When one thinks of Newcastle and rugby, the next word you probably think of is league, right? If you were, you would not be alone.
The thirteen-man game is a near religion in the steel town two hours north of Sydney.
Over the years, we have become accustomed to the cheers for league legends Johns, Harragon and Buderus, and rightfully so.
So what was the Australian Rugby Union thinking when they announced the Wallabies would be taking on the ever welcome Scots on June 5 in Newcastle.
Whatever the motivation was, I am sure glad that they did. Forget taking the game to new markets. After digging into the archives I have found a rich rugby heritage that Novocastrians worldwide should be proud of.
Did you know that Newcastle has produced five Australian captains, starting with Dr HM ‘Paddy’ Moran who played only one test for Australia against Wales in 1908. A tough flanker who played for Newcastle prior to moving down to the Sydney University Club, Moran is not only a member of the Australian rugby union Hall of Fame, he is credited with naming the 1908 team the Wallabies after the British press had named them Rabbits.
Moran was followed by English born scrum half Fred Wood, who in 1914 led the Australian XV against the All Blacks in two tests. Other skippers include scrum half Syd Malcolm, who led the national side six times between 1927-1934 during an 18 test match career. Bob Anderson, a centre who was Temora-born but played his rugby in Newcastle, captained Australia against New Zealand in his only test in 1925.
Last but not least is the Newcastle University great John Hipwell who went on to captain the Wallabies nine times in a test career that started in 1968 against the All Blacks in Sydney and finished at Twickenham in 1982. Not bad for league town.
Ross ‘Mad-Dog’ Turnbull won a single cap as a prop forward against the Irish in 1968. Some say he should have played many more tests and was more widely respected as a player by his opponents than some of his team mates, due to his no nonsense personality.
This was evident after Newcastle played the All Blacks in 1962. A young Turnbull packed down against hard man Ken Grey. Turnbull was not considered for the test the following week. However several days after the test, Turnbull received a package from Grey that contained his test jumper and note saying ‘You deserve this.”
Turnbull moved into rugby management and administration managing the Wallabies on the 1975-76 tour of Great Britain and Ireland then again during the 1978 tour of New Zealand. He later became the chairman of the Australian rugby union, a member of the International Rugby Board and sat on the 1987 World Cup Committee. In 1995, Turnbull and his World Rugby Corporation were pivotal in turning the game professional.
Other notable Novocastrian Wallabies include the great Phil Hawthorne who played 21 tests for the Wallabies and later three for the Kangaroos. John Freedman was a sturdy prop, who was born in Newcastle, played for Drummoyne and then four tests for the Wallabies. He also sailed for Australia.
Cyril Burke and Luke Burgess continue the trend of Newcastle born scrum halves who won Wallaby caps. Burke was a notable talent who played 26 tests between 1946-56.
Newcastle has also nurtured some great rugby people who were never capped Wallabies, however their contribution to Australian Rugby should not go unmentioned. None more so than the late media personality David Fordham. Fordham was a talented full back for the Merewether-Carlton club (The Slime) who won representative honours for New South Wales Country Under 21’s.
Fordo remains a cult figure in Queensland and Australian rugby circles, however it all began in sleepy old Newcastle for arguably Australia’s greatest rugby caller.
In all, Newcastle has produced 35 Wallabies: props, hookers half-backs and flankers among them all.
So when you ask why is there a rugby test being played in Newcastle, we should well remember those sons of Newcastle who each in their own way have contributed to the running game. We should ask, why the hell not? I think the town is long overdue a match.
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
A man of many parts, a prop who played for Drummoyne, NSW and the Wallabies (four Tests _ three against the All Blacks in NZ in 1962, and one against the Springboks in South Africa in 1963). Subsequently he sailed as a crewman in the America's Cup, became a banker with ANZ and I think he also managed a touring Wallaby team in the 70s. I suspect other Roarers know at least as much and probably more about John Freedman as I do.
Barry McDonnell
Guest
I would love to get further info regarding JOHN FREEDMAN,
Tock
Guest
Thankyou Spiro for an enjoyable interlude. I would point those of you that haven’t read the article by Uncle Argyle in the ROAR opinions (http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/05/09/is-newcastle-a-rugby-union-town/) which outlines the strong history of Newcastle Rugby. I am really looking forward to a home test after years of travelling to Sydney to be ripped of at the various grounds for food , drink etc, at least I’ll be being ripped off at home. Seriously, NSW and Australian Rugby dropped the ball in Newcastle during the super league wars when the Wildfires were dropped from the Sydney premiership. That said its time to look forward and encourage those same administrations not to repeat those errors, keep the big games coming, I know the Newcastle rugby community will keep turning up if they do.
Jimbo
Guest
Why were the Newcastle 'Wildfires' excluded from the Shute Shield? I never understood why they were dropped. And I've often wondered why Wollongong have never been reckoned for Sydney Rugby. I kinda figure that anything to do with good sense re Sydney Rugby administrators falls short of good logic. They have been hopeless administrators since time immemorial. Could it be that they don't want their traditionally strong Clubs' being threatened, or their nurseries catchment upset? You don't have to be Einstein. Don't understand why they don't take Super Rugby to Newcastle, tho ... even 1 or 2 Waratahes home games per season.
Bakkies
Guest
Here is a current XV of ACT produced players. Mogg is included because his Rugby development has happened in the ACT since switching over 1. Jack Kennedy 2. S Faingaa 3. Shepherdson 4. Kimlin 5. Battye 6. C Faingaa 7. J Lam (went to St Edmunds) 8. Salvi 9. Henjak 10. Giteau 11. 12. Coleman 13. A Faingaa 14. Dillon (Easts and St Edmunds) 15. Mogg Struggling for a left wing but a strong side there.
Bakkies
Guest
Easts is a transient bottom of the table club in the ACT. I am responding to the false comments about the Newcastle club comp being stronger than the ACT's. You keep on referring to the dark old days but in the more relevant modern era ACT Rugby is way ahead of Newcastle
glacier
Guest
Bakkies Maybe you should get out of Canberra one day and actually look what's happening in other cities. How narrow minded to say that one city doesn't deserve a test because in 1995 the Canberra Kookaburras were better than the Newcastle Wildfires. I'm sure you don't know that in 1966 the biggest crowd ever to attend a rugby union match to that time in Canberra at Manuka Oval (over 11,000) saw NSW Country almost defeat the British Lions. The two stars were a just turned 18 year old John Hipwell from Newcastle Waratahs, who had his teeth kicked out by a crazy Irish hooker called Ken Kennedy, and a massive bald headed second-rower from Boolaroo in the Newcastle competition called Jacques. There may have been at most 3 or 4 ACT players in the side. For a person who loves rugby, which I can see from your posts, what is your objection to playing a test match in Newcastle? Having played for both Easts in Canberra and Merewether-Carlton in Newcastle (which has eight senior teams including a women's team) I can assure you that Merewether-Carlton is a much stronger club. I think you may fall into the stereotype that Newcastle is some third-world working class city. However, there are many more over $3 million houses in Merewether Hieghts, Merewether, Dixon Park, Bar Beach, Cooks Hill and The Hill than you would ever find in Forrest and Red Hill.
p.Tah
Guest
Hi ASH, I was wondering if you'd venture over here. :) I thought this article was tailor made for you!
AngrySeahorse
Guest
We should get a start ahead of the CC because we are the champs of NSW country for something like 4 years in a row. I'd like to see the Wild Fires come back into the Shute Shield & help incorporate the CC. Both regions should work together.
AngrySeahorse
Guest
Purely speculation from what I've heard in Newcastle is that Sydney teams didnt like travelling to Newcastle & some within Newcastle Rugby did not like their top players being taken away from the local comp. Sounds silly if true but you can't underestimate how much pride is in the local comp. Player stocks from Newcastle being drained from Sydney was another concern.
AngrySeahorse
Guest
Hey there p . tah, we've also got some Scottish named towns like Aberdeen which actually holds an annual clan get together. There are some real Irish, Scot, Eng, & Welsh ties in Newcastle that is for sure. @Uncle, I live in Newie & yes Newcastle Welsh are still around.
AngrySeahorse
Guest
Hey, there's nothing like a good chook raffle. Currently the tickets sold is 26000 according to the Rugby club. Will be there for the game myself, looking forward to it.
p.Tah
Guest
They've announced they've sold 26,000 so far.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Cutting the ACT and Newcastle sides from the Shute Shield was one of the many decisions that have convinced me the NSWRU is the most inept sports organisation in Australia. Its almost like they are happy that rugby union is fifth in the pecking order of professional sports in Australia.
Bakkies
Guest
The ACT club competition has 3 divisions including the Monaro region despite having half the population. ACT Rugby is streets ahead of Newcastle these days. The Wildfires were a big disappointment when they entered the Sydney competition and it proves that the Kookaburras had the better talent to succeed in the competiton. Whipping boys in fact along with Penrith so it proves they didn't have the locally based talent to compete. Larkham was a reserve grader pre Brumbies days. So called strong club competitions don't guarantee test match crowds.
glacier
Guest
Bakkies Historically Newcastle was the equal of the ACT when they played together as part of NSW Country. They would have met in most finals of Country Week. The fact that the Kookaburras did better than the Wildfires in 2 or 3 seasons in the Shute Shield doesn't prove one thing or another - other than how good were George Gregan, Steve Larkham and Joe Roff. Neither side was wanted by the likes of Randwick and Sydney University and most Novocastrians were happy to withdraw from the Shute Shield and concentrate on their own competition which has grown ever since. After being kicked out of the Shute Shield, the Canberra Vikings, of course, won 3 successive Brisbane premierships before Queesland also kicked them out for being too good. I'm saying the two club competitons are on a par. Canberra may be slightly stronger in quality especially now because Tuggeranong is the richest rugby club in Australia but Newcastle has more teams (10) to Canberra's (7) as well as players in its senior club competition. My point is Newcastle deserves a test match as much as Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide or the Gold Coast. This is the way to grow the interest in rugby across Australia.
David of Canberra
Guest
Sheek, correct me if I'm wrong but weren't the Wildfires and the Canberra Kookaburras kicked out of the Sydney club competition by the NSWRU for no obvious reason? I know that the Kookas were the best ACT team developed from the local Canberra club competition (many of whom went on to play in the original Rod McQueen Brumbies) and therefore were a big threat to the Sydney clubs but kicking out the Wildfires was a seriously non-strategic move.
Bakkies
Guest
Than why did it do so poorly when it entered the Shute Shield. In comparison Canberra made the Grand Final in its first season with locally based players
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Sheek sorry for the slow reply. It's all so sad. Those 10 mentioned are the only purely safe possibilities, although there are several more which are very safe but not quite so 100% certain. Those are the 8 largest cities in Australia and the smallest, Canberra, is already taken care of. So the next smallest two, Newcastle and GC, are 600,000 and strong rugby towns, while there would be 1.5 million for East and North Sydney, while although not a rugby heartland 1.7 million would happily make Adelaide a success. It's a walkover. Beyond that the next areas would be either further parts of Sydney, or the likes of Central or Sunshine Coast, both around 300,000 which doubtless would support teams because of their strong rugby background but would be slightly less secure because of being half the size of Newcastle or GC.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Thompson was a fantastic centre, just not quite big enough to kick on to higher honours but sensational skills