WEEKEND RUGBY RESULTS

Saturday, 2 August

Following is a round-up of major rugby results …

Rugby Test (Women)

Wallaroos 36 d Wales 5

Rugby Test (Men)

British & Irish Lions v Wallabies

(Half-time: Wallabies 8 - Lions 0)

Shute Shield (Men)

Gordon 24 d Hunter Wildfires 22

Chikarovski Cup (Women - Division 1)

Hunter Wildfires 15 d Manly 8

(Wildfires advance to Grandfinal against Warringah on Saturday 9 August)

Chikarovski Cup (Women - Division 2)

Hunter Wildfires d Randwick on forfeit (28-0)

(Wildfires advance to Grandfinal against Sydney University on Saturday 9 August)

Hunter Rugby - Premier 1

Maitland 21 d Hamilton 20

Merewether Carlton v Southern Beaches

Wanderers v University - postponed

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WORLD HONOUR FOR GUEST SPEAKER

Friday, 1 August

Our Guest Speaker for the 2025 Sports Luncheon next week (Fri, 8 August), Matt Burke, has just been inducted to the World Rugby Hall of Fame.

World Rugby Chair, Brett Robinson, said overnight that Matt (Inductee No. 172) was a match-winner for the Wallabies - composed, clinical, and dependable under pressure. His impact in key moments helped define one of the most successful eras in Australian rugby.

Robinson said the World Rugby Hall of Fame existed to honour the greats of the game – those whose legacy transcends results and statistics. Matthew and Richard (Hill - British & Irish Lions flanker and joint inductee overnight) have earned their place among rugby’s immortals, and we thank them for the extraordinary contribution they have made to rugby around the world.

John Eales, Chairman of the Hall of Fame panel and a Hall of Fame inductee, added that the World Rugby Hall of Fame was celebrating the current British and Irish Lions series in Australia and Women’s Rugby World Cup with the announcement about the inductees

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SPORTS LUNCHEON NOT FAR AWAY

Wednesday, 30 July

Our 2025 Sports Luncheon isn’t far away - Friday, 8 August.

Bookings are reaching capacity and we have some terrific Auction prizes - a rare and valuable 20-year-old bottle of whisky from Hellyers Road Distillery in Tasmania; a signed 2025 NSW Waratahs jersey; a signed match ball from the 2024 Test between Australia and Wales; a carton of Thomas Allen shiraz and a carton of Thomas Allen chardonnay.

Our sponsors include Churchills Carpet Court, Thomas Allen Wines and Tooheys while supporters of the luncheon are Hellyers Road Distillery, Rugby Australia, NSW Rugby Union and Hamilton North Bowling Club.

Brief details of the luncheon are:

Function: 2025 Sports Luncheon
Date: Friday, 8 August
Time: Midday until late afternoon
Venue: Hamilton North Bowling Club
Cost: $50 for Old Boys members (subsidised part of the club’s 85th Anniversary Year); $100 for non-members
Bookings: Please make payment to Old Boys Account at Greater Bank - BSB 637000 Acc 715493713 (mark payment with your name and ‘Luncheon’ – payment becomes a booking)

The function, organised by the Old Boys’ Association, will acknowledge four Grand Final teams that are celebrating a special ‘anniversary’ this year. They are:

2005 First grade - Grand Finalists (20th year anniversary)
1995 First Grade - Grand Finalists (30th year anniversary)
1975 Second Division - Minor & Major Premiers (50th year anniversary)
1945 Third Grade - undefeated Minor and Major Premiers (80th year anniversary)

Don’t delay if your coming - payment is a booking and no transactions on the day.

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CHURCHILLS SPONSOR LUNCHEON

Thursday, 17 July

A long-time supporter of The Waratahs and also a company that is celebrating its 80th anniversary is one of the sponsors for our 2025 Sports Luncheon in early August.

Organisers of the function, the Old Boys’ Association, have announced that Churchills Carpet Court headed by former player, current Club Patron and Past President, Paul Murphy, is the sponsor .

Paul and his crew at the Churchills store in Hamilton have supported both the Senior and Junior clubs for many decades and the Old Boys appreciate their continued help. Paul has even volunteered to take part in proceedings on the day and will be providing a vote of appreciation for our Guest Speaker in former Wallabies international and Board President of NSW Rugby, Matt Burke.

Churchills’ 80th year coincides with the 85th anniversary of The Waratahs.

In addition to Churchills, The Waratahs have some other great supporters and we appreciate the assistance of former player in Steve Allen from Thomas Allen Wines and Josh Blair from Tooheys who are also sponsors of the luncheon.

Special mention goes to Hamilton North Bowling Club, Rugby Australia and NSW Rugby who have donated services or prizes for our Auction and Raffle on the day.

Full details about the Sports Luncheon on Friday, 8 August can be found by scrolling down our list of articles.

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SPORTS LUNCHEON - THE NEWS KEEPS GETTING BETTER!

Friday, 13 June

We have some more good news about our 2025 Sports Luncheon on Friday, 8 August.

Tooheys have advised they will be one of our sponsors of the event which is welcome news for all those attending the luncheon.

It comes on top of other good news with former First Grade half-back, Steve Allen, confirming Thomas Allen Wines will again be a sponsor.

The Old Boys Association is organising the Sports Luncheon and offers its thanks both Tooheys and Thomas Allen Wines for their sponsorships.

Keep reading for full details about the luncheon.

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GREAT NEWS FOR OUR WELSH RUGBY FANS

Thursday, 29 May

We’ve got some great news for club members who are followers of Wales rugby!

Rugby Australia has donated a signed Match Ball from the Wallabies v Wales Test played in Sydney last year as an auction prize for our 2025 Sports Luncheon in August.

The ball is signed by Wallabies Captain, Liam Wright, and Welsh Captain, Dewi Lake. The ball comes in its own presentation case and is sure to attract some keen bidding.

Read our articles below for all the news about the Sports Luncheon - hope to see you there on Friday, 8 August!

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CHASING GRAND FINAL PLAYERS

Thursday, 15 May

Organisation is well underway for our 2025 Sports Luncheon to be held at Hamilton North Bowling Club in early August.

The Old Boys’ Association is making the arrangements, including contacting players from three past Grand Final teams that are celebrating an ‘anniversary’ of their game this year.

Committee member John Gibson has taken on the role of ‘Team Co-ordinator’ in trying to contact as many players as possible to invite them to the function.

John is reaching out to players from the following teams:

2005 First Grade - Grand Finalists (20th year anniversary)
1995 First Grade - Grand Finalists (30th year anniversary)
1975 Second Division - Minor & Major Premiers (50th year anniversary)

Click on the list of players’ names in the column to the right. John is well on the way to contacting most of the players but if you know of any of the names make sure you spread the word or contact John on (m) 0408 722 430.

For your information, details about the Sports Luncheon are printed below.

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2025 SPORTS LUNCHEON

May, 2025

We are also taking the opportunity of providing details of our 2025 Sports Luncheon which will be held in early August.

In a great thrill for The Tahs, our Guest Speaker for the 2025 Sports Luncheon in early August is former Wallabies fullback and current President of the Board of NSW Rugby, Matt Burke.

Brief details of the luncheon are:

Function: 2025 Sports Luncheon
Date: Friday, 8 August
Time: Midday until late afternoon
Venue: Hamilton North Bowling Club
Cost: $50 for Old Boys members (subsidised part of the club’s 85th Anniversary Year); $100 for non-members
Bookings: Please make payment to Old Boys Account at Greater Bank - BSB 637000 Acc 715493713 (mark payment with your name and ‘Luncheon’ – payment becomes a booking)

The function, organised by the Old Boys’ Association, will acknowledge four Grand Final teams that are celebrating a special ‘anniversary’ this year. They are:

2005 First grade - Grand Finalists (20th year anniversary)
1995 First Grade - Grand Finalists (30th year anniversary)
1975 Second Division - Minor & Major Premiers (50th year anniversary)
1945 Third Grade - undefeated Minor and Major Premiers (80th year anniversary)

Full details about the luncheon can be found by clicking on the article in the right side column.

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OUR 85th ANNIVERSARY!

July, 2025

As part of our 85th anniversary in 2025 we are publishing some historical facts about the club. We have previously published the names of players who played more than 300, 200 or 100 matches for The Tahs. We now move on to our list of Life Members ….

The five original Life Members - Cyril Burke* BEM, Richard (Pop) Dann*, Arthur Elvin*, Ray Frost* and Ern Howarth* - were inducted in 1955. Subsequent inductees have been:

1950s - Bert McGregor* 1956; 1960s - Dr Gordon Kerridge* 1965, Enid Quirk* 1968, Audrey Howarth* 1968, Jim Gladys* 1969; 1970s - Jess Symes* 1970, Jane McGregor* 1970, Ian (John) Symes* 1970, George Bear* 1970, Ron Howell* 1974, Ken Chambers* 1974, John Innes* 1974, John Hipwell OAM* 1974, Bill Chidgey* 1974, Larry Short* 1975, Melva Masters* 1976, Jim Nickerson* 1976, Marie Dick* 1979, Marge Burke* 1979.

1980s - Roger Bryan* 1982, Peter Giles* 1984; 1990s - Paul Murphy OAM 1995, Bryan Tolhurst* 1996; 2000s - John Brown 2009; 2010s - Denis Hurst 2011, David Bowtell 2012*, Matthew Chidgey 2014, Mark Queenan 2014, Ken Grieve 2017, Keith Powell 2018; 2020s - Gregory Taylor 2021.

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