NSW AAGPS 2025

[Vader]

3rd XV 2025 Season Preview
The 2025 3rd XV competition season begins this week – eight teams playing seven rounds to determine the winner of the Col Windon Shield, currently held by Shore 3rd XV following their great success in 2024.
The teams are the same as last year – Grammar 1st XV, High 1st XV, Joeys 3rd XV, Kings 3rd XV, Riverview 3rd XV, Scots 3rd XV, Shore 3rd XV and The Armidale School 1st XV.
I will be doing my best to keep you updated throughout the season, with round previews and match reports. I am kicking it off with my season preview before the first full competition round on Saturday 31 May.

Shore 3rd XV
The 2024 premiers are looking solid as they commence their title defence in 2025. Good trial wins over Knox 3rd XV (29-15) and Barker 3rd XV (38-0) followed by a loss to Joeys 3rd XV (7-24) at Northbridge. A promising final trial win over Scots has them in good shape for the competition proper.
Form guide: Should go well.

Grammar 1st XV
After coming within inches of winning the premiership last year, Grammar has regrouped for a renewed challenge in 2025, but early trial results may be causing some concern down at Weigall after losses to Aloysius 1st XV (8-17) and Joeys 3rd XV (0-81). Still early days but some improvement will be required to go one better than last year, especially as they host Shore in the opening competition round.
Form guide: Prefer to see.

Joeys 3rd XV
Equal second last year in the premiership after two early losses ended their premiership chances. Very good early results this year with a big win over Grammar (81-0), a draw with a capable Waverley 2nd XV (17‑17), a win over the defending premiers, Shore (24-7) and a comfortable victory last Saturday against Newington 3rd XV (69-7). Joeys are one of the favourites but need to start well this season from the very first round against TAS.
Form guide: Hard to beat.

Scots 3rd XV
The premiers from 2023 finished equal second with Joeys and Grammar last year and were not too far away. They have opened the season with good wins over Central Coast Grammar 1st XV (38-29), Waverley 3rd XV (38-0) and Kings on JS White (32-7), but a final trial loss to Shore 3rd XV at home would be a concern. Still, I am confident that they will be in the running again this year.
Form guide: Should be thereabouts.

Riverview 3rd XV
Finished mid-table last year despite some positive results but would want to improve on that in 2025. Trialling well with wins over Barker 3rds (36-7) and Oakhill 3rds (22-7). Their final trial win over Kings last weekend (19-12) sets them up very well for their first-round clash with High 1st XV. I like their chances this year.
Form guide: Decent chance.

Kings 3rd XV
Another mid table finisher from 2024 looking to improve in the new season. Kings 3rd XV opened 2025 with wins over Newington 3rd XV (41-12) and Trinity 2nd XV (22-12), but lost the final trial to Riverview on JS White (12-19). I think they will be in the running, but their opening competition round against Scots will be crucial.
Form guide: Fitter this campaign.

TAS 1st XV
TAS have started the 2025 season well and lead the 3rd XV competition due to an early Round 4 clash played against High 1st XV which they won (22-3). TAS have been competitive in recent years (despite loads of travel to play in Sydney) and I am expecting more of the same in 2025. Their opening round at Joeys will be a challenge.
Form guide: Cannot be underestimated.

High 1st XV
The High 1st XV started 2025 with a hard-fought loss to TAS 1st XV in Armidale (3-22). Then they scored a landmark win over Waverley 4th XV (22-7). Their final trial was a loss to Knox 4th XV (0-34), but they can definitely cause some trouble this year if they can continue to improve and bring their best.
Form guide: On the improve.

3rd XV Round 1 – Saturday 31 May

Joeys v TAS
Grammar v Shore
Scots v Kings
High v Riverview

Great to be back. Cheers
INP

Pretty sure Kings 3s won on the weekend

 

[The Kick Chaser]

Any crowd reports and rankings from this week? Heard Riverview had a supportive away crowd.

1. Joeys H
2. Riverview A
3. Scots H
4. Shore A
5. Kings (not too sure) H
6. Newington (Controversial) A

Due to Joeys compulsory, they will always have unmatched energy even in their home grounds.
Riverview always have a good ground especially in their away games.
Scots probably was ranked higher because they were home, but usually have a smaller away crowd.
Shore had a decent amount in numbers but is significantly lower than their home games.
Kings I find to have an average crowd in general, correct me if I'm wrong but did not seem they had a big crowd on Streamer.
Newington, although they had a good crowd, the unsportsmanlike conduct is not appropriate for School Boy Rugby.

(I'm happy for any comments and corrections.)

 

[PiggyPackPowerhouse]

scots team list ideas for the coming weekend as sam alker is likely suspended and cooper geeran out with an injury curious to hear peoples thoughts?

 

[RUCK YEAH]

Keep hearing all this stuff about the unsportsmanlike conduct of the Newington boys, I was at the Scots Shore game, could someone fill me in please?

Ruck Yeah Out

 

[The Ruckman]

How long is Galligan out for. Played very well on the weekend.

I've heard he should be back next week with minor ankle injury.

 

[wisemaan]

1. Joeys H
2. Riverview A
3. Scots H
4. Shore A
5. Kings (not too sure) H
6. Newington (Controversial) A

Due to Joeys compulsory, they will always have unmatched energy even in their home grounds.
Riverview always have a good ground especially in their away games.
Scots probably was ranked higher because they were home, but usually have a smaller away crowd.
Shore had a decent amount in numbers but is significantly lower than their home games.
Kings I find to have an average crowd in general, correct me if I'm wrong but did not seem they had a big crowd on Streamer.
Newington, although they had a good crowd, the unsportsmanlike conduct is not appropriate for School Boy Rugby.

(I'm happy for any comments and corrections.)

I'd argue even though Joey's may have the biggest crowd the energy is not there like others schools. Also Shore's crowd was as big as Scot's. This is slightly misleading.

 

[PickandDriveThru80]

Any crowd reports and rankings from this week? Heard Riverview had a supportive away crowd.

Not just for this weekend but a general crowd ranking:
1. Joeys/shore
2. Joeys/shore
3. View
4. Kings
5. Scots
6. New

The reason I've got Joeys and shore up the top together is shore usally has less crowd than the boys from hunters hill but the more. This is because its not compulsory for the blue and white men. Joeys always produce the numbers as its compulsory but only a quarter if that are fully into the chants and war cries. View and kings always produce good Home and away crowds. Scots had a simalar amount of boys there than shore on saturday which isn't amazing. Newington have mediocre home crowds, and pretty much no away crowd

P&D

 

[The Kick Chaser]

I'd argue even though Joey's may have the biggest crowd the energy is not there like others schools. Also Shore's crowd was as big as Scot's. This is slightly misleading.

I can agree with that

 

[The Ruckman]

@twister29 what happened to twisters trivia??

 

[Srgnt Short Ball]

Took the words out of my mouth. The way he was talking New boys are set up in a corporate suite and the visiting teams are slumming it! The new boys, and parents, would love the comfort of an enclosed stand - might result in more people coming, particularly when weather is inclement.

The reality is that, unlike Joeys and some other schools, the New crowds will be smaller as boys are not required to attend 1st XV home games unless their colour house is nominated to be crowd support that week - and for away games, there is no requirement to watch 1st XV. Given that, the small but vocal crowd last Saturday at Joeys was pretty good.

The only round all boys are required to attend is Back to Newington Day, which is the last round and this year it will be hosting Scots.

Agreed. However its interesting to note that riverview have no rules around complusory attendance, and yet the consistantly produce crowds matching home teams when away. fair play to the view boys, theyv really kept their rugby culture thriving despite better efforts from administation to curb it.

 

[bomber06]

Keep hearing all this stuff about the unsportsmanlike conduct of the Newington boys, I was at the Scots Shore game, could someone fill me in please?

Ruck Yeah Out

Some of the boys booed the Joeys kicker. Very incorrigible stuff. Mind you the week before at home, the View crowd did similar to the New kicker and there were some elements in the joeys crowd on Saturday doing the same (tbf, they got called on it).

 

[MaulMasterMind]

1. Harry Davies Yr-7
2. Anakin Richardson Yr-10
3. Villiami Akauola Yr-10
4. Daniel Muir Yr-4
5. Kupu M Yr-11
6. Nathan Perkins Yr-9
7. Ash Thomas Yr-7
8. Dylan Simmons Yr-9
9. Harry Whitaker Yr-7
10. Jarryd King Yr-7
11. Bailey R-L Yr-6
12. Keone A-T Yr-7
13. Braith Sloane Yr-11
14. Heamasi Makasini Yr-8
15. Callum Grantham Yr-7

What year they came in doesn't really matter. Rugby players are brought it at all ages....

I can happily provide some information based on who is and who isn't a Newington school fee-paying student on another forum. (Sneak peek 1 back)

 

[Srgnt Short Ball]

Some of the boys booed the Joeys kicker. Very incorrigible stuff. Mind you the week before at home, the View crowd did similar to the New kicker and there were some elements in the joeys crowd on Saturday doing the same (tbf, they got called on it).

no they riverview crowd did not boo during newingtons kicks in round one. i was in attendance. the boys were respectfull

 

[Srgnt Short Ball]

What year they came in doesn't really matter. Rugby players are brought it at all ages....

I can happily provide some information based on who is and who isn't a Newington school fee-paying student on another forum. (Sneak peek 1 back)

ahh the forbidden topic... @Joker

 

[MaulMasterMind]

ahh the forbidden topic... @Joker

Yes agreed. Let's avoid it.

 

[jester23]

Word going around that kings were quite discourteous towards scots two weeks ago chanting derogatory terms towards the scots 1st XV. This was heard by staff at kings yet nothing was done. I find this quite poor behaviour especially being in this prestigious competition.
Poor work kings!
"don't be sorry, be better."

 

[PiggyPackPowerhouse]

Anyone going to acknowledge Oscar Tremlett's game-winning kick on the weekend, ending the Scots loss streak against ,Shore albeit if he had held that same accuracy through the game Scots would have been several points up anyway

 

[It’s_about_The_Footy]

Not just for this weekend but a general crowd ranking:
1. Joeys/shore
2. Joeys/shore
3. View
4. Kings
5. Scots
6. New

The reason I've got Joeys and shore up the top together is shore usally has less crowd than the boys from hunters hill but the more. This is because its not compulsory for the blue and white men. Joeys always produce the numbers as its compulsory but only a quarter if that are fully into the chants and war cries. View and kings always produce good Home and away crowds. Scots had a simalar amount of boys there than shore on saturday which isn't amazing. Newington have mediocre home crowds, and pretty much no away crowd

P&D

Yep, I totally agree. Shore crowds definitely have a different kind of energy — there’s a sense of excitement where everyone genuinely wants to be there, not because they’re forced. But in recent years, it feels like some of that culture has been chipped away, especially with the way teachers have started cracking down on certain traditions. They've been known to step in and stop the boys from doing things that were once just part of the experience — whether it's chants, harmless antics, or just expressing school spirit in their own way.

 

[The Ruckman]

Word going around that kings were quite discourteous towards scots two weeks ago chanting derogatory terms towards the scots 1st XV. This was heard by staff at kings yet nothing was done. I find this quite poor behaviour especially being in this prestigious competition.
Poor work kings!
"don't be sorry, be better."

Very true and disappointing, I'm almost glad you have bought this up because it was awful and not in the spirit of the game. You can hear the chant at around the 47-minute mark of the Scots vs Kings Game round one. All I have to say to the Kings boys and staff is " pick up your game".

 

[theruckingdead]

Word going around that kings were quite discourteous towards scots two weeks ago chanting derogatory terms towards the scots 1st XV. This was heard by staff at kings yet nothing was done. I find this quite poor behaviour especially being in this prestigious competition.
Poor work kings!
"don't be sorry, be better."

I was at this game. Look, it was unfortunate to hear the kings boys chanting the way they were, but it did not go as far as any racism or other serious profanity. You could argue that the boys are just having fun, but i'd like to think the competition looks to ridicule this type of stuff.

On another note, does anyone have a predicted Scots team list for next week? An injury to number 7 and a slight problem with number 6 could see a few changes in the team. Also, the no. 10 Sinclair looks to return from surgery next week as well.

Thanks,

theruckingdead over n out