The Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club Inc. 22/08/2025

1961 Premiers 1961 started with Roger Ward, a school teacher from Balldale, who travelled many miles with Beres Ellwood from Berrigan to play. Ward and newcomer Bob Stewart joined to become a potent backline combination. Bob had very good hands, a deft little kick over the backs and was a safe defender. With Tate Heggaton's excellent service Bob was able to set up the backline which comprised Beres Ellwood, Col Wood, Lynton Gooden, Roger Ward and Jim Lenehan. Under the mentoring of Mick Millard, Dave Heckendorf developed into an excellent all-round player. He was very good in the lineouts and...

The Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club Inc. 13/08/2025

Written by John Stewart While helping Libby Donelan with adding comment to her research from the Daily Advertiser over the period 1961 to 1969 she asked me to write a pen picture of those days. I graduated at the end of 1961 from Wagga Ag College and followed tradition in the footsteps of former Aggies before me and joined the Waratahs. Depending on who was about on a Saturday, we would go and have a full meal - usually of steak and chips - no pasta in those days. Gradually we would assemble at Romano's to have a roll call...

Wagga Wagga Waratahs 08/08/2025

The very first game played by the Waratahs was on 1 May when they defeated RAAF 19-8. During this game Beres Ellwood received a bad injury to his arm and retired from the field. It would prevent him playing for several games. Back: Ken McLean, Ben Purcell, Mick Millard, Frank Bastion (Vice-President), Jeff Francis, Lynton Gooden, Lloyd Ryan Middle: Mark Gooden, John Slater, Jim Lenehan, Bob Conolly, Phil Bassingthwaighte, Tate Heggaton Front: Col Wood, Ivan Moses, Bob Williams, Dave Hamilton, Bill Trimmer Absent: Beres Ellwood, Richard Walker, Chaz Prochazka. Post publication note also absent: Dudley Taylor, President. Results of the...

Wagga Wagga Waratahs 31/07/2025

I started playing with the Club in 1960 and shared in all the success the Club enjoyed in those early years. To be involved with the Waratahs has been a big part of my life and I have made many lasting friendships from not only within the Club but also from other Rugby Clubs, friendships I value. I was fortunate enough to have been given the chance to coach, starting with 2nd XV in 1989 and then 1st XV for five years. It was a real golden period for the Club, and I was privileged to have had many gifted...

The Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club Inc. 23/07/2025

Written by Jenny Crichton Our father, Dudley Taylor, was coaching the Ag. College Rugby team back in 1949 and it was a natural progression when he met Bob Conolly at the College in the 1950s, to become great friends. Bob was a frequent visitor to our home and he often pondered about where he would play rugby once he completed his studies. It was through these conversations that the notion of having an alternative Club was hatched. After many conversations with like-minded rugby players, Dad's and Bob's shared vision became a reality - The Wagga Wagga Waratahs. They both tested...

The Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club Inc. 17/07/2025

Written by Bob Conolly When Bob retired from playing rugby and took up position on the sideline along with all the other experts, he preferred to be behind the goalposts where he could see the gaps in the opposing team, or else on the other sideline where he could watch the play away from all the chatter. It was on one of these occasions at the Wagga Cricket Ground in the 1980's when, apart from his friend Digby McNeil, there were only two other men there. One of these men was having a lot to say, which prompted Bob to...

The Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club Inc. 10/07/2025

Kevin Malisse, Mick Millard, Mark Gooden "Two major factors contributed to the formation of the Waratahs. Although Leeton and West Wyalong had joined the competition, it was focused on teams from Wagga Wagga. Wagga City was the dominant team winning five of the first eight premierships. Ag College had won one, and CYM’1. The most important factor was that only students could play for Ag College. The second was that CYM could not field a team in 1959. This meant that, as all the other clubs belonged to institutions, the only club that could accommodate local players was Wagga City, which...

Wagga News 29/06/2025

Did you know it’s been ten whole years since Waratahs Women first hit the field? It all started with a spark in 2013 when the local women’s comp was revived as a 7s format—fast, fierce, and full of promise. By 2015, the Waratahs officially joined the comp, and the rest is history (well, history in the making!). From game-day grit to building a legacy, the Waratahs Women have been rewriting the playbook ever since. Here's to a decade of tackles, tries, and trailblazing—because this team’s story is just getting started. Following is an Excerpt from A History of the Wagga Wagga...