Rugby league in Sydney


Rugby league in Sydney is the city's most popular sport, with over 200 clubs in the city across levels of competition ranging from the fully professional National Rugby League to grassroots open age and junior leagues.

History

By the 1890s Rugby football had taken hold in Sydney, thwarting attempts by Victorian rules and soccer to gain the ascendancy. The game continued to grow becoming the most popular code of football in NSW, until the issue of professionalism led to a schism in 1908 and the formation of the New South Wales Rugby Football League. The NSWRU lost many players including the great Dally Messenger to the new sport of rugby league, which became the most popular sport in Sydney by attendance and public interest by World War I.
The NSWRFL premiership was continued on the successful basis of the first competition in 1908. In 1929 Jersey Flegg was appointed to the position of president of the NSWRFL and in 1941 he became chairman of the Australian Rugby League Board of Control. At the time of his death in 1960, aged 82, he was still serving in these roles.
When NSWRFL president Flegg died in 1960, Bill Buckley replaced him and also became boss of the Australian Rugby League, a position he remained in from 1960 until his death in 1973. In 1973 Kevin Humphreys was appointed President of New South Wales Rugby League and Chairman of Australian Rugby League.
In 1983 Humphreys was succeeded in these positions by Ken Arthurson. Under Arthurson the clubs in the NSWRL expanded outside the borders of the state and even the country until in 1994, after administering its 87th consecutive premiership season, the NSWRL was replaced by the Australian Rugby League as club football's peak administrative body.
Notwithstanding the hand over of control of the game at the elite level across Australia to the commission, the NSWRL did retain responsibility for both the administration of the New South Wales rugby league team in State of Origin series, as well as day-to-day management of the state-based New South Wales Cup second-tier premiership, as well as junior representative competitions.
In modern times, the NSWRL has 82,397 participants, the vast majority of which are located in Sydney as the state's main population centre.

Ron Massey Cup

The Ron Massey Cup is a semi-professional development level rugby league competition in New South Wales currently comprising 9 teams drawn from the Sydney metropolitan area.
ColoursClubLocationStadiumPremiershipsFoundedJoined*
Blacktown WorkersBlacktown, New South WalesH.E. Laybutt Fields-19642012
Cabramatta Two BluesCabramatta, New South WalesNew Era Stadium201119192004
Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsBelmore, New South WalesHammondville Oval-19372023
Glebe Dirty RedsGlebe, New South WalesGoddard Park202419082015
Hills District BullsBaulkham Hills, New South WalesCrestwood Oval202219642016
Mounties RLFCMount Pritchard, New South WalesAubrey Keech Reserve2015-1619272007
Penrith BrothersPenrith, New South WalesParker St Reserve-19682024
Ryde-Eastwood HawksRyde, New South WalesTG Milner Field1972, 1974-76, 1990, 200019622003
St Marys SaintsSt Marys, New South WalesSt Marys Leagues Stadium1993-94, 2001, 202319082016
Wentworthville MagpiesWentworthville, New South WalesRingrose Park1964-65, 1967-71, 1973, 1998-99, 2009-20, 2012-13, 2017-1919632003

Sydney Shield

The Sydney Shield is a rugby league football competition played in Sydney, New South Wales. The competition is administered by the New South Wales Rugby League.
ColoursClubLocationHome GroundPremiershipsFoundedJoined
Cabramatta Two BluesCabramatta, New South WalesNew Era Stadium-1919
Glebe Dirty RedsGlebe, New South WalesWentworth Park-1908
Hills District BullsBaulkham Hills, New South WalesCrestwood Oval202319642012
Manly Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale, New South WalesBrookvale Oval-19472024
Moorebank RamsMoorebank, New South WalesHammondville Oval-19552017
Mount Pritchard MountiesMount Pritchard, New South WalesAubrey Keech Reserve-1927
Penrith BrothersPenrith, New South WalesParker St Reserve202419682018
Ryde-Eastwood HawksRyde, New South WalesTG Milner Field201919622019
St Marys SaintsSt Marys, New South WalesSt Marys Leagues Stadium2017, 202219082016
Wentworthville UnitedWentworthville, New South WalesRingrose Park2012, 201519632012

NSWRL Conference competitions

The NSWRL Conference Competitions are a set of competitions for clubs in the Sydney rugby league districts of Balmain, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cronulla-Sutherland, Manly-Warringah/North Sydney, Parramatta and St. George.

Metro Open Age Gold

The competition is holding one top grade division in 2023, similar to the now defunct Sydney Combined Competition.
ClubMonikerHome GroundSuburbDistrict
AvalonBulldogsHitchcock ParkAvalon Beach, New South WalesManly-Warringah/North Sydney
Belrose EaglesEaglesLionel Watts OvalBelrose, New South WalesManly-Warringah/North Sydney
BerowraWallabiesWarrina OvalBerowra, New South WalesManly-Warringah/North Sydney
CromerKingfishersSt Matthews FarmCromer, New South WalesManly-Warringah/North Sydney
East HillsBulldogsEast HillsCastle Hill, New South WalesCanterbury-Bankstown
ForrestvilleFerretsForestville ParkForestville, New South WalesManly-Warringah/North Sydney
Harbord UnitedDevilsHarbord ParkHarbord, New South WalesManly-Warringah/North Sydney
Hills DistrictBullsCrestwood OvalBaulkham Hills, New South WalesParramatta Junior Rugby League
MoorebankRamsHammondville OvalMoorebank, New South WalesCanterbury-Bankstown
NarrabeenSharksLake ParkNarrabeen, New South WalesManly-Warringah/North Sydney
Ryde-EastwoodHawksLidcombe OvalRyde, New South WalesBalmain District Junior Rugby League
Wentworthville United JRLFCMagpiesRingrose ParkWentworthville, New South WalesParramatta Junior Rugby League

Central Northern Open Age

The Central Northern Open Age competitions are for clubs in the Sydney rugby league districts of Balmain and Manly-Warringah/North Sydney. The following clubs are participating in Central Northern District competitions in 2023. This competition's Gold division is merged with Central West for 2023 as Metro Open Age Gold.

Central West Open Age

Central West Open Age is the premier rugby league competition clubs in the Parramatta and Canterbury-Bankstown districts of Sydney. The competition features 12 clubs in 2023, in a single division, with its gold clubs playing in the Metro Gold competition.

Southern Open Age

Southern Open Age is the premier rugby league competition clubs in the Cronulla-Sutherland and St. George districts of Sydney. The competition features 12 clubs in 2023, across two divisions, Gold and Silver.

Junior Comepetitions

There are currently ten junior rugby league competitions in Sydney. These are: