History New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union

1 history

1.1 first junior clubs: 1872 1900
1.2 city , suburban association formed in 1901
1.3 post-war reformation in 1919
1.4 sub-districts rugby union
1.5 new south wales suburban rugby union

history

football under rugby rules began played in 1860s in sydney’s schools. of these former students wanted go on playing and, along increasing population of new arrivals in sydney, led start of club football. after 1872, rugby football clubs grew rapidly in number.

the first junior clubs: 1872 1900

sydney rugby in years played senior teams , junior teams (where junior denoted second tier, not age of players). senior competition run southern rugby union (sru, later become nswru) , had been in existence 1874, matches junior sides arranged on ad hoc basis until after 1885 season. sru began involve in rugby junior teams in 1882, , established formal junior competition in 1886.

some of clubs in original junior competition petersham (who still exist in suburban competition today), manly federals, warrigals , wentworth. of these clubs fielded 1 team , competition received coverage in sydney s newspapers under other matches . 1896, in sign of later led schism rugby league, tensions emerged suggestions senior clubs trying poach players talent @ junior clubs using ‘incentives’ , junior players being paid match fee.

a new branch of nswru called metropolitan rugby union (mru) formed in 1897 administer sydney competitions , re-organise clubs along district lines. previous junior clubs , players merged new district clubs. more twenty junior clubs, including foundation members of union, vanished books in 1898.

city , suburban association formed in 1901

most clubs disenfranchised in move district football between 1897 , 1900 went out of existence few, such petersham, continued playing matches between beyond control of mru , nswru. in 1901 competition formally organised under city , suburban association, making earliest forerunner of today s subbies rugby.

to counter new rebel association, mru created own borough competition in 1902. several of leading city , suburban clubs switched competition but, start of rugby league in 1908, did not continue. advent of great war in 1914, rugby union clubs ceased playing altogether , rugby league had won ascendancy in new south wales.

post-war reformation in 1919

after war ended, nswru established 1 competition 1919 season divisions both non-district , district clubs. mosman rugby club, winner of reserve grade b division (effectively first grade non-district clubs), presented cup donated w.h. kentwell in 1923. began long history of kentwell cup awarded nswsru first grade premiers in first division. burke cup, first presented mosman club s second grade winning side in 1924 james a. burke, , contested nswsru second grade teams in first division.

sub-districts rugby union

the nswru formed separate non-district club competition in 1929, became metropolitan sub-districts rugby union in 1933. whiddon cup inaugurated in 1933 horace whiddon of briars club, , awarded nswsru third grade premiers.

at start of war in 1939 nswru decided cancel representative games continue club competitions. attempt ward off repeat of setback caused cessation of rugby during previous war. sports ravaged during war. players , officials died or injured during battle or prisoners of war but, @ least restricted form of game continued, rugby union able revived in 1946.

after war, subbies rugby grew strongly. in 1966 petersham made history being first club circle world on rugby tour. sydney sub-districts rugby union established in 1971, , subbies competition rearranged 3 divisions.

new south wales suburban rugby union

in 1990, subbies became known new south wales suburban rugby union. second division of sydney district competition absorbed subbies in 1993 , 18 clubs contested kentwell cup in year. drummoyne, mosman, university of nsw , hornsby former district clubs moved subbies.

most current clubs based on local community, links schools, or voluntary groups. old ignatians, st patricks, barker old boys, knox rugby club, waverley, kings old boys, , oakhill or formed ex-students of schools. bronte , manly savers clubs composed of members of surf lifesaving clubs.

promotion , relegation based on club championship results down third division.