Forest Rugby Club
Encyclopedia
The Forest Rugby Club was established in 1958, to serve the community, not only as a rugby club but also to assist in the development of the youth in The Forest
area. The club has grown dramatically since its inception and now fields junior teams from U6's to U17's.
The senior club has become one of NSW strongest and now fields 6 senior teams in the NSW Suburban Rugby Union
1st Division Kentwell Cup
. The Kentwell Cup is the second tier of club Rugby and is a Sydney wide competition.
area, who used to meet for a drink after work in a Chatswood Hotel, decided they would like their sons to play rugby. As there was no organised rugby in the area, one of the fathers Bill Holmes, formed a team of boys to enter the Gordon, Northern Districts competition. The team was coached by Dick Healy and managed by Bill Holmes and Les Cowan.
By 1958 the number of players, officials and supporters increased and it was decided to form a club. The first meeting was held in Soldiers Hall, Forestville
on 10 February 1958. The clubs colours of Bottle Green and White were chosen. The home ground would be French's Forest Primary School Oval.
Throughout the 60's the club progressed further by drafting and having accepted a constitution, increasing their junior teams to 14 and re-locating to the permanent home ground of The War Memorial Playing Fields, Melwood Oval, Forestville. Notably, in 1966 the clubs numbers had grown to 300 with 16 teams being fielded and Peter Sullivan
being the first player from the club to be selected to play for NSW (and later went onto captain Australia).
In 1972 the club entered its first team in the Sydney Sub-District Competition where they stayed until 1979 where they were invited to join the newly formed 3rd Division. After several years of playing in the higher division it was decided to return to Sub-District competition in 1982 after difficulty fielding teams in all 4 grades due to the vast amount of traveling involved.
The club has been a centre of community activity throughout the 80's, 90's and into the millennium staging junior rugby training camps, golden oldies tournaments and fierce and competitive local rugby.
Frenchs Forest, New South Wales
-Commercial areas:Forestway shopping centre is at the intersection of Forestway and Warringah Roads. During the 1960s and 1970s, this centre had the name Arndale...
area. The club has grown dramatically since its inception and now fields junior teams from U6's to U17's.
The senior club has become one of NSW strongest and now fields 6 senior teams in the NSW Suburban Rugby Union
New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union
The New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union is affiliated to the New South Wales Rugby Union and runs the competition affectionately known as "Subbies" rugby. There are around 7500 players and 55 clubs competing across 6 divisions, making "Subbies" the largest centrally administered rugby competition...
1st Division Kentwell Cup
Kentwell Cup
The Kentwell Cup is the major trophy for the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union , colloquially known as the "Subbies" competition. It is awarded to the first grade premiers of the first division competition....
. The Kentwell Cup is the second tier of club Rugby and is a Sydney wide competition.
History
In 1957 the Forest Rugby story began when a small group of men from the Frenchs ForestFrenchs Forest, New South Wales
-Commercial areas:Forestway shopping centre is at the intersection of Forestway and Warringah Roads. During the 1960s and 1970s, this centre had the name Arndale...
area, who used to meet for a drink after work in a Chatswood Hotel, decided they would like their sons to play rugby. As there was no organised rugby in the area, one of the fathers Bill Holmes, formed a team of boys to enter the Gordon, Northern Districts competition. The team was coached by Dick Healy and managed by Bill Holmes and Les Cowan.
By 1958 the number of players, officials and supporters increased and it was decided to form a club. The first meeting was held in Soldiers Hall, Forestville
Forestville
Forestville is the name of several places:In the United States:* Forestville, California* Forestville, Connecticut, the southeastern portion of Bristol, Connecticut* Forestville, Maryland* Forestville, Michigan* Forestville, Minnesota...
on 10 February 1958. The clubs colours of Bottle Green and White were chosen. The home ground would be French's Forest Primary School Oval.
Throughout the 60's the club progressed further by drafting and having accepted a constitution, increasing their junior teams to 14 and re-locating to the permanent home ground of The War Memorial Playing Fields, Melwood Oval, Forestville. Notably, in 1966 the clubs numbers had grown to 300 with 16 teams being fielded and Peter Sullivan
Peter Sullivan (rugby)
Peter David Sullivan was a rugby player who played for NSW and Australia.He played for the Gordon RFC and later went on to captain the Wallabies for 3 tests through 1972-1973.-Test matches:Playing for Australia-External links:*...
being the first player from the club to be selected to play for NSW (and later went onto captain Australia).
In 1972 the club entered its first team in the Sydney Sub-District Competition where they stayed until 1979 where they were invited to join the newly formed 3rd Division. After several years of playing in the higher division it was decided to return to Sub-District competition in 1982 after difficulty fielding teams in all 4 grades due to the vast amount of traveling involved.
The club has been a centre of community activity throughout the 80's, 90's and into the millennium staging junior rugby training camps, golden oldies tournaments and fierce and competitive local rugby.
2nd Division
- Club Championship: 1989, 1998
- Barraclough Cup (1st Grade): 1978, 1996, 1998
- Stockdale Cup (2nd Grade): 1976, 1988, 1989, 1995, 1997, 1998
- Blunt Cup (3rd Grade): 1987, 1995, 1998
- Halligan Cup (5th Grade): 1998
3rd division
- Club Championship: 1983, 1984
- McClean Cup (1st Grade): 1983, 1984
- Grose Cup (2nd Grade): 1984
Life Members
- 1969 - W Holmes
- 1972 - C Ferguson
- 1973 - H Derwin
- 1975 - Dave Powell
- 1980 - G Hough
- 1982 - Ron Hughes
- 1990 - Dudley Barter
- 1991 - Barry Sullivan
- 1994 - David Dickerson
- 1999 - Alan Astley
- 2000 - Martyn Penny
- 2004 - Mick Herringe
Presidents
- 1959 - 60: W Holmes
- 1961 - 62: B MacKenzie
- 1963 - 64: C Ferguson
- 1965 : R Oldland
- 1966 - 68: H Derwin
- 1969 - 71: Dave Powell
- 1972 - 75: G Hough
- 1976 - 77: N Brown
- 1978 - 79: John Goddard
- 1980 - 83: Ron Hughes
- 1984 - 85: B Manuel
- 1986 - 87: Gary Armstrong
- 1988 - 95: David Dickerson
- 1996 - 00: Martyn Penny
- 2001 - 03: Simi Tiatia
- 2004 - : Sean Ledbury
See also
- New South Wales Suburban Rugby UnionNew South Wales Suburban Rugby UnionThe New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union is affiliated to the New South Wales Rugby Union and runs the competition affectionately known as "Subbies" rugby. There are around 7500 players and 55 clubs competing across 6 divisions, making "Subbies" the largest centrally administered rugby competition...
- New South Wales Rugby UnionNew South Wales Rugby UnionThe New South Wales Rugby Union is the organisation responsible for the sport of rugby union in most of the state of New South Wales, Australia...
- Australian Rugby UnionAustralian Rugby UnionThe Australian Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Australia. It was founded in 1949 and is a member of the International Rugby Board the sport's governing body. It consists of eight member unions, representing each state and territory...
- Rugby union in AustraliaRugby union in AustraliaRugby union is the third most popular winter sport in Australia, with its history dating back to 1864.The principal competition in Australian rugby union is Super Rugby, which is a multi-regional competition across the southern hemisphere...