Beecroft and/or Hills plus considerable growth from one or two of the 2024 Div3 clubs. It's difficult to see how there won't be gaps in the lower grade/Colts draws, which can often lead to forfeits as the year progresses and attrition of week to week rugby sets in.
Odyssey_Park the 2nd
Frank Row (1)
Is focusing on the number of grade sides whether you can get a colts as the deciding factor the better option for grading sides given the struggle with clubs for Colts at the moment?
Dropping Epping and Beecroft out of Div 2 and bringing up Sydney Irish and Merrylands who have dominated that division for last few years.
Dropping Barker & Harbour? from Div 3 after a tough year for a strong Hornsby and adding Penrith to Div 3. Harbour is the hard one as they have traditionally been strong which is why they’ve moved up but there numbers haven’t backed it up.
Unsure about the bottom of the Div 4 comp and who would drop but surely there are a number of sides like Manly or one of the Southern sides (North Cronulla, Georges River) that could come up into that division
I know why Colts are important and I encourage clubs to get a colts side but it’s becoming harder and harder for clubs to “find” a colts side.
I don’t have an answer for how you manage the colts comp in Div 2/3 but this gives you a strong 8 team each division which benefits the other clubs getting games for there guys.
Dropping Epping and Beecroft out of Div 2 and bringing up Sydney Irish and Merrylands who have dominated that division for last few years.
Dropping Barker & Harbour? from Div 3 after a tough year for a strong Hornsby and adding Penrith to Div 3. Harbour is the hard one as they have traditionally been strong which is why they’ve moved up but there numbers haven’t backed it up.
Unsure about the bottom of the Div 4 comp and who would drop but surely there are a number of sides like Manly or one of the Southern sides (North Cronulla, Georges River) that could come up into that division
I know why Colts are important and I encourage clubs to get a colts side but it’s becoming harder and harder for clubs to “find” a colts side.
I don’t have an answer for how you manage the colts comp in Div 2/3 but this gives you a strong 8 team each division which benefits the other clubs getting games for there guys.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Keeping a Colts side isn't easy to start with. Trying to get one off the ground is extremely difficult.
The last few years I've had prominent leads and the makings of a squad in November. By February the cupboard is almost bare.
Summer Holiday travel, new employment opportunities, other sports (or clubs) with more resources and better alignment....
I don't have any answers for the short term as far as Div 2/3 Colts is concerned.
However for the longer term the simple answer is better alignment across Community rugby in Sydney; a drum I've been banging so long I'm about to break my third pair of sticks...
Last edited:
Prodigy
Cyril Towers (30)
It's so much more than the number of players that you have. It's also about the quality of those players, their season-long availability and factoring in positional needs. You need 70 players to run a 3 grade club.
With Colts, it's not enough to have 20 colts. You need 25-28 to run a colts side and a coach with patience.
That leads into the other factor. Just looking at player numbers won't tell you what division a club should be in. If you have 70 players and 28 colts, but only 2 coaches, you're really hamstrung there as well.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
And a shitload of free time to chase people who only respond to Instagram messages
Here To Do
Stan Wickham (3)
Div 1 draw and lower Divs' rounds/dates are up on Subbies site now - my wedding is the night before semis... oops!
I'm betting Div 2 looks pretty similar to the last few years, albeit with Forest replacing Newport. Subbies will try to maintain 8 clubs in as many divisions as possible for scheduling purposes, giving a 14 round double round-robin.
Hard to make a case for any other clubs to switch places unless you were to accept a club like Irish having to partner with another club for Colts - a tough ask considering Colleagues and Hunters Hill didn't set the world on fire last year in the Robertson.
I'm betting Div 2 looks pretty similar to the last few years, albeit with Forest replacing Newport. Subbies will try to maintain 8 clubs in as many divisions as possible for scheduling purposes, giving a 14 round double round-robin.
Hard to make a case for any other clubs to switch places unless you were to accept a club like Irish having to partner with another club for Colts - a tough ask considering Colleagues and Hunters Hill didn't set the world on fire last year in the Robertson.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
21mm
Allen Oxlade (6)
No pressure on the MC! Do they know they will presiding over one of the best callers in the business?
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
A club with that many premierships should be growing at a rate of knots.
The fact they've been unable or unwilling to add even a 2nd Grade shows their intent.
Give and go
Frank Row (1)
Any early predictions for Kentwell results this year? Winner? Runner-Up? Wooden spoon?
Odyssey_Park the 2nd
Frank Row (1)
- Drummoyne to win Kentwell this year watched them last year and they had a lot of skill across the park if they can hold onto the group.
- Tough to go past Mountains if they keep the same squad but I think Drummoyne will pip them. Hunters with a new coaching group and after over achieving last year I think Waverly will drop this year.
- Last place in Kentwell will go to newcomers Newport. They just won’t have the size to keep up with the big hitters in Div 1. There depth and skill will mean they will compete in the lower grades but Kentwell will be tough.
- Unless we see something different from Mosman we could see them at the bottom of the Div 1 club champs. They’ve come close over the last few years and could force a hard call for Subbies if Newport can find there feet in Div 1.
Prodigy
Cyril Towers (30)
Word going round is that they have recruit well from Eastwood mid-grades
Crashy
John Solomon (38)
Does Eastwood have any players left for 7 grades this year?!
footy_footy
Ward Prentice (10)
A potential answer to the lack of Colts teams has been posted on Subbies socials. A western sydney baabaas! Would be great if they could get it off the ground.
Ref_Ted
Ward Prentice (10)
Other word is Luke Smart for one is going to Souths 4th grade and won't be playing BM Kentwell.
Ref_Ted
Ward Prentice (10)
Prodigy
Cyril Towers (30)
If that’s the case, it will be interesting to see if Waldo Wessels, Jordan McGregor, Angus McGrath leave as well.
They’ve lost Tom Kwok, their 13, to the Two Blues.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Ideally gets Colts going at one of the clubs out this way that want, but do not have. Merrylands, Renegades, Blacktown, Penrith, and Raptors.
A lot of challenges as I've said previously.
Pfitzy
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Blueys Rugby on Instagram: "LEVELLED UP: The generals of our Kentwell forward pack and backline are back for season 2025 Waldo ‘the pride of South Africa’ Wessels and the ultimate competitor Chris Nay return to Blueys with another all-star Kentwell
45 likes, 1 comments - bluemountainsrugbyclub on January 22, 2025: "LEVELLED UP: The generals of our Kentwell forward pack and backline are back for season 2025 Waldo ‘the pride of South Africa’ Wessels and the ultimate competitor Chris Nay return to Blueys with another all-star Kentwell cast...
www.instagram.com