The Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club Inc. 18/12/2025

Preamble: According to the Waratahs Rugby Football Club Player Register 1959-1995 there were fewer teams and fewer rounds in the 1st XV, 1969 season. The season commenced on 26 April 1969 and the last round for Waratahs was played on 16 August 1969 against Army (11th round). Jim Lenehan coached. The following clubs participated: Army, Cootamundra, Wagga Agricultural College, Wagga City, Waratahs. Wagga City Rugby Club were the 1st XV Premiers (Byrnes Cup). The Waratahs 1st XV would have to wait until 1977 for their next premiership. In the 2nd XV competition, the following clubs participated: Albury, Army, Cootamundra, Griffith, Wagga Agricultural...

The Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club Inc. 19/11/2025

Preamble: The 1968 season commenced with Round 1 on 20 April 1968. There were 16 Rounds for the season proper followed by the semi-finals, finals and the grand final on the 21 August 1968. According to the Waratahs Rugby Club Player Register, nine clubs fielded teams in the 1st XV: Army, Cootamundra, Teacher's College, Temora, Wagga Agricultural College, Wagga City, Waratahs, West Wyalong and Yanco. Ten clubs participated in the 2nd XV competition: Albury, Army, Cootamundra, Griffith, R.A.A.F., Teacher's College, Wagga Agricultural College, Wagga City, Waratahs and Yanco. 1968 would be Dud Taylor's last year as President, a position he...

The Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club Inc. 18/11/2025

Preamble: In the pre-season, Waratahs won the West Wyalong Knockout. The 1967 1st XV season comprised 18 Rounds games followed by the semi-finals and finals. The grand final was played on 16 September. Ten clubs participated: Army, Cootamundra, Teacher's College, Temora, WAC, Wagga City, Waratahs, West Wyalong, Yanco and Young. Cootamundra continued to be a force during the season which culminated with Waratahs playing them in the semi and grand final. Nine clubs fielded a 2nd XV which included Griffith and Albury. Young and West Wyalong did not field a 2nd XV. The photo of Bill Hayes, Hugh Dodwell and...

The Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club Inc. 30/10/2025

Preamble: The 1966 season commenced on 16 April and comprised 16 Rounds, followed by semi-finals, finals and the Grand Final which was played on 17 September. Nine clubs participated in the 1st XV competition and 11 clubs in the 2nd XV competition. Waratahs fielded a 1st XV and a 2nd XV. Twenty-nine players donned the 1st XV jersey, and twenty-four in second grade. Many 1st & 2nd XV players played both grades. Army were the 2nd XV premiers and Wagga Agricultural College the Club Champions. As the 1960s draws to a close, it might be timely to share some photos...

The Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club Inc. 29/10/2025

Preamble: The 1965 1st XV 18 Round competition commenced on the 4 April and concluded with the Grand Final on 18 September. Cootamundra joined the competition bringing the number of teams to ten. Waratahs entered a 1st XV and a 2nd XV. Waratahs were the Byrnes Cup 1st XV winners and Wagga City the David Jones Shield 2nd XV premiers. Teacher's College retained the Wal Blake Club Championship for the 7th consecutive season.Twenty-four names appear in the Waratahs Rugby Football Club Player's Register 1959-1995 as having played in the 1st XV. In addition to the names listed in the article...

The Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club Inc. 14/10/2025

Preamble: The competition was expanded to include West Wyalong Rugby Club, bringing the number of teams to nine. The season comprised 16 Round games and commenced on the 18 April and concluded with the Grand Final on the 19 September 1964. Waratahs won 13 matches and lost three: once to Wagga City and twice to Teacher's College. Waratahs played Army in the first and last Rounds, in the semi-final and grand final winning all four games. According to the Waratahs Rugby Football Club Players Register 1959-1995, twenty-four players donned the Waratahs jersey during the season for the 1st XV, and...

The Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club Inc. 14/10/2025

Preamble: Very little information exists in the public arena about the formation of the Catholic Young Men (CYM) rugby and when it became St Michael's. Wagga Ag College was founded in 1949, and it wasn't until 1951 that Wagga City Rugby Club was formed thus ensuring a viable local competition, which also included R.A.A.F. and Wagga Wagga Teachers' College. The first matches of the 1951 competition were played at the showground1 and teams included R.A.A.F, North Wagga, Ag College, CYM and Wagga City. CYM were the runners-up to Wagga City in 1951. The competition expanded in 1952 to eight teams:...

The Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club Inc. 13/10/2025

Preamble: The 1963 season commenced on the 20 April and comprised 14 Rounds. The last Round game was played on the 24 August, followed by the semi-finals and grand finals. Teams included Ag College, Army, Griffith, Teacher's College, Temora, Wagga City, Waratahs and Young. For Waratahs, 27 players took to the field throughout the season, and as an indication of how challenging their year was, only 11 players played 10 or more games, and the same number played 5 or less games. Teacher's College retained the Club Championship for the fifth consecutive year. Wagga City were the Premiers; breaking Waratahs'...

The Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club Inc. 30/09/2025

1962 Premiers With three premierships under their belt, Waratahs welcomed new players Frank Austin, Fred Horsley from Mundarlo, John Bull from Narrandera, Mick McLachlan, Dudley Taylor, John Walker and John Stewart. Waratahs won eleven successive games before being beaten by Army. During the season Jim Lenehan played four tests against New Zealand and captained NSW against New Zealand in an epic win. Beres Ellwood also played in this game as well as playing five test matches against New Zealand. Both players were away for the grand final but the team triumphed without them, defeating Wagga City in extra time. In...

The Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club Inc. 23/09/2025

Written by Mick Millard In alphabetical order, the most influential people of the decade were Beres Ellwood, Wal Blake and Jim Lenehan 6. Beres Ellwood was a foundation member of the Waratahs and played in all the grand finals the club contested in the first decade, including the one we lost in 1968. He commenced tertiary education at Wagga Agricultural Club (WAC) in 1955 and played in the College's premier team that year. In 1956 he deferred his studies and resumed in 1957, playing a key role in Wagga defeating Hawkesbury for the first time, playing in Japan with an...