Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union

The Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union is one of Australia's oldest rugby union organisations, with a history dating back to the mid 19th century. The union is based in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

History
The earliest report of a football match in Newcastle was in 1860, when  'a lover of the old English games has offered one of Mrs. O’Hagan's most fashionable bonnets as a prize to the fortunate party who shall give the winning (final) kick in a game of foot-ball, to be played on the new cricket ground, near St. John's Church'. On 5 June 1869, the Volunteer Artillery team (8 players) challenged United Cricket Club (11 Players) to a football match. The game was played over two weekends in Centennial Park (currently Lowlands Bowling Club). The first recorded football club playing to the 'rugby rules' in the district was the Albion Football Club, established in 1872 in West Maitland. On 1 May 1877, a meeting at 'Ship Inn' saw the foundation of Newcastle Football Club. 1877 also saw the formation of the Wallsend Club.

A precursor to the formation of a local union, the Raysmith Challenge Cup was commenced in 1887 and was contested by Newcastle, Waratah, Advance, Orientals, Union, Ferndale, West Maitland, Raymond Terrace, East Maitland Imperial, Singleton and East Maitland clubs. In 1888, a meeting of Newcastle, Advance, West Maitland, Union and Ferndale Clubs saw a branch of the Southern Rugby Football (later NSWRU in 1892) established, this was known as the Northern Branch. This was the formation of what would become the Newcastle Rugby Union. Early clubs in the competition included Advance (1880); West Maitland (1885); Oriental (1885); Union (1885); Ferndale (1885); Waratah (1885); Raymond Terrace (1886); Carlton (1887); Centennial (1887); Lambton (1888); Wickham Albion (1888) and Greta (1890).

In 1911, the Northern Branch disbanded but was reformed in 1912 to be known as the Newcastle Rugby Union. During 1915–1924, little rugby was played due to World War I and its aftermath. After a match between Great Public Schools Old Boys and Newcastle High School Old Boys at Empire Park in 1924, a decision was made to reform the Newcastle Rugby Union; this was beginning of the current Premier Rugby Competition. The 1925 competition comprised Cook's Hill Old Boys, Newcastle High School Old Boys, Great Public Schools' Old Boys (later re-named Wanderers), Lysaght's Limited, Northern Suburbs and Mayfield.

Discontent with the focus of district rugby (introduced in 1899) saw the establishment of the Hunter District Rugby Union in 1900. The initial competition comprised the East End, West End, Morpeth, Millers Forest, Branxton and Singleton clubs. Seniors competition continued until 1916, when suspended due to a shortage of players as a result of the War. But the HDRU continued to foster rugby football through the Cadets Competition. In 1996, the Hunter Valley Zone amalgamated with Newcastle to form the current Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union.

First-grade clubs

 * University_1865.png Hamilton Hawks
 * Randwick 1928.png Merewether Carlton Rugby Club
 * Sydney_1904.png Maitland
 * Parramatta_1934.png Nelson Bay
 * Brothers Rugby Colours.svg University of Newcastle
 * Norths 1901.png Singleton
 * Sunshine_Coast_Rugby_Colours.svg Southern Beaches
 * Parramatta 1934.png Wanderers

Lower-grade clubs
Medowie Marauders
 * Sunnybank_Colours.svg Griffins
 * Glebe_1900.svg Lake Macquarie
 * Gordon_1949.png Muswellbrook
 * Queensland_Uni_Colours.svg Pokolbin

Current club details
The Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union now consists of 20 clubs across 3 Divisions plus a women's competition. There is a junior competition (Hunter Junior Rugby Union) accommodating age groups 7 through to 18.


 * Easts
 * Nickname: Easts
 * Colours: Gold, White and Navy
 * Home Ground: Dangar Park, Mayfield (the spiritual home of rugby in Newcastle)
 * Joined competition: 1946
 * Premierships:1954, 1987, 1990 (tied), 2000, 2004 (5)
 * Hamilton
 * Nickname: Hawks
 * Colours: Blue and Gold
 * Home Ground: Passmore Oval, Wickham
 * Joined competition: 1968
 * Premierships:1978, 1982, 1990 (tied), 2002, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 (12)
 * Lake Macquarie
 * (formerly known as Boolaroo)
 * Nickname: Roos (formally Bulls)
 * Colours: Yellow, Maroon and Dark Blue
 * Home Ground: Walters Park, Boolaroo
 * Joined competition:
 * Premierships: 0
 * Maitland
 * Nickname: Blacks
 * Colours: Black, with white trim
 * Home Ground: Marcellin Park, Lorn
 * Joined competition:
 * Premierships: 1969, 1974(tied), 1976, 1977, 1983, 1991, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2023 (10)
 * Merewether Carlton
 * Nickname: Greens
 * Colours: Dark green and white
 * Home Ground: Townson Oval, Merewether
 * Joined competition:
 * Premierships: 1947, 1958, 1973, 1974 (tied), 1979 (tied), 1980, 1989, 2007, 2011, 2022 (10)
 * Nelson Bay
 * Nickname: Gropers
 * Colours: Blue, Black and White
 * Home Ground: Strong Oval, Nelson Bay
 * Joined competition:
 * Premierships: 0
 * Singleton
 * Nickname: Bulls
 * Colours: Red and Black
 * Home Ground: Rugby Park, Howe St Singleton.
 * Joined competition: 1990
 * Premierships:1992, 1995, 1996, 1997 (4)
 * Southern Beaches
 * Nickname: Beaches
 * Colours: Blue and Yellow
 * Home Ground: Alan Davis Field, Gateshead
 * Joined competition: 2007
 * Premierships: 0
 * University
 * Nickname: Students
 * Colours: Maroon and White
 * Home Ground: University Oval No 1.
 * Joined competition: 1957 in first grade (1955 in the lower grades)
 * Premierships: 1959, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988 (8)
 * Wanderers
 * Nickname: Two Blues
 * Colours: Sky blue and Royal blue
 * Home Ground: No. 2 Sports ground, Newcastle West
 * Joined competition:
 * Premierships: 1945, 1949, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1975, 1981, 1993, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2014 (15)
 * The Waratahs
 * Nickname: Waratah
 * Colours: Red, with white trim
 * Home Ground: Waratah Oval
 * Joined competition: 1944
 * Premierships:1946, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1957, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1979 (tied), 2003, 2006, 2013 (15)

Clubs competing in the lower First & Second Division competitions include:


 * Cessnock Coalfields
 * Cooks Hill Brown Snakes
 * East Maitland Eagles
 * Newcastle Griffins
 * Medowie Marauders


 * Muswellbrook Heelers
 * Newcastle Dragons
 * Pokolbin Reds
 * Singleton Army Lions
 * Southern Lakes Hammerheads

Premiers
First grade premiers (1945 onwards):

Notes: *Tie for Premiership

Test representatives
The following players have played a Rugby Union Test for Australia. The first player from the Newcastle region to represent Australia was C.J.B. White from the Maitland Club in 1899.
 * Neil Adams (Noodles) (1925–1986) Merewether Carlton – 1 test
 * Cyril Burke (1925–) Merewether Carlton / The Waratahs – 26 Tests
 * Walter Cobb (1870–1933) Centennial – 2 Tests
 * Dick Cocks (1945 -) Brisbane Waters – 10 Tests
 * Terry Curley (1938–2017) Wanderers – 11 Tests
 * Declan Curran (1952 -) The Waratahs – 4 Tests
 * Michael Fitzgerald (1955 -) The Waratahs
 * William Gardner (1929 -) Newcastle – 1 Test
 * Ronald Harvey (1933 -) The Waratahs – 2 Tests
 * Phil Hawthorne (1943–1994) Wanderers – 21 Tests
 * John Hipwell (1948–2013) The Waratahs – 35 Tests
 * Peter Horton (1945 -) The Waratahs – 21 Tests
 * Michael Jenkinson (1940 -) Wanderers
 * Hubert Jones (1888–1919) North Newcastle – 3 Tests
 * Alexander MacNeill (1947 -) Newcastle Referees Assoc – 16 Tests
 * Sydney Malcolm (1903 -) South Newcastle – 12 Tests
 * John Marshall (1926 -) The Waratahs – 1 Test
 * Ronald Meadows (Twinkletoes) Wanderers – 6 Tests
 * Steve Merrick (1968 -) Singleton – 2 Tests
 * Dr. Herbert Moran (Paddy) (1885–1945) Newcastle – 1 Test
 * Joshua Stevenson (1883 – ?) South Newcastle
 * Josh Valentine (1983 -) Singleton - 6 Tests
 * Dominic Vaughan (1960 -) The Waratahs – 5 Tests
 * Patrick Walsh (1879–1953) Carlton – 3 Tests
 * Keith Walsham (1941 -) University – 2 Tests
 * Charlie White (1874–1941) Maitland – 3 Tests

Club websites

 * Cessnock Coalfields
 * Cooks Hill Brown Snakes
 * Hamilton Hawks
 * Lake Macquarie Roos
 * Maitland RC
 * Medowie Marauders


 * Merewether Carlton
 * Muswellbrook Heelers
 * Nelson Bay Gropers
 * Newcasltle Griffins
 * Pokolbin Reds
 * Singleton Bulls


 * Southern Beaches
 * Southern Lakes Hammerheads
 * University of Newcastle RUFC
 * Wanderers
 * The Waratahs RUFC