GUEST SPEAKER: FARR-JONES

Friday, 6 April

The Old Boys’ Association has announced that the club’s Guest Speaker for the 2026 Sports Luncheon in August is former Wallabies half-back and captain Nick Farr-Jones AM.

Nick was the Captain of the Wallabies that won the Rugby Union World Cup in 1991, the 1992 Bledisloe Cup and convincingly defeated the Springboks in August 1992. At the time, he was Australia’s most-capped scrum half and captained for 36 successive Tests.

The Classic Wallabies website describes Nick as being without doubt one of, if not the greatest Wallaby captain of all-time.

Old Boys President, Paul Paisley believes the ‘house full’ sign will appear in recognition of Nick Farr-Jones great rugby career.

Details of the luncheon are:

Function: 2026 Sports Luncheon

Date: Friday, 7 August

Time: Midday until late afternoon

Venue: Hamilton North Bowling Club

Cost: $50 for Old Boys members (subsidised by the Old Boys); $100 for non-members.

Bookings: Please make payment to Old Boys Account at Greater Bank – BSB 637000 Acc 715493713 (mark payment with your name and ‘Luncheon’ – payment becomes a booking).

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LOCAL SEASON FIRST GAMES

Saturday, 4 April

Local rugby authorities have released details of their first rounds of the 2026 season for next Saturday (11 April).

The Hunter Wildfires play Manly at No.2 Sportsground in a match that is sure to attract a big crowd.

Hunter Rugby Union matches in Premier 1 are:

Hamilton v University at Passmore Oval
Southern Beaches v Wanderers at Ernie Calland Oval
Merewether Carlton v Maitland at Townson Oval

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2026 SPORTS LUNCHEON

Tuesday, 31 March

The Old Boys’ Association has announced that it will be holding the club’s 2026 Sports Luncheon at Hamilton North Bowling Club on Friday, 7 August.

Preparations are underway for the function which will acknowledge the ‘anniversary’ of five Grand Final teams, these being:

1946 – First Grade Major Premiers
1956 – First Grade Grand Final Runner Up
1956 - Third Grade Grand Final Runners Up
1996 – Third Grade Grand Final Runner Up
2006 – First Grade Minor & Major Premiers
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RESULTS FROM 2026 AGMs

Monday, 9 March

The 2026 Annual General Meetings of both the Interim Seniors Committee and the Old Boys’ Association have returned largely intact their existing committees

The AGMs were held before a small crowd of members and supporters at Hamilton North Bowling Club yesterday (8 March).

The Interim Seniors Committee returned Ken Beveridge, Matt Dumbrill, John Gibson and Greg Taylor as committee members while Mark Queenan was also elected to the committee.

The Old Boys’ Association returned Paul Paisley as President, Keith Powell as Secretary, John Gibson as newly established Membership Officer, and Julie and Lindsay Dumbrill and Mark Queenan as committee members.

Ken Beveridge stepped down after 10 years as Treasurer while Gary Rawle did not see re-election as a committee member. The Old Boys’ committee will now seek a new Treasurer and three committee members.

Greg Taylor, on behalf of the Interim Seniors Committee, said the committee continued to operate in ‘caretaker’ mode as it continues to gradually wind-up the club.

He said the committee was in a strong financial position. A motion to distribute about 40% of club funds will be further investigated after suggestions from the meeting.

The Old Boys’ Association’s President’s Report and Secretary’s Report are printed on the website under ‘About Our Club/Old Boys’ Association’.

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OLD BOYS MEMBERSHIP 2026

Wednesday, 25 February

The Old Boys’ Committee has voted to maintain existing membership fees for 2026 which means the 50% reduction introduced last year will remain.

Treasurer, Ken Beveridge, said there was a positive reaction to the reduction last year and that membership numbers increased as a result of the initiative. He was hopeful that maintaining the low fee would attract more players and supporters of The Waratahs to become an Old Boys’ member in 2026.

The membership fee structure for 2026 is:

Full Membership - $50 (will include subsidy for Sports Luncheon)

Social Membership - $20 (for former players and supporters who live outside the Newcastle area and cannot attend most functions and activities)

Membership for 2026 is now open and payment can be made via the Greater Bank – BSB637000 A/c 715493713 – marking your payment ‘Membership’ with your name.

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85th ANNIVERSARY - OUR INTERNATIONALS

In continuing our series of historical articles as part of the club’s 85th Anniversary in 2025 we look at players who have represented The Waratahs on the international field…

AUSTRALIAN WALLABIES

Cyril Burke BEM (Wallaby No.344) 26 Tests (1946-56)
Declan Curran (Wallaby No.618) 5 Tests (1980-1983)*
Mike Fitzgerald Great Britain Tour (1975-76)
Ron Harvey (Wallaby No.436) 2 Tests (1957-58)
John Hipwell OAM (Wallaby No.519) 36 Tests (1968-1981)**
Peter Horton (Wallaby No.569) 21 Tests (1974-1979)***
John (Jack) Marshall (Wallaby No.363) 1 Test (1949)
Dominic Vaughan (Wallaby No.632) 5 Tests (1982-83)****

* 1 Test when playing for University of Sydney in 1980; 4 with The Waratahs.

** 28 Tests when playing for The Waratahs (1968-75); 8 with Armidale City (1976-82); Captain in nine Tests.

*** 3 Tests when playing for The Waratahs in 1974; others with Armidale City and Teachers/Norths in Brisbane; includes two unofficial Tests.

**** all matches when playing with Warringah after transfer from The Waratahs.

AUSTRALIAN UNDER 21s

Brent Tilse and Dominic Vaughan (Captain) - (1980)

AUSTRALIAN JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVES

Schoolboys (1977) - Peter McPherson and Dominic Vaughan
Under 16s (1977) - Henry Barrkman and Randell Rankin
Under 17s (1977) - Paul Burke, Brent Tilse and Dominic Vaughan
Under 16s (1983) - Adrian Bubb
Under 17s (1986) - Steven Foot
Under 17s (1988) - Brendon Lowndes
Under 17s (1991) - David Luban

AUSTRALIAN COMBINED SERVICES

Grahame Charge (1970)
Ken Stokes (1974-78)
Paul Barrett (1984)
Chris Nielsen (1984-85)
Ray White (1986)
Warren Downing (1992)
Mitchell Drake (1995)
Michael McCabe (2003)
Luke Troy (2003, 2004, 2008, 2014)
Patrick Wall (2004)
Robbie Harlow (2014-15)

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S RUGBY

Kelly Sager – hooker - (1998) - Australian Squad (1999, 2000 and 2001);

Australia ‘A’ v England (2002)

Maya Stewart – right wing - Australian Schoolgirls 7s – World School Championships, New Zealand (2018) and Australia A – Oceania Women’s Rugby Championship, Fiji (2019).

SAMOA

· Winston Wilson - Samoa Tour of New Zealand 2009

PAPUA NEW GUINEA WOMEN’S RUGBY