Sydney Subbies 2025

[Pfitzy]

Don't worry - I'm feeling it! Had a meeting last night to set up tonight's meeting for womens rugby. Going to have our own Colts info session soon. Got some off-season tournaments to get both Colts and Womens to, as well as maybe Mens.

The difference for us is Colts and Womens is a new batch, not the existing players. While I've got a Halligan Cup game going on Saturday v Hills, I'm seeing a few of the regular guys put up the shutters for now

At the same time as being buggered from another season, I've also come to the conclusion that letting everything drift for 4-5 months and then having to go again in Feb is a bit like letting a car battery run flat while it sits in the shed; bloody hard to get started again! If I keep a bit of momentum here and there it might (might) be better.

Time will tell!

 

[Here To Do]

At the same time as being buggered from another season, I've also come to the conclusion that letting everything drift for 4-5 months and then having to go again in Feb is a bit like letting a car battery run flat while it sits in the shed; bloody hard to get started again! If I keep a bit of momentum here and there it might (might) be better.

A body remains at rest, or in motion at a constant speed in a straight line, unless it is acted upon by a force.

 

[Odyssey_Park the 2nd]

Our Shute clubs are trying to run systems like the Tahs and our Subbies clubs are trying to be like Shute clubs. I don’t think volunteers in Subbies can keep up with the demand of high paid GMs of Shute clubs.

Completely agree with what you say Pfitzy but my question is, is it sustainable for our volunteers to have to push all year round? Every club should aspire to what you’re hoping to achieve next year but what happens if you fall short do you get up and go again? What happens when the current batch of volunteers step away?

We are seeing a drop off in player interest during the season yet we will be pushing them into pre season training this year or 7s tournament all over the place. I think we get our blinkers on when everyone is keen in December and January and forget the slog come May June to get guys in the park.

 

[Lions62]

Out of interest, where are Hornsby getting their Colts from? Would be great if it was the local public High Schools / Hornsby juniors.

Can confirm it’s a large majority of local public high schools, namely Asquith Boys High School. Last week’s game against BOBs was great as it was a bit of an ABHS v Barker local derby. We’ve had a lot of juniors guys sitting on the fringe the last few years hesitant to play in the central coast comp, so moving back to Subbies last year brought in a lot of those “I’ll play if you play” kinda guys. Proud to say our Colts boys this year are majority home grown fellas and are giving it a red hot crack against some strong outfits who have been together for a while.

 

[Pfitzy]

Completely agree with what you say Pfitzy

Thank you. I like being agreed with!

but my question is, is it sustainable for our volunteers to have to push all year round?

Probably not This particular set of initiatives is designed with a specific goal in mind e.g. setting up women's rugby and getting Colts on the park at long last!

As part of this, getting more volunteers involved is key. In that we can help make the regular season load lighter, and have people in charge of running the off-season stuff like tournaments.

Every club should aspire to what you’re hoping to achieve next year but what happens if you fall short do you get up and go again?

Again: probably not

In terms of Colts at least, unless we get it running for 2026, we're probably consigned to one of the lower Divisions again, and quite frankly it isn't a great place to play rugby. Many of the people are fine, but some are absolute grubs only interested in getting out on Saturday and hurting people - I know because that could have easily described many at our club in the past

They don't care about their club, don't pay their fees, and don't respect the people putting in the effort to make games happen.

Any clubs from our Division reading this know who I'm talking about.

We'd like to move up to Division 3 and actually worry about what is important to rugby: having a crack on the field and having a good time after the game. I think we could put together a very competitive Colts side and currently planning to enhance the consistency of our men's sides to produce better results.

Getting Colts is the hardest part. Keeping Colts is the second-hardest part but, like volunteers, we need to get this going to help sustain our club.

What happens when the current batch of volunteers step away?

What happens to every club in The Dead Letter Office: it dies. Hence our aim of rotating in some new volunteers to water the tree.

 

[Pfitzy]

Ideally a club has a bunch of guys who run their own law/accounting/consulting firms who have a fuck-ton of cash and time to spend on rugby Reality suggests otherwise.

I'm in the fortunate position of mostly being WFH, in a job that I have a long and fairly unique experience. It helps that I've minimised the number of meetings I'm required to attend

Not everyone on my Committee has this freedom, and that's true of a lot of people in Subbies land. They fit rugby in where they can and the increased cost-of-living pressures and Saturday work etc make it difficult.

I've got one offspring finishing Uni this year, and another finishing their HSC. The long-suffering Mrs Pfitzy gets her Long Service middle of next year.

I've never had a Euro summer holiday, so is it finally my turn?

 

[footy_footy]

Anyone have any intel on finals venues? Some starting next week.

The relentless wet weather would be testing some grounds at the back end of the year.

 

[Odyssey_Park the 2nd]

Anyone have any intel on finals venues? Some starting next week.

The relentless wet weather would be testing some grounds at the back end of the year.

Your talking about the people who released the draw for some divisions this year after the first round… wouldn’t expect it till this time next week for Division 5 and there’s still weeks till the other finals

 

[Give and go]

Any Div 1 predictions for tomorrow?

Hunters Hill v Lindfield - hunters by 20+ speak for itself

Mosman v Colleagues- Mosman with a point to prove, can seen them running away with it late

Drummoyne v Blueys- See this one being much tighter then people think, blueys will get the job done though

Newport v Waverley- Waverley with not much game time of late, can see Newport getting up for this game at home, Newport by 5

 

[Odyssey_Park the 2nd]

Looks to be the 2nd year in a row we will finish a season in Division 6 with clubs not playing all their games. Not sure how this is allowed to happen especially when it’s teams in finals contention..
I get the bigger clubs struggling to replay multiple matches but we’ve had a number of weeks since the Georges River Harbour game was called off. Surely a decision about points should of been made

 

[Pfitzy]

Looks to be the 2nd year in a row we will finish a season in Division 6 with clubs not playing all their games. Not sure how this is allowed to happen especially when it’s teams in finals contention..
I get the bigger clubs struggling to replay multiple matches but we’ve had a number of weeks since the Georges River Harbour game was called off. Surely a decision about points should of been made

There's no provision for awarding points in games that aren't played except for forfeits or double points second round, as per the Subbies Competition Rules.

There is a wet weather week on 23rd August to catch up at least one fixture - suggest Harbour v GRR would be the best option here - and then a mid week has to be organised somewhere for GRR v Oatley.

Tho I would suggest if GRR don't win this weekend and Penrith get a gap on them, it becomes redundant.

 

[Odyssey_Park the 2nd]

There's no provision for awarding points in games that aren't played except for forfeits or double points second round, as per the Subbies Competition Rules.

There is a wet weather week on 23rd August to catch up at least one fixture - suggest Harbour v GRR would be the best option here - and then a mid week has to be organised somewhere for GRR v Oatley.

Tho I would suggest if GRR don't win this weekend and Penrith get a gap on them, it becomes redundant.

Just seems crazy it’s been left unplayed for so long. Maybe the plan was always to replay the Harbour GRR game on the wet weather week but given the weather you’re risking a lot.
Especially given their games to play you’d think they’d be doing everything they can to qualify for finals.
We probably should have a rule that if your washed out/postponed in the first half of the season that game needs to be caught up in the 1st half of the season (properly scheduled wet weather weeks) or its Double Points.

 

[Odyssey_Park the 2nd]

I’m interested to know in the higher Divisions (and shute) especially now with women’s slotting into the day as well. Are the players turning up for the early games at like 9-10 sticking around all day or are the majority of playing and then taking off to do other things like kids sport?
Seems a huge day when games are kicking off at 9:00 and the last one at 3:15. I’m wondering if there is an appeal to certain players by being done before lunch and free for the rest of the day.

 

[Crashy]

A lot of clubs have a couple of grounds such at Lindfield, Colleagues, Drummoyne, Mosman (sort of), Hunters Hill - so can run games on both fields for the day. It does give the ground a great atmosphere when there are multiple games going on.

 

[The Wombat]

I’m interested to know in the higher Divisions (and shute) especially now with women’s slotting into the day as well. Are the players turning up for the early games at like 9-10 sticking around all day or are the majority of playing and then taking off to do other things like kids sport?
Seems a huge day when games are kicking off at 9:00 and the last one at 3:15. I’m wondering if there is an appeal to certain players by being done before lunch and free for the rest of the day.

50-50 for players hanging around. Some actually go home after their game, shower, run errands and come back for 1s.

 

[Pfitzy]

I've always thought the break between 2s and 3s created by Colts at 12:45 is a challenge - basically your 2nd Grade has to be about 30 blokes so you know you've got a full bench every week.

 

[ThatsCatty]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/nsw-sports-field-closures-the-hidden-toll-on-junior-players/news-story/c10e0949ef891867f622f0c5ff21c010

Peter Murphy, chief executive of NSW Rugby Union, said it was “frustrating” when councils were “too quick to pull the trigger” and close grounds.

“Sometimes they can make the call on a Tuesday afternoon and by Saturday the pitch has dried out but in the meantime we have not only missed the game but training as well,” he said.

Mr Murphy said there were almost 100,000 registered players in 320 clubs across NSW and that organising make up games after unnecessary cancellations was a logistic challenge.

“Part of the problem is that there is not enough investment in the infrastructure, many pitches need more money spent on drainage,” he said.


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Will be interesting to see what fields are played on this weekend.

 

[Champagne Rugby]

Quick Tips for the weekend with Div 3

Beecroft v Hills: 1 v 2, in a battle for the minor premiership. Beecroft's big win over iggies suggest they are coming back to form and I tip them to win.

Knox v Hornsby: 3 v 4, ladder wont change as a result of the game, but will be a good pre-finals tune up. Hornsby to win have been the big improver this season.

LCOI v Blacktown: 5 v 6, playing for pride, iggies to win and be to strong for the winless Blacktown.

 

[Platypus]

Kentwell Tips

Hunters Hill v Lindfield - They seem unbeatable at the moment. Have HH winning by 40+

Mosman v Colleagues- Colleagues back to full strength, will be a good game. Colleagues by 7

Drummoyne v Blueys- BM by 19

Newport v Waverley- Waves by 17

 

[footy_footy]

I've always thought the break between 2s and 3s created by Colts at 12:45 is a challenge - basically your 2nd Grade has to be about 30 blokes so you know you've got a full bench every week.

Colts often back up for 2s at Div 1 & 2 clubs. Not a massive issue really.