Waverley Rugby Club

Waverley

Full name	Waverley Rugby Football Club
Union	Australian Rugby Union
Founded	1971; 53 years ago (1971)
Location	Bondi, Australia
Region	New South Wales
Ground(s)	Waverley Oval
League(s)	1st Division New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union
Team kit
Official website
www.waverleyrugby.com.au

The Waverley Rugby Football and Sporting Club (Waverley RF&SC) is an Australian rugby club that was founded in 1971 by ex-students of the neighbouring Waverley College and their friends from other local schools. As the Club developed during the 1970s and 1980s, the name "Waverley", its players and supporters, became synonymous with diversity, reflecting the multiculturalism of the Waverley municipality. The Club also developed into a sporting club playing netball, softball, touch football, volleyball and, in 2001, womens' rugby. It is plays in the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union, the largest rugby union football competition in New South Wales. The club is based in Bondi in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. In 2020, in its 50th season, Waverley's 1st and 3rd Grades reached the grand finals of the Kentwell and Whiddon Cups (1st Gde and 3rd Gdes, 1st Div.) of the NSW Suburban Rugby Union competition. In 2022, Waverley had all 5 men's open teams reach the semi-finals as well as the U21s, playing in 5 grand finals and winning three: 2nds, 3rds & U21s. In 2023, Waverley had all 5 men's open teams again reach the semi-finals, playing in 3 grand finals and winning all three: 3rds, 4ths & 5ths.

Waverley has a proud history in the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union competition since the club's foundation in 1971, having won the Inter-Divisional Club Championship, 10 Divisional Club Championships, played in 83 Grand Finals and won 53 Premierships (52 men's and 1 women's). Waverley has won the 1st Division Championship 5 times (in three of which the club also won the 1st Grade title), 2nd Division 4 times, and 3rd Division once. Alongside its men's teams, Waverley Rugby women's team were premiers in 2006, grand finalists in 2007 and NSW 7s Champions in 2016.

In Knock-out competitions, Waverley has won the Taki Toa Challenge Shield for Men 18 times (1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009). In the NSW Suburban Rugby Union, Waverley has won the Men's Open 7s Knockout in 2023 (Plate) and Men's Under 21s in 2021.

Club information

Club Name: Waverley Rugby Football & Sporting Club Inc.

Founded: 1971

Home stadium: Waverley Oval, Bondi Road

President: Craig Askham

1st Grade Coach: Kyle Newbury

Club Captain: Callum Bidmead

Uniform colours: Royal Blue and Gold

Club history

The club was founded in 1971

• 2016 2nd Division "Club of the Year"
• 2015 3rd Division "Club of the Year"
• 1988 1st Division "Most Social" & "Best Host"
• 1987 1st Division "Most Social" & "Best Host"
• 1986 2nd Division "Most Social", "Best Host" & "Best Administered"
• 1985 2nd Division "Most Social" & "Best Host"
• 1984 1st Division "Most Social" & "Best Host"

Premierships

Notes

Life Members

Players of note

Internationals who began at Waverley

• Owen Finegan – Australia (56 Caps & 1999 Rugby World Cup Winner)
• Sebastian Valech Alonso – Chile (10 Caps)
• Emma McBride – Scotland (Women's)
• Finn M. Wright – Australian Schoolboys 2017 (2 Caps)

Internationals selected from Waverley

• Annita Flannery – Australia (Women's)
• Ruan Sims – Australia (Women's)
• Noella Green – Australia (Women's)

Internationals who later played at Waverley

• Josia Taqiri - Fiji (1 Cap)
• Ben R. Evans – Wales (27 Caps)
• Eddie Paea – Tonga (3 Caps)

Presidents

1971–73: Dr William R. Deverall 1974–78: Christopher J. Delohery 1979–80: David C. Hawkins 1981: Christopher J. Delohery 1982: Stephen A. Williamson 1983–88: Dr Thomas V. Hickie 1989: Brian P. Heavener 1990: Samuel P. Post 1991–93: Shaun F. Finegan 1994: Brian P. Heavener 1995–97: Patrick P. O'Shea 1998: Brian P. Heavener 1999–2000: Craig J.B. Miller

2001–03: Michael Hassey 2004: Matthew B.W. Holani 2005: Matthew G. Brown 2006: Ruan Sims OAM 2007: Peter Brown 2008–09: Kevin Nagle 2010: Tivoli T. Endemann 2011: James McMillan & Robert Willoughby 2012–13: Robert Willoughby 2014–17: Kenneth R. Brown 2018–20: Edward P.J. Shelton 2021–: Craig G. Askham (Current)

Nearby Clubs

• Randwick DRUFC
• Eastern Suburbs RUFC
• Woollahra Colleagues RFC

References

External links

• Official website