The club season kicks up a gear this weekend, as Sydney’s premiership competition commences!
Clubland has already seen some fantastic games in Brisbane and Perth, with plenty of surprise results and challengers on the current ladder board. Most notable was the fact that both current title holders, Wests and Wests Scarborough went down in their respective fixtures.
Sydney University will be looking to kick their season off to a flyer this weekend, but if the last two seasons have proven anything in the Shute Shield, it is that anyone can beat anyone on a given day.
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NEW SOUTH WALES: CHARTER HALL SHUTE SHIELD - ROUND ONE
The season is here in Sydney, and for fans it is a special one. 2023 marks the 100th anniversary of one of the world’s oldest premier club rugby competitions, and with such a special occasion the competition could arguably not be in better shape.
Last year saw all teams take substantial steps forward, with the competition opening widely and nearly all clubs being in contention for finals throughout the season. Culminating in Sydney University claiming the title from a resurgent Gordon who took the hard route in finals, it was a season that still lingers long in the memory for memory, especially off the back of rapid development of teams like the Hunter Wildfires and Western Sydney.
This weekend, we go again, with several rivalries kicking off the season. West Harbour returns to it’s spiritual home at Concord Oval for the first time in three years to face the Two Blues, Warringah and Randwick will do battle at Rat Park, and Eastern Suburbs will face the Woodies in a grudge match at Woollahra Oval.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Sydney University v Northern Suburbs
When the season kicked into gear last year, the only two teams who went undefeated for most of the regular season were the Students and the Shoreman, so where better to start our predictions than a clash that has some colourful recent history, ever since Norths’ drought-breaking premiership in 2016. Both sides are stacked with talent, so this game could really go any direction. Uni have occasionally been caught out at home, so there is potential to remove the home ground advantage. That being said, Uni are Shield holders for a reason.
Other Fixtures (Live on Stan Sport)
West Harbour v Two Blues
Souths v Gordon
Eastern Suburbs v Eastwood
Hunter Wildfires v Manly
Warringah v Randwick
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Rising Player
Well, it’s important to recognise as well that Sydney University also prevailed in the Australian Club Championship fixture, winning 45-19 over Hospital Cup winners Wests. Plenty of talent was on display, but we’re going with Angus Allen off the back of his solid management of the game. While he won’t be skipper this weekend, expect to see his influence at the back of the scrum and in broken play as a motivator. If he’s on form, the Students will be tough to beat.
QUEENSLAND: STORELOCAL HOSPITAL CUP - ROUND TWO
It was a fantastic weekend of rugby in Brisbane to kick off the Hospital Cup, with three out of four fixtures proving to be exhilarating arm wrestles. Sunnybank looked a much improved side in their clash against Easts, but the big shock was Wests going down to the Bullsharks, highlighting the strong form Bond Uni as a club look to be carrying.
This weekend, Norths face Wests, Sunnybank welcome Brothers for their first match of the season, and Bond University look to continue their form against Easts.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Souths v UQ
After several mixed seasons, Souths looked to have hit the ground running in 2023 following a demolition of Norths. However, the real test looms this weekend when they host last year’s runners up, UQ. The Red Heavies started off the season with a strong performance against a resilient GPS, but considering their recent dominance of this fixture, there is a sense this could go in any direction, which could play into the Magpies hands.
Other Fixtures (Live on Stan Sport)
GPS - BYE
Sunnybank v Brothers
Bond University v Easts
Norths v Wests
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Rising Player
Loose forward Pat Morrey had a fantastic opening round performance against GPS, proving a handful for the opposition and providing crucial go-forward at set piece. Souths will have their work cut out having to shut him down!
WESTERN AUSTRALIA: FORTESCUE PREMIER GRADE - ROUND THREE
Well, what a weekend that was! Cottesloe and UWA currently lead the table over in WA, however the big surprises see the continued rise of Perth Bayswater in a thrilling draw with heavyweights Palmyra, plus the spirited performances of Wanneroo and Joondalup.
This weekend Kalamunda will look to get their season back on track when they host Nedlands, Joondalup face UAW, and Perth Bayswater host the Southern Lions in the featured live stream game of the week.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Associates v Cottesloe (Live on Stan Sport)
The Battle of Broome Street is back! One of the great club rugby rivalries, both teams come into this match at complete polar opposite ends of the ladder. The hosts are still to win a game but will be fresh off a bye week, while the Gulls are sitting on two bonus point wins and are leading the competition. They’ll be wise not to underestimate the men in gold however, because no game will get an Associates boy hungry more than this one!
Other Fixtures
Wests Scarborough - BYE
Kalamunda v Nedlands
Wanneroo v Palmyra
Perth Bayswater v Southern Lions (YouTube Live Stream)
Joondalup v UWA
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Rising Player
Shout out to Nedlands fly half Brayden Laing, who put in a stellar performance in Nedlands win over Wests, highlighting the growth of flyhalf depth in WA. He’ll be up for a big game this weekend, expect to hear this name a lot more!
Enjoy your club rugby this weekend, wherever you are!
