One of my interests has been Sydney club rugby and I have compiled a list of clubs involved. Until 1885, it is not that simple to distinguish between "senior" (ie first grade) clubs and "junior" (2nd tier) clubs. Following is some of the info I have. I do have more going back to 1865.
IN THE BEGINNING – 1860s to 1899
Club rugby in Sydney commenced some time before 1865. Sydney University Football Club (SUFC) - the oldest existing rugby club in Australia - has traditionally claimed to have been established in 1863. There is no archival evidence for this. Games may or may not have been played by SUFC in 1863 and 1864 but there is no record of these.
Three clubs, University, Sydney Football Club and the Australian Club, are reported as playing in 1865 which was the first “recorded season” (articles in newspapers and journals) of rugby football in Sydney.
A union (the Southern Rugby Football Union) to control "football" in the colony of NSW was formed in 1874. Ten clubs were present on 24 June 1874 at the inaugural meeting of the Southern Rugby Football Union (latter renamed the “New South Wales Rugby Football Union” in 1892).
The 10 clubs present at that first 1874 meeting were:
5 Metropolitan clubs:
Balmain
University
Victoria (located in Darlington)
Wallaroo
Waratah
2 Country clubs:
Goulburn
Mudgee
3 Schools:
Camden College (Glebe)
Newington College (then in Silverwater now at Stanmore)
The King’s School (Parramatta)
Although there was a Rugby Union from 1874, there was no centrally controlled competition until the Gardiner Challenge Cup was introduced in 1883. Prior to that, clubs organised their own games by arrangement between themselves. Not all clubs played each other during a season.
Clubs were seen as "senior" and "junior" clubs. Your status could change from season to season. A "Premier Club of the Colony" was declared, but this was not necessarily the best performing club. This “cosmopolitan” [ie from all parts of Sydney] club system lasted from 1874 to 1899. The Southern Rugby Football Union changed its name on 26 April 1892 to the New South Wales Rugby Football Union (NSWRFU). A Metropolitan Branch of the NSWRFU (more commonly known as the Metropolitan Rugby Union) was formed on 5 March 1897 to take over the running of the Sydney club competition. The resolution to establish this metropolitan union was carried by the NSWRFU in September 1896.
Gardiner Challenge Cup 1883-88.
1883 (mixture of senior & junior clubs) Redfern, University, Wallaroo, Newtown, Burwood, Oriental, Glebe, Balmain, St Leonards, Parramatta, Arfoma, Paddington.
1884 (mixture of senior & junior clubs) Burwood,University, Redfern, Balmain, Arfoma, St Leonards, Newtown, Parramatta Union, Parramatta, Waverley, Glebe, Summer Hill.
From 1885, clubs are shown in order of results. "Senior" grade clubs only are now shown.
1885 University, Wallaroo, Burwood, Arfoma, Balmain, Redfern, Newtown, St Leonards.
1886 Gordon, University, Arfoma, Wallaroo, Burwood, Balmain, Rosedale, Balmain Wellington, Redfern, Glebe, Newtown.
1887 University, Burwood, Arfoma, Wallaroo, Newtown, Rosedale, Gordon, Balmain, Balmain Wellington, Glebe.
1888 University, Arfoma, Rosedale, Wallaroo, Newtown, Balmain, Balmain Wellington, Burwood.
1889 University "A", Strathfield, Arfoma, Zealandia, Rosedale, Elvira, Randwick, Double Bay, University "B", Parramatta, Wallaroo, Cammeray, Newtown, Strathfield Rovers (withdrew).
RAS Shield 1890-93
1890 University "A", Strathfield, Parramatta, Arfoma, Sydney, Wallaroo, Rosedale, University "B", Zealandia, Randwick, Elvira.
1891 University "A", Strathfield, Wallaroo, Zealandia, Sydney, Randwick, Parramatta, University "B", Rosedale (retired), Arfoma (retired).
1892 Wallaroo, University "A", Wentworth, Randwick, Zealandia, Wentworth, Parramatta, Strathfield, University "B", Sydney (retired), Balmain (retired).
1893 University, Randwick, Wallaroo, Parramatta, Wentworth, Pirate, Carlton.
1894 Wallaroo, University, Pirate, Randwick, Paddington, Parramatta, Glebe.
1895 Randwick, University, Pirate, Wallaroo, Wentworth, Paddington Electorate, Balmain.
1896 Randwick, Wentworth, Wallaroo, University, Pirate, Paddington (withdrew).
1897 Randwick, Pirate, Wentworth, University, Wallaroo, Paddington.
1898 Pirate, Sydney, Randwick, University, Wallaroo, Paddington.
1899 Wallaroo, Randwick, Sydney, Marrickville, Pirate, Buccaneer, University, Parramatta.
DISTRICT COMPETITION – 1900 until WW1
The NSWRFU/MRU decided to conduct a “District Competition” from 1900 replacing the existing “Cosmopolitan” one. Initially it was intended that the district competition would start as from the 1899 season. However as there was a British tour to Australia in 1899, the start was postponed to 1900 so as not to interfere with preparations for that tour.
The 8 clubs that made up the inaugural 1900 “District Competition” were:
1. Balmain District
2. Eastern Suburbs District
3. Glebe District
4. Newtown District
5. North Sydney District
6. South Sydney District
7. University Football Club (ie Sydney University)
8. Western Suburbs District.
The competition ran from 1900 to 1914, stopping during World War I (ie 1915 to 1918), and recommencing in 1919.
A club competition has continued to the present day (under the auspices of either NSWRU, Metropolitan RU or Sydney Rugby Union).
Cubs are in alphabetical order. (Clubs shown in bold are making their debut or changed their name. Underlined clubs are returning.)
1900-04 (8 clubs): Balmain, Eastern Suburbs, Glebe, Newtown, North Sydney, South Sydney, University, Western Suburbs.
1905 (9 clubs): Balmain, Eastern Suburbs, Glebe, Newtown, North Sydney, South Sydney, Sydney, University, Western Suburbs.
1906-1910 (11): Balmain, Eastern Suburbs, Glebe, Manly, Newtown, North Sydney, St George, South Sydney, Sydney, University, Western Suburbs.
1911-1913 (10): Balmain, Eastern Suburbs, Glebe, Manly, Newtown, North Sydney, St George, South Sydney, University, Western Suburbs.
1914 (11): Balmain, Eastern Suburbs, Glebe, Manly, Newtown, North Sydney, St George, Randwick, South Sydney, University, Western Suburbs.
AFTER WORLD WAR I
The NSWRU changed its by-laws on 11 March 1919 to disband the Metropolitan Union and allow the NSW Union to again directly take over the running of the club competition. The MRU had operated from 1897 to 1918. There was no official competitions between 1915 to 1918 due to World War I).
On recommencement of competition after World War I in 1919, only 6 clubs competed:
1919 (6): Cambridge (based in Newtown), Eastern Suburbs, Glebe-Balmain, Manly, University, Y.M.C.A.
1920 (8): Eastern Suburbs, Glebe-Balmain, Manly, Mosman, Newtown, North Sydney, University, Western Suburbs.
1921 (8): Eastern Suburbs, Glebe-Balmain, GPS Old Boys, Manly, Newtown, North Sydney, University, Western Suburbs.
1922 (8): Eastern Suburbs, Glebe-Balmain, GPS Old Boys, Manly, North Sydney, Petersham, University, Western Suburbs.
1923-24 (9): Eastern Suburbs, Glebe-Balmain, GPS Old Boys, Manly, North Sydney, Randwick, University, Western Suburbs, YMCA.
1925-27 (8): Eastern Suburbs, Glebe-Balmain, Manly, North Sydney, Randwick, University, Western Suburbs, YMCA.
1928 (9): Eastern Suburbs, Glebe-Balmain, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Randwick, St George, University, Western Suburbs, YMCA.
1929 (10): Eastern Suburbs, Glebe-Balmain, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Police, Randwick, St George, University, Western Suburbs, YMCA.
1930 (8): Eastern Suburbs, Glebe-Balmain, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Randwick, St George, University, Western Suburbs.
1931-33 (8): Eastern Suburbs, Drummoyne, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Randwick, St George, University, Western Suburbs.
1934-35 (9): Eastern Suburbs, Drummoyne, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Randwick, St George, University, Western Suburbs.
1936-46 (10): Eastern Suburbs, Drummoyne, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Randwick, St George, University, Western Suburbs.
1947-51 (11): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Drummoyne, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Randwick, St George, University, Western Suburbs.
1952-65 (10): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Drummoyne, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Randwick, St George, University.
1966-70 (12): Eastern Suburbs, Drummoyne, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Randwick, St George, Sydney University, University of NSW, Western Suburbs.
1971-75 (14): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Drummoyne, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Port Hacking, Randwick, St George, Sydney University, University of NSW, Warringah, Western Suburbs.
1976-78 (16): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Drummoyne, Gordon, Hornsby, Macquarie University, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Port Hacking, Randwick, St George, Sydney University, University of NSW, Warringah, Western Suburbs.
PROMOTION AND RELEGATION
A Second Division was established in 1962. When a Third Division was established in 1979 promotion and relegation between divisions was introduced. It lasted from 1979 to 1986.
1979 (10): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Randwick, University of NSW, Warringah, Western Suburbs.
1980 (10): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Randwick, St George, Sydney University, Warringah.
1981 (10): Gordon, Hornsby, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Randwick, St George, Sydney University, Western Suburbs, Warringah.
1982 (10): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Parramatta, Randwick, St George, Sydney University, Western Suburbs, Warringah.
1983 (10): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Port Hacking, Parramatta, Randwick, St George, Western Suburbs, Warringah
1984 (10): Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Port Hacking, Parramatta, Randwick, St George, Sydney University, Western Suburbs, Warringah
1985 (10): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Port Hacking, Parramatta, Randwick, Sydney University, Western Suburbs, Warringah
1986 (10): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Parramatta, Randwick, St George, Sydney University, Western Suburbs, Warringah
"NSW CHAMPIONSHIP CLUBS"
In 1987, the ten clubs that had been in the 1986 First Division affiliated directly with the NSWRU leaving the Sydney RU. The dispute was over promotion and relegation and a proposed restructure of the competition. This "break-away" lasted for two years (1987 and 1988).
1987-88 (10): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Parramatta, Randwick, St George, Sydney University, Warringah, Western Suburbs.
"CHAMPIONSHIP CLUBS" RETURN
1989 (10): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Parramatta, Randwick, Southern Districts, Sydney University, Warringah, Western Suburbs.
1990 (11): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Randwick, Southern Districts, Sydney University, Warringah, Western Suburbs.
1991-93 (12): Drummoyne, Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Randwick, Southern Districts, Sydney University, Warringah, Western Suburbs.
1994 (12): UTS-Drummoyne, Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Randwick, Southern Districts, Sydney University, Warringah, Western Suburbs.
EXPANSION
1995-98 (14): Canberra (Kookaburras), Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Newcastle, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Penrith, Randwick, Southern Districts, Sydney University, Warringah, West Harbour.
1999 (14): Canberra Vikings, Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Newcastle, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Penrith, Randwick, Southern Districts, Sydney University, Warringah, West Harbour.
2000 (13): Canberra Vikings, Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Penrith, Randwick, Southern Districts, Sydney University, Warringah, West Harbour.
PREMIER RUGBY
2001-03 (12): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Penrith, Randwick, Southern Districts, Sydney University, Warringah, West Harbour.
2004-05 (13): Canberra Vikings, Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Penrith, Randwick, Southern Districts, Sydney University, Warringah, West Harbour.
2006 (12): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Penrith, Randwick, Southern Districts, Sydney University, Warringah, West Harbour.
2007 (13): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Illawarra, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Penrith, Randwick, Southern Districts, Sydney University, Warringah, West Harbour.
2008- (12): Eastern Suburbs, Eastwood, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs, Parramatta, Penrith, Randwick, Southern Districts, Sydney University, Warringah, West Harbour.
