Description
The UNSW Rugby Union Football Club was founded in 1949 by Major Reg Wilthew. It was one of the first seven sporting clubs to represent UNSW, which was then known as the New South Wales University of Technology. The UNSW Rugby Club is the only club within the University to operate continuously since 1949. The club's first official games were in 1950 in a mid week competition. The club's first coach was Bryan Palmer. In 1951 the club began its long association with the Metropolitan Sub District competition (now New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union), fielding teams in the Kentwell, Bourke and Whiddon Cups. Bryan Palmer stepped down as coach after 2 years due to illness, and his place was taken by former Wallaby player Bill Cerutti. Palmer returned to coach the club in 1959 and in 1961 secured the University its first ever championship in any sport, the Metropolitan Sub District Kentwell Cup. In 1963 UNSW entered the New South Wales Rugby union Second Division, though it still maintained Kentwell, Burke, Whiddon Judd and two Under 21 teams in the Sub District competition, fielding a total of nine teams in all at this time. Success followed in the new Second Division under Coach Max Carpenter and Professor Geoff Roper with premiership wins to the firsts in 1963, the seconds in1965 and the thirds in all of the Second Division years, 1963, 1964 and 1965. After three successful years, UNSW Rugby Club was promoted to the Premier Sydney Rugby Union District competition - one of the Club's goals since its foundation - in 1966 and remained within this top level for almost two decades, until the absorption of SRU into the NSWRU. During this period the club generated a strong impact with the benefit of former Wallabies players and representatives as coaches, including Tod Davis and Saxon White. In the mid 1980s the state rugby reorganisation converted Sydney Metropolitan Subdistrict into NSW Suburban Rugby Union. Since their inclusion in Suburban Rugby, the club has won 26 premierships throughout the grades and three Club Championship titles, 1964, 1995 and 1997. The club enjoyed great success during the 90's as First grade won the Kentwell Cup in 1992, 1994 and in 1998. The 2009 season saw the Club relegated to 2nd Division. Over the years since 1949 the club has seen many players (over 3000) and officials pass through the door. The current President is John Dezarnaulds. Bibliography UNSW Rugby Club. (2009). History. Retrieved from http://unswrugby.org.au Controlling Organisation: UNSW - ?01/07/1949-