University (Rugby League)
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| Full name | University of Sydney |
| Colours | Blue and gold |
| Entered 1st grade | 1920 |
| Departed 1st grade | 1937 |
| Sport | Rugby league |
| League | NSWRL |
| 1937 | 9th of 9 |
| Premierships | Nil |
| Runners-up | 1 - 1926 |
| Minor premiers | Nil |
| Wooden spoons | 10 - 1921, 1923, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, |
| Biggest win | 42 - 8 vs. St. George, July 15, 1933 |
| Worst defeat | 0 - 63 vs. Souths, April 17, 1937 |
University were a rugby league team representing the University of Sydney who played in the NSWRL Premiership from 1920 - 1937, in the NSWRL Second Division and Metropolitan League competitions from 1963 to 1976 and currently play in the NSW Tertiary Student Rugby League competition.
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[edit] History
The movement at the University of Sydney to be involved in the new game of rugby league began in 1919 with a number of players (including seven University Blues from the 1918 season) viewing a game of the new code and deciding to switch codes. As put by Herbert Vere Evatt (a final year law student and later a famous politician, jurist and President of the UN General Assembly) at the time the reasons were:
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- "Owing to the general dissatisfaction with the management of the Rugby Union during the 1919 football season, and the fact that University footballers were starting to realise that rugby league was a faster and cleaner game, several leading members of the football club, including seven 'blues' of the past season, took steps to introduce the league game into the University for the 1920 season. A special meeting of league supporters was held and decided to enter three teams, all members to play as strict amateurs."
[edit] Anti-League Prejudice
From the very beginning, the Students (or 'Varsity' as they were also known) struggled to gain acceptance by the University Sports Association who displayed great prejudice toward those who had left the rugby union side to play rugby league.
Indeed, players who participated in rugby league matches were threatened with disqualification from ever playing rugby union at Oxford or Cambridge and the Sports Association forbid the club from training on the University Oval (forcing Varsity to train with Easts at the Sydney Sports Ground). While public pressure forced the Association to relent, the club never once played a game at the University Oval during its involvement in the NSWRL Premiership.
[edit] 1926 Grand Final
The highlight of the Students' 18 seasons in the NSWRL Premiership was their one and only finals appearance (having finished fourth in 1926). To get to the Grand Final at the Sydney Agricultural Ground University had to defeat Glebe which they did comfortably 29 - 3, though in the Grand Final were defeated 5 - 11 by Souths in front of 20,000 people.
| Year | Premiers | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | South Sydney | University | 11-5 |
[edit] Withdrawal from the Premiership
Generally, the amateur students struggled to perform against the profoessional players of the other sides and University enjoyed very little success only winning 44 of its 226 games during its time in the Premiership (and only won 2 games after 1933). This run of form, in addition to having spent 10 of its 18 seasons in last place prompted their decision to withdraw from the Premiership at the close of the 1937 season.
[edit] Life After the Premiership
Rugby league did not perish at the University of Sydney and sides representing the University continued to play in various competitions. Most notably, Varsity played in the NSWRL Inter-District Competition, Second Division and Metropolitan League (predecessors to the Jim Beam Cup) between 1963 and 1976, finishing as Second Division runners-up in 1969 and 1971, both times to the leading side of the day Wentworthville.
| Year | Premiers | Runners-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Wentworthville Magpies | University | 20-2 |
| 1971 | Wentworthville Magpies | University | 21-15 |
[edit] Wills Cup
As runners-up in the 1969 Second Division, University (along with Wentworthville) were invited to compete in the NSWRL pre-season competition (the Wills Cup) in 1970.
Despite the inclusion of mature players from other metropolitan University clubs and professional coaches, the sides were too inexperienced and light to compete with the senior club sides. University finished 13th (above last-placed Penrith) in the competition with 1 win from 4 games (their lone win, a close 19 - 17 victory, came against Wentworthville), with a points differential of -29.
[edit] University Shield Competition
In 1922 the University of Sydney Club presented the league with a shield for use as a trophy in a statewide High School Rugby League competition. The competition became known as the 'University Shield' and is still contested.
[edit] Players of Note
Australian Representative
- Ray Morris (1933/34 Kangaroo Tour)
New South Wales
- Harry Finn
- Jim McIntyre
- A.S. "Georgie" Lane
