Parramatta Two Blues
Encyclopedia
Parramatta Two Blues Rugby are a rugby union
club based in the second CBD of Sydney, Parramatta.
They were admitted to First Division in 1934 contesting its first grandfinal in 1945, a 9-3 defeat to Sydney University. The club has gone on to win three first grade premierships in their history.
The 1950s and 1960s were lean years but the development of a strong junior competition assured a sharp improvement in standards.
Former Wallaby Rod Phelps took over as captain-coach in 1971 and for three years he improved Parramatta's standing in the rugby fraternity. Grand final appearances in 1974 and 1975 showed that the club was well on its way to becoming a force to be reckoned with.
Finally with the influx of young players in this period Parramatta won its initial First grade premiership in 1977, a 17-9 victory against Randwick under coach Peter Fenton. The Two Blues had waited 44 years to sample the taste of victory.
The Club then played in the 1979 and 1984 grand finals going down to Randwick on both occasions but sought their revenge in 1985 and 1986 when the underdogs from Sydney's west succeeded in beating the Galloping Greens to win consecutive premierships under coach Paul Dalton
.
Three of Parramatta's favourite sons switched codes with success. Ray Price a Wallaby between 1974 and 1976, Tony Melrose
1978 and 1979, and Andrew Leeds
1986 and 1988 all wore the Two Blues with pride before switching codes. Leeds and Peter Kay, capped against England in 1988, were the club's most recent Wallabies until Tatafu Polota-Nau
played 2 Tests on the Wallabies 2005 Tour against England and Ireland.
The Two Blues played their greatest ever Rugby when the Parramatta Eels
played their most successful Rugby League
. The Eels
& Two Blues both won their league's titles in 1986.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club based in the second CBD of Sydney, Parramatta.
History
The club was originally formed in 1879 as Cumberland but changed their name to Parramatta when the District competition was implemented in 1900.They were admitted to First Division in 1934 contesting its first grandfinal in 1945, a 9-3 defeat to Sydney University. The club has gone on to win three first grade premierships in their history.
The 1950s and 1960s were lean years but the development of a strong junior competition assured a sharp improvement in standards.
Former Wallaby Rod Phelps took over as captain-coach in 1971 and for three years he improved Parramatta's standing in the rugby fraternity. Grand final appearances in 1974 and 1975 showed that the club was well on its way to becoming a force to be reckoned with.
Finally with the influx of young players in this period Parramatta won its initial First grade premiership in 1977, a 17-9 victory against Randwick under coach Peter Fenton. The Two Blues had waited 44 years to sample the taste of victory.
The Club then played in the 1979 and 1984 grand finals going down to Randwick on both occasions but sought their revenge in 1985 and 1986 when the underdogs from Sydney's west succeeded in beating the Galloping Greens to win consecutive premierships under coach Paul Dalton
Paul Dalton
Paul Dalton is an English former footballer, who played as a midfielder.-Playing career:Born in Middlesbrough, Dalton started his career at non-league Brandon United, before moving to the academy of Manchester United in 1988...
.
Three of Parramatta's favourite sons switched codes with success. Ray Price a Wallaby between 1974 and 1976, Tony Melrose
Tony Melrose
Tony Melrose is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He played in the NSWRL Premiership for Parramatta, South Sydney, Manly-Warringah and Eastern Suburbs in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. He primarily played in the centres or at...
1978 and 1979, and Andrew Leeds
Andrew Leeds
Andrew Leeds is a former Australian rugby union and professional rugby league player. He has played for the Western Suburbs Magpies, Parramatta Eels and Penrith Panthers, primarily as a goal-kicking fullback, and has represented at national level for the Wallabies.-Playing career:Leeds played...
1986 and 1988 all wore the Two Blues with pride before switching codes. Leeds and Peter Kay, capped against England in 1988, were the club's most recent Wallabies until Tatafu Polota-Nau
Tatafu Polota-Nau
- Biography :At 25 years of age, Polota-Nau achieved the rare feat of Test selection before playing a match at Super 14 level. His performances in his Test debut against England at Twickenham and in the win over Ireland at Lansdowne Road were impressive.v Signed to the New South Wales Waratahs...
played 2 Tests on the Wallabies 2005 Tour against England and Ireland.
The Two Blues played their greatest ever Rugby when the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
played their most successful Rugby League
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
. The Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
& Two Blues both won their league's titles in 1986.
Club information
- Club Name: Parramatta Two Blues
- Nickname: Two Blues
- Founded: 1879
- Home stadium: Granville Park
- Head coach: Glen Christini (2011)
- Club Captain: Andrew Cox
- Uniform colors: Navy blue and Sky blue
- Premiership Titles: 3 titles: 1977, 1985, 1986
Honours
Grand Finalists and Premiers- 2000 4th Grade
- 1998 5th Grade
- 1997 5th Grade PREMIERS
- 1992 4th Grade Colts
- 1987 1st Grade Colts
- 1986 1st Grade PREMIERS - d. Randwick 30-12
- 1985 1st Grade PREMIERS - d. Randwick 19-12
- 1984 1st Grade
- 1984 3rd Grade
- 1982 3rd Grade
- 1982 2nd Grade Colts
- 1981 2nd Grade Colts
- 1981 3rd Grade Colts PREMIERS
- 1979 1st Grade
- 1979 4th Grade PREMIERS
- 1979 1st Grade Colts PREMIERS (Joint)
- 1978 2nd Grade Colts
- 1977 1st Grade PREMIERS - d. Randwick 17-9
- 1977 5th Grade
- 1976 3rd Grade PREMIERS
- 1976 5th Grade
- 1976 1st Grade Colts
- 1976 2nd Grade Colts PREMIERS
- 1975 1st Grade
- 1975 1st Grade Colts
- 1975 2nd Grade Colts
- 1974 1st Grade
- 1945 1st Grade (Sydney University defeated Parramatta)
International representatives
- Bob Brown
- Phil Clements
- Patrick Cooper
- John Griffiths
- Peter Kay
- Ken KearneyKen KearneyKen "Killer" Kearney was an Australian rugby footballer – a dual-code international player – and a rugby league coach. He represented the Wallabies in seven Tests and the Kangaroos in thirty-one Test matches and World Cup games. He captained Australia in nine rugby league Test matches in 1956 and...
- Martin Knight
- Andrew Leeds
- Michael Martin
- Adrian McDonald
- Tony MelroseTony MelroseTony Melrose is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 1980s and 90s. He played in the NSWRL Premiership for Parramatta, South Sydney, Manly-Warringah and Eastern Suburbs in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. He primarily played in the centres or at...
- Rod Phelps
- Tatafu Polota-NauTatafu Polota-Nau- Biography :At 25 years of age, Polota-Nau achieved the rare feat of Test selection before playing a match at Super 14 level. His performances in his Test debut against England at Twickenham and in the win over Ireland at Lansdowne Road were impressive.v Signed to the New South Wales Waratahs...
- Don Price
- Ray Price
- Eric Tweedale
- Lance Walker
- Stan Wickham
- Pierre HolaPierre HolaPierre Hola is a Tongan rugby union footballer. He has represented Tonga and currently plays his club rugby in the Australian Shute Shield for Eastwood.-Career:Hola made his debut for Tonga in September 1998 in a match against Samoa...
Current Super 14 players
- Tatafu Polota-NauTatafu Polota-Nau- Biography :At 25 years of age, Polota-Nau achieved the rare feat of Test selection before playing a match at Super 14 level. His performances in his Test debut against England at Twickenham and in the win over Ireland at Lansdowne Road were impressive.v Signed to the New South Wales Waratahs...
- NSW Waratahs - Sam Wykes - Western Force
- Steven Mafi - NSW Waratahs