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.
Rugby Union was established in Newcastle on 5 June 1869, when the Volunteer Artillery team (8 players) challenged United Cricket Club (11 Players). The match was played in Centennial Park (currently Lowlands Bowling Club).
On 1 May 1877, a meeting at `Ship Inn` saw the foundation of Newcastle Football Club. 1887 also saw the formation of the Wallsend and 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 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 Branch. During 1915 - 1924, little rugby was played due to World War I and its aftermath. After a match between GPS Old Boys (Wanderers) and Novocastrians at Empire Park in 1925 a decision was made to reform the Newcastle Rugby Union; this was beginning of the current First Grade Competition.
During the period, the Hunter Valley Rugby Union was formed which consisted of clubs like Singleton, Muswellbrook and Scone but in 1996, the Hunter Valley Zone amalgamated with Newcastle to form the current Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union.
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: White and Navy
Home Ground: Dangar Park, Mayfield
Joined competition:
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 (9)
Lake Macquarie
(formerly known as Boolaroo)
Nickname: Roos
Colours: Yellow, Maroon and Dark Blue
Home Ground: Walters Park,Boolaroo
Joined competition:
Premierships: 0
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.(9)
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 (9)
Nelson Bay
Nickname: Gropers
Colours: Blue,Black and White
Home Ground: Strong Oval,Nelson Bay
Joined competition:
Premierships: 0
Singleton
Nickname: Bulls
Colours: Red and Black
Home Ground: Rugby Park,Howe St Singleton.
Joined competition: 1990
Premierships:1992, 1995, 1996, 1997 (4)
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 First & Second Division competitions include:
First grade premiers (1945 onwards):
Notes: *Tie for Premiership
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.
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
Michael Cocks (1945 -) Brisbane Waters - 10 Tests
Terrence Curley (1938 -) 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
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
