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.

Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union

Sport	Rugby Union
Jurisdiction	Newcastle and Hunter Region
Abbreviation	NHRU
Founded	1888 (as Northern Branch)
Affiliation	New South Wales Rugby Union
Regional affiliation	New South Wales Country Rugby Union
Official website
www.nhru.com.au

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.

List of clubs

Premier Rugby clubs

• Hamilton Hawks
• Merewether Carlton Rugby Club
• Maitland
• University of Newcastle
• Southern Beaches
• Wanderers

Suburban clubs

• Griffins
• Medowie Marauders
• Muswellbrook
• Pokolbin
• Nelson Bay
• Scone
• Singleton

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
  • now compete in the Central Coast competition
• 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, 2024 (11)
• Nelson Bay
  • Nickname: Gropers
  • Colours: Blue, Black and White
  • Home Ground: Strong Oval, Nelson Bay
  • Joined competition:
  • Premierships: 0
  • now compete in the Subuurban Rugby competition
• Singleton
  • Nickname: Bulls
  • Colours: Red and Black
  • Home Ground: Rugby Park, Howe St Singleton.
  • Joined competition: 1990
  • Premierships:1992, 1995, 1996, 1997 (4)
  • now compete in the Suburban Rugby competition
• 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 Premier and Suburban competitions include:

Cessnock Coalfields Cooks Hill Brown Snakes Newcastle Griffins Medowie Marauders

Muswellbrook Heelers Pokolbin Reds Singleton Army Lions

Premiers

First grade premiers (1945 onwards):^[1]

Year	Premiers
2024	Merewether Carlton
2023	Maitland
2022	Merewether Carlton
2019	Hamilton
2018	Hamilton
2017	Hamilton
2016	Hamilton
2015	Hamilton
2014	Wanderers
2013	The Waratahs
2012	Hamilton
2011	Merewether Carlton
2010	Hamilton
2009	Wanderers
2008	Hamilton
2007	Merewether Carlton
2006	The Waratahs
2005	Wanderers
2004	Easts
2003	The Waratahs
2002	Hamilton
2001	Wanderers
2000	Easts
1999	Maitland
1998	Maitland
1997	Singleton
1996	Singleton
1995	Singleton

Year	Premiers
1994	Maitland
1993	Wanderers
1992	Singleton
1991	Maitland
1990*	Easts & Hamilton
1989	Merewether Carlton
1988	University
1987	Easts
1986	University
1985	University
1984	University
1983	Maitland
1982	Hamilton
1981	Wanderers
1980	Merewether Carlton
1979*	Merewether Carlton & Waratahs
1978	Hamilton
1977	Maitland
1976	Maitland
1975	Wanderers
1974*	Merewether Carlton & Maitland
1973	Merewether Carlton
1972	Waratahs
1971	Waratahs
1970	Waratahs

Year	Premiers
1969	Maitland
1968	Waratahs
1967	Waratahs
1966	University
1965	Wanderers
1964	Wanderers
1963	Wanderers
1962	University
1961	University
1960	Wanderers
1959	University
1958	Merewether Carlton
1957	Waratahs
1956	Wanderers
1955	Wanderers
1954	Easts
1953	Waratahs
1952	Waratahs
1951	Waratahs
1950	Waratahs
1949	Wanderers
1948	Technical College
1947	Merewether Carlton
1946	Waratahs
1945	Wanderers

Notes: *Tie for Premiership

Grand Final Results (from 2000–present)

Year	Minor Premiers		Final result				Final details
			Winner	Score	Runner-up		Venue
2000	Wanderers		Eastern Districts	23–22	Wanderers		St John Oval, Charlestown
2001	Wanderers		Wanderers	20–3	Eastern Districts		The Gardens, Birmingham Gardens
2002	Hamilton		Hamilton	23–8	Wanderers		The Gardens, Birmingham Gardens
2003	Wanderers		Waratah	21–15	University		The Gardens, Birmingham Gardens
2004	Eastern Districts		Eastern Districts	22–20	Wanderers		The Gardens, Birmingham Gardens
2005	Waratah		Wanderers	10–3	Waratah		Passmore Oval, Hamilton
2006	Waratah		Waratah	22–10	University		Passmore Oval, Hamilton
2007	Merewether Carlton		Merewether Carlton	24–23	Hamilton		#1 Sportsground, Newcastle
2008	Hamilton		Hamilton	35–20	University		#1 Sportsground, Newcastle
2009	Wanderers		Wanderers	21–20	Merewether Carlton		#1 Sportsground, Newcastle
2010	Merewether Carlton		Hamilton	39–34	Maitland		#1 Sportsground, Newcastle
2011	Merewether Carlton		Merewether Carlton	20–16	Hamilton		#1 Sportsground, Newcastle
2012	Hamilton		Hamilton	46–0	Merewether Carlton		#2 Sportsground, Newcastle
2013	Hamilton		Waratah	17–15	Hamilton		#2 Sportsground, Newcastle
2014	Wanderers		Wanderers	20–17	Southern Beaches		#2 Sportsground, Newcastle
2015	Hamilton		Hamilton	14–7	Wanderers		#2 Sportsground, Newcastle
2016	Hamilton		Hamilton	37–28	Wanderers		#2 Sportsground, Newcastle
2017	Hamilton		Hamilton	45–12	Wanderers		#2 Sportsground, Newcastle
2018	Hamilton		Hamilton	20–12	Maitland		#2 Sportsground, Newcastle
2019	Hamilton		Hamilton	36–7	Wanderers		#2 Sportsground, Newcastle
2022	Merewether Carlton		Merewether Carlton	19-7	Hamilton		#2 Sportsground, Newcastle
2023	Maitland		Maitland	32-26	Merewether Carlton		#2 Sportsground, Newcastle
2024	Maitland		Merewether Carlton	41-25	Maitland		#2 Sportsground, Newcastle

Recent Premier 1 Rugby Finals Series

2024 season

Final	Team	Pts	Team	Pts
Minor Semi	Hamilton	31	Wanderers	17
Major Semi	Maitland	23	Merewether Carlton	32
Preliminary	Maitland	34	Hamilton	29
Grand	Merewether Carlton	41	Maitland	25

2023 season

Final	Team	Pts	Team	Pts
Minor Semi	University	28	Wanderers	29
Major Semi	Maitland	22	Merewether Carlton	23
Preliminary	Maitland	38	Wanderers	37
Grand	Merewether Carlton	26	Maitland	32

2022 season

Final	Team	Pts	Team	Pts
Minor Semi	Wanderers	22	Maitland	17
Major Semi	Merewether Carlton	28	Hamilton	26
Preliminary	Hamilton	59	Wanderers	24
Grand	Merewether Carlton	19	Hamilton	7

2019 season

Final	Team	Pts	Team	Pts
Elimination	Merewether Carlton	27	Lake Macquarie	27
Qualifying	Wanderers	35	Maitland	19
Minor Semi	Maitland	25	Merewether Carlton	17
Major Semi	Hamilton	34	Wanderers	19
Preliminary	Wanderers	50	Maitland	28
Grand	Hamilton	36	Wanderers	7

2018 season

Final	Team	Pts	Team	Pts
Elimination	Nelson Bay	22	Wanderers	22
Qualifying	Maitland	29	Merewether Carlton	31
Minor Semi	Maitland	23	Nelson Bay	15
Major Semi	Hamilton	36	Merewether Carlton	28
Preliminary	Merewether Carlton	24	Maitland	26
Grand	Hamilton	20	Maitland	12

2017 season

Final	Team	Pts	Team	Pts
Elimination	Maitland	44	Merewether Carlton	20
Qualifying	Wanderers	19	Southern Beaches	20
Minor Semi	Wanderers	59	Maitland	5
Major Semi	Hamilton	27	Southern Beaches	10
Preliminary	Southern Beaches	20	Wanderers	34
Grand	Hamilton	45	Wanderers	12

2016 Finals

Final	Team	Pts	Team	Pts
Elimination	Merewether Carlton	25	The Waratahs	26
Qualifying	Wanderers	18	Southern Beaches	43
Minor Semi	Wanderers	41	The Waratahs	33
Major Semi	Hamilton	39	Southern Beaches	17
Preliminary	Southern Beaches	17	Wanderers	43
Grand	Hamilton	37	Wanderers	28

2015 Finals

Final	Team	Pts	Team	Pts
Elimination	Merewether Carlton	27	University	6
Qualifying	Wanderers	22	The Waratahs	19
Minor Semi	The Waratahs	34	Merewether Carlton	28
Major Semi	Hamilton	24	Wanderers	28
Preliminary	Hamilton	47	The Waratahs	9
Grand	Wanderers	7	Hamilton	14

2014 Finals

Final	Team	Pts	Team	Pts
Elimination	The Waratahs	27	Merewether Carlton	28
Qualifying	Hamilton	25	Southern Beaches	50
Minor Semi	Hamilton	22	Merewether Carlton	24
Major Semi	Wanderers	21	Southern Beaches	24
Preliminary	Wanderers	37	Merewether Carlton	15
Grand	Southern Beaches	17	Wanderers	20

2013 Finals

Final	Team	Pts	Team	Pts
Elimination	Wanderers	26	Maitland	12
Qualifying	The Waratahs	22	Merewether Carlton	20
Minor Semi	Merewether Carlton	30	Wanderers	32
Major Semi	Hamilton	15	The Waratahs	27
Preliminary	Hamilton	43	Wanderers	8
Grand	The Waratahs	17	Hamilton	15

2012 Finals

Final	Team	Pts	Team	Pts
Elimination	Maitland	16	Lake Macquarie	23
Qualifying	Southern Beaches	17	Merewether Carlton	25
Minor Semi	Southern Beaches	10	Lake Macquarie	20
Major Semi	Hamilton	25	Merewether Carlton	5
Preliminary	Merewether Carlton	46	Lake Macquarie	8
Grand	Hamilton	46	Merewether Carlton	0

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.^[2]

• 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

See also

• Sports portal
• New South Wales portal

• Rugby union in New South Wales
• List of Australian club rugby union competitions