Country Rugby League

Last updated

Country Rugby League
Country Rugby League logo.svg
Founded1934
Ceased2019
ResponsibilityRegional New South Wales
Membership24 leagues
(296 senior clubs)
Key people Jock Colley [1] (Chair)
Terry Quinn [1] (Chief Executive)
Website crlnsw.com.au
Flag of New South Wales.svg
As of 1 December 2009

The Country Rugby League of New South Wales [2] (CRL [3] ), formed in 1934 and disbanded in 2019, was the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in areas of New South Wales outside the Sydney metropolitan area until it merged with NSW Rugby League in 2019. The CRL was superseded by 6 NSWRL Country Divisions represented by 4 members of the nine-person NSWRL board. Despite its name, the CRL also governed rugby league in the Australian Capital Territory. Apart from selecting a Country Origin side to play in the annual City vs Country Origin game, the CRL administered many senior and junior competitions across the state.

Contents

History

Country Rugby League logo used before 2013 Country rugby league NSW logo.png
Country Rugby League logo used before 2013

In New South Wales, Newcastle was the first city outside Sydney to start a league competition, despite being involved in the Sydney Premiership in 1908–09 and then starting their own competition in 1910. (Other country areas were playing "football" before this time, which should be referenced. A photograph exists of the Bowraville team of 1907 who presumably played other teams in the district. If the team played Rugby Union, some reference should be made in this History section as to when this region converted to Rugby League. Local research required since early editions of the local newspaper are not in the National Archives.)

On 11 February 1911, the Hunter District Rugby Football League (HDRFL) was established at a large meeting in Maitland, thus becoming the first branch of the New South Wales Rugby League in "the bush" (i.e. outside the urban centres of Sydney and Newcastle). The HDRFL territory encompassed a lower part of the Hunter Valley from Singleton down to the Maitland district and towns on the nearby coalfields (the major ones being Cessnock, Kurri Kurri and Weston). Competition games were scheduled to kick off on 13 May but were pushed back to 20 May when clubs complained they had not had enough time to practice the new code. In the first senior-grade games played, West Maitland def. Kurri Kurri (12–0) and Cessnock def. Morpeth (23–0) in a double-header on the enclosed Albion Ground at Maitland. The first City v. Country match (advertised as such by the NSWRL in the Sydney Morning Herald of 10/6/1911) was played at the Sydney Agricultural Ground on that same Saturday, with City winning 29–8. The Country team was composed exclusively of players from the Newcastle ("Northern") and the Hunter competitions. The first ever country divisional match (described as such in the Maitland Daily Mercury of 31/7/1911) was played at Newcastle on 29/7/1911 between Newcastle and Hunter. Newcastle won 29–14. The first NSW Country team to tour was a squad of 17 players (12 from Newcastle and 5 from Hunter) that played three matches in Queensland between 5/8/1911 and 12/8/1911, defeating the Queensland State side twice and a Queensland Country representative side once. They then travelled to Sydney to play the Sydney Metropolitan team, again winning 31–24. [4]

On 13 May 1911, another branch of the NSWRL was established in the Wollongong area.

In 1911, a Goldfields' League was formed in West Wyalong, and games were played in Tamworth, Aberdeen, and along the South Coast. The game was introduced to Orange in 1912 and spread quickly through the western districts. In 1913 branch leagues were formed at Bathurst, Dubbo, Nowra and Tamworth.

In 1920, the NSWRL set up a Country Committee. NSW Country was divided into six sections: South Coast, Northern Districts, Central Northern Districts, Western Districts, Southern, and North Coast. The group system was introduced in 1922, with neighbouring towns being organised into 12 groups.

The Country Rugby League (CRL) was officially formed in 1934, "subject to the NSW Rugby League still being the paramount institution."

In 1939 a dispute arose between the CRL and the NSWRL. The CRL wanted a new administration structure, an equal partnership in which the NSWRL looked after league in Sydney, and the CRL looked after it in the bush. When their proposal was rejected the CRL broke away from the NSWRL for a week, but returned to the fold with a promise that a committee would be set up to sort things out. Eventually the CRL gave in on the grounds that it was in no one's best interests to have the game divided during World War II.

The NSWRL and CRL have since cooperated in the running of rugby league in NSW, including various 'joint ventures' such as the Ron Massey Cup which features three teams from areas under the control of the CRL.

On 24 August 2018, the NSWRL and CRL announced that they had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding which will involve formal discussions in relation to a possible merger that would see a merger of the two organisations. This would result with Rugby League in NSW governed by one body for the first time in more than 80 years. [5]

In October 2019 CRL merged with the NSWRL after the NSWRL agreed a new constitution and the CRL voted to wind up its affairs immediately. The decisions made on 19 October and merger mean that the aim of a unified administration of the sport in NSW was achieved over a year ahead of time. [6]

Regions

The CRL administered the following senior competitions:

* = Top-level Country leagues; Premiers eligible for Clayton Cup as best regional team in the state.

NRL Victoria Competitions Involving NSW Teams

Disbanded Groups

Team of the Century

In 2008, rugby league football's centenary year in Australia, the Country Rugby League named its 'Team of the Century': [7]

  1. Clive Churchill (Central Newcastle)
  2. Brian Carlson (North Newcastle)
  3. Eddie Lumsden (Kurri Kurri)
  4. Michael Cronin (Gerringong)
  5. Graeme Langlands (Wollongong)
  6. Bob Fulton (Wests Wollongong)
  7. Andrew Johns (Cessnock)
  8. Steve Roach (Wests Wollongong)
  9. Ian Walsh (Condobolin)
  10. Glenn Lazarus (Queanbeyan Blues)
  11. Herb Narvo (North Newcastle)
  12. Bradley Clyde (Belconnen United)
  13. Wally Prigg (Wests Newcastle/Centrals Newcastle)

Junior competitions

Player of the Year Award

YearPlayerClub
1965 Laurie Moraschi Griffith
1966Terry Pannowitz Maitland
1967 Allan Thomson Newcastle
1968Allan ThomsonNewcastle
1969 John Cootes Newcastle
1970Les Hutchings Condobolin
1971Dick Jeffrey Glen Innes
1972Brian BurkeMaitland
1973 John Donnelly Gunnedah
1974 Mick Cronin Gerringong
1975Steve Hewson Queanbeyan
1976Peter Kennedy Forbes
1977Barry Pearson Illawarra
1978 Ray Brown Griffith
1979Pat SmithMaitland
1980 Perry Haddock Erina
1981 Terry Regan Cessnock
1982Willie TarryCessnock
1983Paul Field Cootamundra
1984Ross Gibson Wyong
1985Peter HawthorneGriffith
1986Neil Moy Parkes
1987 Steve Walters Lakes United
1988Chris Cumming Aberdeen
1989Mark Ryan Moree
1990Paul Danes Wagga Wagga
1991Richard Jones South Newcastle
1992Trevor CrowSouth Newcastle
1993Warren DouchErina
1994 Brian Quinton Kurri Kurri
1995Jamy ForbesCessnock
1996Brett Gallard Orange
1997Darren Leaney Bellingen
1998Paul Skovgaard Western Suburbs Newcastle
1999Troy Clear Belconnen
2000 Jarrod O'Doherty Western Suburbs Newcastle
2001Jamie O'ConnorBurleigh Heads
2002Ryan DagwellNewcastle
2003John Johnson Scone
2004Phil StonhamQueanbeyan
2005 Chris Bailey Northern Blues
2006Darren Jackson & Dean Amos Cobar / Northern Blues
2007 David McLean Berkeley
2008 Grant Wooden Wagga Wagga
2009Grant WoodenWagga Wagga
2010Mitch WilliamsWyong
2011 Jimmy Grehan Wests Illawarra
2012Todd Maloney Umina
2013 Rory O'Brien & Riley Brown Collegians Illawarra / Cessnock
2014 Chris Adams Cessnock
2015Jarrod ThompsonCollegians Illawarra
2016Chris AdamsLakes United
2017Tori Freeman-QuayBelconnen
2018Caleb Ziebell Cudgen
2019Cameron VazzolerIllawarra South Coast

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales Rugby League</span> Governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory

The New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) is the governing body of rugby league in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory and is a member of the Australian Rugby League Commission. It was formed in Sydney on 8 August 1907 and was known as the New South Wales Rugby Football League (NSWRFL) until 1984. From 1908 to 1994, the NSWRL ran Sydney's, then New South Wales', and eventually Australia's top-level rugby league club competition from their headquarters on Phillip Street, Sydney. The organisation is responsible for administering the New South Wales rugby league team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cessnock, New South Wales</span> Town in New South Wales, Australia

Cessnock is a city in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia, about 52 km (32 mi) by road west of Newcastle. It is the administrative centre of the City of Cessnock LGA and was named after an 1826 grant of land called Cessnock Estate, which was owned by John Campbell. The local area was once known as "The Coalfields", and it is the gateway city to the vineyards of the Hunter Valley, which includes Pokolbin, Mount View, Lovedale, Broke, Rothbury, and Branxton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle Rebels</span> Defunct Australian rugby league club, based in Newcastle NSW

Newcastle were a rugby league team who played in the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership from 1908–1909, one of the nine foundation clubs. After the formation of several clubs in January 1908, members of the NSWRFL came to Newcastle to hold talks with the local footballing community at a meeting on 8 February 1908. However, at this meeting the motion to have a public meeting was lost. The local rugby union fraternity threatened sanctions and further recruitment occurred in secret. Finally a band of Rebel Pioneers assembled and signed up on 10 April, just days before the start of the competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Ndaira</span> Former Lebanon international rugby league footballer

George Ndaira is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s and the current head coach of the Newtown Jets. He played at representative level for Lebanon, and at club level in the National Rugby League (NRL) for the St. George Illawarra Dragons, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Newcastle Knights, as a hooker or halfback.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City vs Country Origin</span> Annual Australian rugby league football match

City vs Country Origin was an annual Australian rugby league football match that took place in New South Wales between City and Country representative sides. The City side represented the Sydney metropolitan area. While technically it was Sydney vs. the rest of NSW, players from the Central Coast often represented City, but other players from the Central Coast represented Country. The Country side represented the rest of New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurri Kurri, New South Wales</span> Town in New South Wales, Australia

Kurri Kurri is a small town in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, in the Cessnock LGA. At the 2016 census, its population was 6,044. Kurri Kurri is the largest town in a group of towns and hamlets, including Stanford Merthyr, Pelaw Main, Weston, Abermain and Heddon Greta, called Kurri Kurri – Weston by the ABS. Its estimated population was 17,241 at 2016 census.

The Newcastle Rugby League is a local rugby league football competition in Newcastle, Australia. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1910. A Newcastle representative team was also assembled from players in the League during most of the 20th century. The first grade competition also comprises the NSWRL Presidents Cup Northern Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harold Matthews Cup</span> Junior rugby league competition in New South Wales

The NSWRL Harold Matthews Cup is a junior rugby league competition played in New South Wales between teams made up of players aged under 16. The competition is administered by the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL). The competition is made up of NSW-based clubs and includes both junior representative teams of the elite National Rugby League (NRL) and clubs that do not field teams in the NRL competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby league in New South Wales</span>

Rugby league in New South Wales is the most popular spectator sport in the state, with the attendance and television audiences exceeding that of the various other codes of football. There are over 400,000 active rugby league participants, with a further 1 million playing the sport in schools, placing the sport second only to Soccer for the most played sport in the state. There is more than 500 active clubs, ten of which are professional teams competing in the National Rugby League (NRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helensburgh Tigers</span> Australian rugby league club, based in Helensburgh, NSW

The Helensburgh Tigers are an Australian rugby league football team based in Helensburgh, a country town of the Illawarra region. The club are a part of Country Rugby League and has competed in the Illawarra Rugby League premiership since its inception in 1911.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Anderson (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Sam Anderson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Redcliffe Dolphins in the Queensland Cup. He plays at prop and lock and previously played for the Penrith Panthers in the National Rugby League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Shields</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Mick Shields (1912–1983) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He commenced his career with Kurri Kurri Juniors in the late 1920s and in 1935 went on to be selected to play for the Australian team to tour New Zealand.

The Maitland Pickers Rugby League Football Club is an Australian rugby league football club based in Maitland, New South Wales formed in 1955. They currently play in the Newcastle Rugby League competition. Their nickname was originally the Pumpkin Pickers but is now abbreviated to just the Pickers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nathan Ross (rugby league)</span> Australian rugby league footballer

Nathan Ross, nicknamed "White Lightning" or "Ross Dog", is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played as a wing, fullback and centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NSWRL Women's Premiership</span>

The NSWRL Women's Premiership is a rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales. It is the only statewide open-age competition for women in New South Wales and is run by New South Wales Rugby League.

Fred Brown (1926–2016) was an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played for Manly-Warringah in the NSWRL competition.

The NSWRL Presidents Cup is a semi-professional, open-aged rugby league football competition played in New South Wales. The competition is administered by the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL). The competition includes teams from domestic rugby league clubs, Ron Massey Cup, Sydney Shield and Canterbury Cup clubs.

The New South Wales Rugby League administered several competitions during the 2021 rugby league season in Australia. The season was impacted by the Delta variant of the COVID-19 pandemic. Junior competitions, Country representative tournaments, and City versus Country representative matches were concluded prior to the impact of lockdown in June 2021. The lockdowns, however, led to the postponement and subsequent cancellation of senior competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoebe Desmond</span> Australian rugby league player

Phoebe Desmond is an Australian professional rugby league footballer. Her position is prop. She previously played for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL Women's Premiership.

Kayla Romaniuk is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Newcastle Knights in the NRL Women's Premiership. Her positions are lock and prop.

References

  1. 1 2 "Committees". Country Rugby League of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 13 October 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  2. ↑ "COUNTRY RUGBY LEAGUE OF NEW SOUTH WALES INC CONSTITUTION – ADOPTED 27/11/99" (PDF). Country Rugby League of New South Wales. 8 February 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  3. ↑ "Reference Centre > NRL History & Structure". National Rugby League. Archived from the original on 16 January 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  4. ↑ Cessnock Rugby League Football – The Early Years; Mark Bennis; 2011
  5. ↑ "NSWRL and CRL Agree to MOU". New South Wales Rugby League. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  6. ↑ "Country Rugby League merge with NSW Rugby League is official". Manning River Times . 23 October 2019. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  7. ↑ abc.net.au (1 May 2008). "Three Immortals in best Country side". ABC News. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "NSWRL cancels nine competitions for 2020 season". New South Wales Rugby League. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "Andrew Johns Cup". New South Wales Rugby League. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.