Sydney Rugby Union (SRU) has today announced the fixtures for all eighteen rounds of the 2022 Charter Hall Shute Shield season, with the competition officially kicking off on 2 April.
The 2022 season will launch with a flurry of blockbuster matchups, including a Randwick road trip to T G Millner and a 2019 Grand Final rematch between Warringah and Sydney University.
The Rats arguably have one of the most challenging opening months of the season, facing the Students, Norths and Gordon, before hosting rivals Manly in the ever-fiery Battle of the Beaches. Rats and Marlins fans will notice it’s the first of two ‘Beaches’ fixtures in the 2022 season, with the old rivals set to battle it out again on 23 July.
Round One will also see the Western Sydney Two Blues host their first game at Eric Tweedale Stadium, welcoming West Harbour Pirates in a derby match worthy of the brand new facility.
However, the most anticipated fixture on 2 April will see the Beasties host Norths at Woollahra Oval. In the identical match earlier this year, Easts came from behind twice to hand the Shoremen an agonising 2-point defeat, ending the visitors eight-match winning streak and sure to inspire a fiery Round One encounter in 2022.
The first seven rounds are heavy on traditional and emerging rivalries, with Manly versus West Harbour (Round Two), Randwick versus Eastern Suburbs (Round Four) and Gordon versus Norths (Round Seven) amongst the matches featured.
“The countdown is well and truly underway for the 2022 Charter Hall Shute Shield season, and today’s announcement will only heighten the excitement throughout our competition,” said SRU General Manager Peter Watkins.
“After the disappointment of our COVID-interrupted season this year, each club is working hard to ensure the competition is set for 2 April.
“The Charter Hall Shute Shield is a competitive, strong and passionate rugby competition, and we look forward to seeing all the rugby community and fans enjoying the action in 2022.”
With all twelve teams playing eighteen matches throughout the season, the clubs will enjoy a bye weekend following Round Ten before the run to the finals series begins on 18 June.
As is customary, the run to finals will again be all-important, especially for clubs that have teetered on the precipice of a final position over recent years.
The Marlins will play three of their final four matches at Manly Oval, hosting the Wildfires and Rats before a potentially critical Round Eighteen fixture against the Students on 6 August.
Southern Districts, another club vying for a return to finals rugby in 2022, arguably faces the toughest closing month of anyone in the Shute Shield. The Rebels will visit Gordon, Warringah and Randwick, whilst hosting Norths in Round Sixteen to cap off an incredibly daunting run to week one of the finals series.
Blockbuster fixtures between Eastwood and Norths (Round Fifteen), Easts against Gordon (Round Sixteen) and Norths versus Easts (Round Eighteen) round out the competition and could be integral in shaping the top four.
You’ll be able to catch all the action Live, Ad-Free and On-Demand on Stan Sport.
2022 Charter Hall Shute Shield Fixtures
Round One – Sat 2 April
Eastern Suburbs vs Norths
Eastwood vs Randwick
Warringah vs Sydney University
Souths vs Manly
Wildfires vs Gordon
Two Blues vs West Harbour
Round Two – Sat 9 April
Sydney University vs Randwick
Eastwood vs Eastern Suburbs
Warringah vs Norths
Souths vs Gordon
Manly vs West Harbour
Two Blues vs Wildfires
Round Three – Sat 16 April
Norths vs Souths
Eastern Suburbs vs Two Blues
Gordon vs Warringah
Randwick vs Manly
Wildfires vs Eastwood
West Harbour vs Sydney University
Round Four – Sat 23 April
Sydney University vs Wildfires
Norths vs Eastwood
Warringah vs Manly
Randwick vs Eastern Suburbs
West Harbour vs Souths
Two Blues vs Gordon
Round Five – Sat 30 April
Sydney University vs Two Blues
Eastwood vs Warringah
Gordon vs Randwick
Souths vs Eastern Suburbs
Wildfires vs West Harbour
Manly vs Norths
Round Six – Sat 7 May
Norths vs Sydney University
Eastern Suburbs vs Warringah
Randwick vs Wildfires
West Harbour vs Gordon
Manly vs Eastwood
Two Blues vs Souths
Round Seven – Sat 14 May
Eastern Suburbs vs Sydney University
Eastwood vs West Harbour
Warringah vs Two Blues
Gordon vs Norths
Souths vs Randwick
Wildfires vs Manly
Round Eight – Sat 21 May
Sydney University vs Souths
Norths vs West Harbour
Eastwood vs Two Blues
Randwick vs Warringah
Wildfires vs Eastern Suburbs
Manly vs Gordon
Round Nine – Sat 28 May
Eastern Suburbs vs Manly
Warringah vs Wildfires
Gordon vs Sydney University
Souths vs Eastwood
West Harbour vs Randwick
Two Blues vs Norths
Round Ten – Sat 4 June
Sydney University vs Eastwood
Warringah vs West Harbour
Gordon vs Eastern Suburbs
Randwick vs Norths
Wildfires vs Souths
Manly vs Two Blues
Round Eleven – Sat 18 June
Sydney University vs Manly
Norths vs Wildfires
Eastwood vs Gordon
Souths vs Warringah
West Harbour vs Eastern Suburbs
Two Blues vs Randwick
Round Twelve – Sat 25 June
Norths vs Manly
Eastern Suburbs vs Randwick
Warringah vs Eastwood
Gordon vs West Harbour
Souths vs Two Blues
Wildfires vs Sydney University
Round Thirteen – Sat 2 July
Sydney University vs Eastern Suburbs
Eastwood vs Wildfires
Randwick vs Gordon
West Harbour vs Norths
Manly vs Souths
Two Blues vs Warringah
Round Fourteen – Sat 9 July
Norths vs Gordon
Eastern Suburbs vs Eastwood
Warringah vs Randwick
Souths vs Sydney University
Wildfires vs Two Blues
West Harbour vs Manly
Round Fifteen – Sat 16 July
Sydney University vs Warringah
Eastwood vs Norths
Gordon vs Souths
Randwick vs West Harbour
Manly vs Wildfires
Two Blues vs Eastern Suburbs
Round Sixteen – Sat 23 July
Eastern Suburbs vs Gordon
Eastwood vs Sydney University
Souths vs Norths
Wildfires vs Randwick
West Harbour vs Two Blues
Manly vs Warringah
Round Seventeen – Sat 30 July
Sydney University vs West Harbour
Norths vs Two Blues
Eastern Suburbs vs Wildfires
Warringah vs Souths
Gordon vs Manly
Randwick vs Eastwood
Round Eighteen – Sat 6 August
Norths vs Eastern Suburbs
Gordon vs Wildfires
Randwick vs Souths
West Harbour vs Warringah
Manly vs Sydney University
Two Blues vs Eastwood
