Sydney Subbies 2025

[Pfitzy]

Yep. I've been there. Various people in my time at Subbies have a dim view of our "bigger" brother Union. Players get told Subbies is a "mickey mouse" comp that they should have no part of. Meanwhile kids get thrown onto the Colts 4 bench and told they should love it. Boils my piss ...

How do you know when the local Premier Club want something? Don't worry, they'll ask you.

 

[Prodigy]

North West Rugby Alliance, by chance????

 

[Pfitzy]

Ha! Yeah it is going to be an interesting discussion if it ever happens. Same email last year came to nothing. Of course, circumstances have changed...

 

[LevitatingSocks]

A strong suburban comp with lots to offer socially forces premier clubs to do more than the bare minimum for anyone not in the Prem grade first 15. That sort of competition between different comps is good for rugby and for player development.

Some QPR clubs up in Brisbane have certainly gotten lazy.

 

[Fletch]

Hi to all Div 3 and 4 clubs (preferably not within a stone's throw),

The Penrith Emus are in the process of applying to enter Subbies for 2025.

If your home ground has a cricket pitch and isn't free until April and you want to lock in a dedicated rugby ground for a trial we could be what you are looking for!

Penrith aims to field 2 Grades, a Colts and maybe even a Women's team.

If you are interested at giving us our first run in the March 2025 trials please let us know Contact Adam at penrithemus@gmail.com

 

[Pfitzy]

Subbies Colts with a handy lead over Country. A bit of pre-existing cohesion helps those from the same club, and the levels of execution from the men in blue is also far superior.

 

[TheBigArvo]

Subbies Colts with a handy lead over Country. A bit of pre-existing cohesion helps those from the same club, and the levels of execution from the men in blue is also far superior.

Pfitzy is there any thought from the board around expanding the rep programs again. Great to see them get it back running but only having 1 game seems a bit of a waste. Understand ultimately it comes down to money but surely we could find some ways that we could reward these guys without costing a heap. Maybe play a Shute rep team with country in a round robin?

Would be great to run a divisional rep team again at the end of the year. Few players from each club so one doesn’t dominate. Div 1 could play Div 2 Div 3 vs Div 4. Could even rotate round some club grounds and everyone plays everyone over a few weeks.
Just a thought to showcase some of the quality we have across the divisions with out costing a bomb.

 

[young gun]

my subbies club tried to work with 'our' local Shute Shield team, Gordon in the 90s where we said we'd have a great home for excess players. Were told politely to go away.

Well, what did you expect? Everyone knows they are a bunch of fluffybunnys!!!

 

[Pfitzy]

Pfitzy is there any thought from the board around expanding the rep programs again.

The Board is fully supportive of initiatives like the Rep program and would like to see it fully reinstated. Luke McCormack was the main driver of the Colts rep side, which supported the re-establishment of the Subbies reps program and the drive toward getting more Colts playing Subbies.

Thanks must also be given to Sideline Sports and The Rugby Foundation for their significant contributions.

The challenge isn't as much financial* as it temporal; finding time to get a squad selected, trained, and ready for a game. During season is tricky as players have club or other commitments. Renegades thought about putting in some of our Colts-age guys but decided against, due to their age (most are 18-19 but compete handily against grown men) and either study or work commitments post-season.

The other question is over opposition - who else would Colts play? Seeing the Tahs U19s towel up Country Colts by a ton means they're not exactly suitable opposition. For a Senior Rep side, I recall the last outing against NSW Country was a walloping as Subbies is amateur and nobody else is.

Nevertheless, the Board has this as an agenda item ongoing, after the great success of yesterday. An inter-divisional or North-South game has also been discussed at varying points.

*Acknowledging that any travel requirements would involve significant cost.

 

[KentwellCup>ShuteShield]

Subbies got walloped against NSW Country?

 

[Pfitzy]

Subbies got walloped against NSW Country?

Seem to recall that was the case.. Was it 2018? 2017?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

If the match structure was set and consistent I think you'd get the top guys wanting to be part of it but in those 2017-18 years it all seemed a bit messy and guys cant be bothered.

Good to see the Colts back and Subbies would be a good inclusion to the Australian Rugby Shield tournament.

 

[Nath]

Subbies got walloped against NSW Country?

Getting Sydney guys to care about something like that is the challenge.

Like the old city v country in league.

The country guys felt like they were 'representing something' city guys didn't really care.

 

[MasterSergeant]

I’ve heard on the grapevine Subbies board have confirmed it’s official Newport up to Kentwell!
Will be interesting to see the makeup of rest of divisions.

 

[Pfitzy]

I’ve heard on the grapevine Subbies board have confirmed it’s official Newport up to Kentwell!
Will be interesting to see the makeup of rest of divisions.

Hmmmm... Whose second account are you I wonder?

 

[Crashy]

wonder how many excess Warringah rats players might be interested in having a crack at Kentwell Cup first grade now the Breakers are there.
Out of interest would a good 3rd / 2nd grade club player be a sure bet for Kentwell 1st grade?

 

[Pfitzy]

Out of interest would a good 3rd / 2nd grade club player be a sure bet for Kentwell 1st grade

In my (limited) experience, it is usually about 2 grades difference, depending on the clubs we're comparing.

Strong clubs in premier rugby would have most of their third grade able to handle (maybe excel) at Kentwell. Weaker clubs it would be more the second grade guys.

Lot of variables tho, so not a hard and fast rule.

 

[Subbies Footy Enthusiast]

Any other talk on the grapevine about Divisional movement (aside from Newport up and Forest down) for next year? Not clear how Subbies will solve for the minimum team requirements in Division 2 & 3 respectively (Colts & Grade). Sydney Irish frequently put out 3 Grade teams in Division 3 and won both the 1st/2nd Grade comps. They do not have a Colts however. Knox Colts look far too strong for Division 3. Where will Epping land? Can Hills get a Colts together? Can Beecroft and Bobs bounce back after a disappointing 2024? Can Merrylands get a Colts together? How are Hornsby fairing with Colts for next year? Can Penrith meet the requirements of Division 3? Subbies is caught between a rock and a hard place where they need to give clubs enough notice with the draw to help with more proactive season planning, but equally it is hard to project Divisional structure where smaller clubs can’t forecast player depth until probably around March time

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

wonder how many excess Warringah rats players might be interested in having a crack at Kentwell Cup first grade now the Breakers are there.
Out of interest would a good 3rd / 2nd grade club player be a sure bet for Kentwell 1st grade?

Yes.

Just about all 2nd Graders would cruise into it and a lot of the 3rd graders. Probably in the piggies would be easier and Props are always sought after with plenty of makeshift ones or veterans turning out in subbies.

Backs get a bit harder to judge as I'd be confident some of the good Subbies ones would be fine in top level Club Rugby when surrounded by other good players.

 

[footy_footy]

Any other talk on the grapevine about Divisional movement (aside from Newport up and Forest down) for next year? Not clear how Subbies will solve for the minimum team requirements in Division 2 & 3 respectively (Colts & Grade). Sydney Irish frequently put out 3 Grade teams in Division 3 and won both the 1st/2nd Grade comps. They do not have a Colts however. Knox Colts look far too strong for Division 3. Where will Epping land? Can Hills get a Colts together? Can Beecroft and Bobs bounce back after a disappointing 2024? Can Merrylands get a Colts together? How are Hornsby fairing with Colts for next year? Can Penrith meet the requirements of Division 3? Subbies is caught between a rock and a hard place where they need to give clubs enough notice with the draw to help with more proactive season planning, but equally it is hard to project Divisional structure where smaller clubs can’t forecast player depth until probably around March time

You have fit the nail on the head and I can't see any practical solution.

Div 1 is in a sweet spot at the moment with the perfect number of competitive clubs with some competition coming from the top of Div 2. There are likely to be 5 clubs in Div 2 that hold up their end of the bargain (Forest, UNSW, Petersham, St Pat's and Briars), which leaves the last 3 spots in Div 2 a mystery. Hills struggled in 2024 but seem the most likely to be able to bounce back and have 4 grades and colts - I see they have advertised for coaches for 4 grades and colts. Epping and Beecroft appear to be better suited to Div 3 alongside the likes of Irish, Knox, Merrylands etc.

Would a 6 club Div 2 work? Assuming Hills or another club can rally the numbers for 4 grades and colts.

Otherwise, if Div 2 remains 8 clubs it would appear as though gaps in the lower grade draw will be inevitable again which means the lower grade players at one of the bigger div 2 clubs has another interrupted season yet are typically expected to pay the same amount in subs as their 1st grade clubmates. As I understand it the cost of insuring and registering a 4th grade team with half a draw is the same as a team with a full draw.

We are in the middle of AGM season so will be interesting to see what comes out in the wash as clubs look to 2025.