Sydney Subbies 2025

[Odyssey_Park the 2nd]

No one wants to blame Subbies but some of there decisions make no sense and are based on the preference for colts over everything else.

We have a club whose in Division 6 with enough for 2 teams on there own but isn’t allowed to come up whilst a Division 3 team is definitely not running a 2nd grade from week 1 plus another that has openly admitted they are struggling for the numbers allowed to stay in the 2 teams comp.
Plus we have combined 2 clubs to fill a hole in Division 5 all while we have a ready made replacement?? Add to the fact that adding two teams back into Division 6 would remove the awkward uneven number of teams in that division.

I know every situation is different and unique and has its own issues but I’d be scratching my head if I was that Div 6 club with no 2nd game this week.

 

[Footyhead67]

Which division 6 club is this?

 

[CrashBandicoot2]

From anyones experience - Are clubs good with approving transfers either before the season or through the middle? Or is it hit and miss pending on who you are with?

 

[Pfitzy]

From anyones experience - Are clubs good with approving transfers either before the season or through the middle? Or is it hit and miss pending on who you are with?

Find the other club's contact info and they're usually pretty good in my experience. Everything flows through RugbyXplorer now so emails get sent but people still need to action things.

 

[footy_footy]

Which division 6 club is this?

Blacktown

 

[Pfitzy]

While I'd rather drive to Glenwood than Clovelly for an away game, the fact remains that Blacktown gave no indication to Subbies they had 2 teams until late last week. Every other club had their ground availability in and a draft draw was done for Div 5 on the basis of the Maccabi/Convicts schedule.

Any potential rearrangement for that would have likely caused disruption - remembering you're changing 3 slots (1 x Div 5 and 2 x Div 6) for clubs that get their ovals for less than half a day and have to contest that space with other codes and clubs.

Plenty on here have bitched that draws need to be out earlier and divisions sorted. Now we've got complaints that everyone should rearrange things around a late call by one organisation among over 40.

Make your minds up

 

[Pfitzy]

Do you think there is any hope that this magical alignment will happen? or is it just a pie in the sky?

I like pie. I like it a lot.

Maybe alignment will be discussed by the navel-gazers once they look up and see Rome burning.

But they'll probably fiddle instead.

 

[Goober]

Blacktown

Could Blacktown fill the bye in div 6. As there’s no home and away sorted yet they could potentially align their home games for both teams (and travel to different away).

don’t know it would work but there IS a spot there called BYE

 

[Pfitzy]

Could Blacktown fill the bye in div 6. As there’s no home and away sorted yet they could potentially align their home games for both teams (and travel to different away).

don’t know it would work but there IS a spot there called BYE

Other clubs have likely told their players no Rugby that weekend, so unlikely to get a game.

 

[Goober]

Other clubs have likely told their players no Rugby that weekend, so unlikely to get a game.

Fair enough for this week but given there’s then 2 weeks before the next game perhaps something could be done

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

I like pie. I like it a lot.

Maybe alignment will be discussed by the navel-gazers once they look up and see Rome burning.

But they'll probably fiddle instead.

Death taxes and a pfitzy alignment post, keep fighting the good fight big man.

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

Too long between drinks my friends, Div 3 Week 1 predictions are ready to roll, 6 team comp, 3 games against each opponent, certainly makes for very interesting planning by coaches, teams could be meeting 5 times if they go the major minor finals structure! In any case:

Clark Cup (1st Grade):

Hornsby @ Beecroft: What an interesting start to the year, last year's Div 2 Beecroft hosting last year's winners of Div 4 Hornsby at Headen. Beecroft traditionally very strong in Div 3 but battled for troops last year, whilst Hornsby will be riding the significant momentum of last year's dominance. Do you back the tumbling Croft to right the ship at home? I'm split on this one, but I'll give them the benefit on the doubt. Beecroft by 5. Give me Hornsby in 2s and Beecroft in Colts.

Hills @ Lane Cove Old Ignations: I think this will be a tough test for the joint merger though reports from resident shill Bernie have been very positive. LCOI will be fired up at their spiritual home ground of Tantallon, but I have a feeling this Hills outfit is here to take names this year. Prove me wrong LCOI, prove me wrong... Hills by 10. Give me LCOI in both 2nd grade and Colts though... there's something for you Bern!

Knox @ Old Barker: The Battle of the Pacific Highway with no love lost between these sides dating back to their schoolboy days. Knox has had the rub of the green over Barker over the last few years but these red men love a chance to belt some of their former foes. Reports out of Knox are strong numbers across both grades, but we've seen similar reports from Old Barker, particularly in Colts. Another tough one as we figure out across the divisions where the truth really lies. I'll take Knox by 7. I think Knox manages a clean sweep across the day, though very slim margins in each game.

Yours in we're so bloody back baby,
PFE2

 

[CrashBandicoot2]

Too long between drinks my friends, Div 3 Week 1 predictions are ready to roll, 6 team comp, 3 games against each opponent, certainly makes for very interesting planning by coaches, teams could be meeting 5 times if they go the major minor finals structure! In any case:

Clark Cup (1st Grade):

Hornsby @ Beecroft: What an interesting start to the year, last year's Div 2 Beecroft hosting last year's winners of Div 4 Hornsby at Headen. Beecroft traditionally very strong in Div 3 but battled for troops last year, whilst Hornsby will be riding the significant momentum of last year's dominance. Do you back the tumbling Croft to right the ship at home? I'm split on this one, but I'll give them the benefit on the doubt. Beecroft by 5. Give me Hornsby in 2s and Beecroft in Colts.

Hills @ Lane Cove Old Ignations: I think this will be a tough test for the joint merger though reports from resident shill Bernie have been very positive. LCOI will be fired up at their spiritual home ground of Tantallon, but I have a feeling this Hills outfit is here to take names this year. Prove me wrong LCOI, prove me wrong... Hills by 10. Give me LCOI in both 2nd grade and Colts though... there's something for you Bern!

Knox @ Old Barker: The Battle of the Pacific Highway with no love lost between these sides dating back to their schoolboy days. Knox has had the rub of the green over Barker over the last few years but these red men love a chance to belt some of their former foes. Reports out of Knox are strong numbers across both grades, but we've seen similar reports from Old Barker, particularly in Colts. Another tough one as we figure out across the divisions where the truth really lies. I'll take Knox by 7. I think Knox manages a clean sweep across the day, though very slim margins in each game.

Yours in we're so bloody back baby,
PFE2

Div 3 2nd Grade Predictions.

Forfeitt
Forfeitt
Forfeitt

 

[HogansHeros]

Div 3 2nd Grade Predictions.

Forfeitt
Forfeitt
Forfeitt

Sadly not sounding great!!
Dont think ive ever seen Beecroft struggling for numbers so much.
Barker also have said no second grade... not much competition happening..

 

[21mm]

Sadly not sounding great!!
Dont think ive ever seen Beecroft struggling for numbers so much.
Barker also have said no second grade... not much competition happening..

Whats the go with Barker?!

At the Subbies 10s, the Colts squad they rolled out looked enormous and plentiful, they were a level above! surely that has to count for something when trying to get a 2nd grade game together. Do they have some sort of Briars level arrangement where their short form squads operate separately? (citation needed)

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

Whats the go with Barker?!

At the Subbies 10s, the Colts squad they rolled out looked enormous and plentiful, they were a level above! surely that has to count for something when trying to get a 2nd grade game together. Do they have some sort of Briars level arrangement where their short form squads operate separately? (citation needed)

Whilst I can't speak directly for them, in my experience the high school linked clubs with strong rugby programs find it relatively easy to get a group of colts together (given they were all mates at school in the years prior) but find it markedly harder keeping that group around to cycle through the grades once their colts eligibility lapses. A lot of them seem to take off after their game to go to whatever social outing they've got planned, and you normally only get a core 4-6 that hang around to the end of first grade - these are usually the guys you'll see at grade training the following year.

The challenge for these clubs is getting that group to buy into a long term future with the club, with aspirations for first grade etc. but easier said than done in today's environment.

In other news:

 

[Pfitzy]

you normally only get a core 4-6 that hang around to the end of first grade - these are usually the guys you'll see at grade training the following year.

It would be interesting to see where a particular school's players end up - naturally a percentage go to Premier Rugby Colts and some to Subbies.

The next stage is the guys who leave after Colts in either case from e.g. Barker, Knox. Do they come back? What contact is made to bring them back to the club?

Here's the top two divisions from 2005. A few Old Boys clubs in there who are nowhere near those numbers any more. Different times without the amateur system, and probably reflects that and rugby's gradual decline over that period

Kentwell:	Barraclough:	Clark:
Colleagues	Campbelltown	Epping
Drummoyne	Hornsby	Barker Old Boys
Forest	St Ives	Briars
Knox Old Boys	Newport	CBOBs
Mosman	Beecroft (St Leos)	Chatswood
Old Iggies	Liverpool	Hawkesbury Valley
St Pats	Blacktown	Blue Mountains
The Vikings (the year they got kicked out)	Kings Old Boys	Hunters Hill
UNSW	Lindfield	Hills
Waverley	Petersham	St George

 

[KentwellCup>ShuteShield]

Who where the Vikings?

 

[Goober]

Who were the Vikings? Dundas Valley

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

It would be interesting to see where a particular school's players end up - naturally a percentage go to Premier Rugby Colts and some to Subbies.

I've said a few times with the number of school rugby teams rapidly decreasing there isn't as much talent to spread around anymore. Knox (the school) seems to have a strong relationship with Gordon so a lot of the top talent go there.

One promising trend appears to be a number of those players returning to play their twilight years in Subbies though.. one last run around with their old school mates.

Most of the schools seem to have a bit of a linkage with one Premier club or another.