Lane Cove Rugby Union Football Club is a rugby union club founded in 1949 and which participates in the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union ("Subbies") competition. The club is situated in Lane Cove in Sydney, Australia. The home ground is Tantallon Oval.[1] The club was successful in Sydney Rugby through the 1950s and 1960s and competitive in Division One Sub-Districts into the 1980s with victories including the Under 21 New South Wales State Premiership, the Bruce Graham Shield, Kentwell Cup, Whiddon Cup, Judd Cup trophies among others. Notable players have included Wallabies Ken Yanz and Saxon White, and Kangaroo Greg Florimo. Having been historically a Division One Club, Lane Cove seniors currently plays in New South Wales' Subbies' Division Five, while the thriving Lane Cove Juniors participate in the Gordon Juniors competition.
 | |
| Full name | Lane Cove Rugby Union Football Club |
|---|---|
| Union | Australian Rugby Union |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Location | Lane Cove, Australia |
| Region | New South Wales |
| Ground(s) | Tantallon Oval |
| League(s) | 5th Division New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union |
| Official website | |
| www | |
Club history
Early years
Lane Cove men began playing regularly at Tantallon Oval in 1949, and in 1950 the Club entered a team in the Burke Cup. The club amalgamated with the Lane Cove-Artarmon Team. The distinguished New South Wales rugby player and sports administrator J. Darvall-Hunt served as Lane Cove's first Club Patron, with P. Siccard as President.[2] Lane Cove Juniors began in 1951.[3] The Club achieved notable successes in Sydney rugby through the 1950s and 1960s. Big name players of these early years included Wallabies Ken Yanz and Saxon White.[4] Ken Yanz began playing in the original Lane Cove-Artarmon juniors in the 1940s and later played for Lane Cove in the Whiddon Cup and Burke Cup.[5] Later selected for Gordon Rugby Club, he became a long-standing player and captain for this Sydney Grade Club and was selected as a Wallaby in 1957.[4] Lane Cove's juniors enjoyed strong success through the 1950s and their Under 21 side were New South Wales State Champions in 1958 after winning the North Harbour Competition and then defeating the winners of the South Harbour competition.[6]
1960s and 1970s: Sub-Districts success
The New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union is affiliated to the New South Wales Rugby Union and runs the competition known as "Subbies" rugby, the major trophy for which is the Kentwell Cup, awarded to the first grade premiers of the first division competition. Lane Cove won the Whiddon Cup in 1965, Kentwell Cup in 1967 and 1968 and Judd Cup in 1968 and 1977.[7][8][9] The Club won the Bruce Graham Shield as Division One Club Champions in 1968.[10] Australian rugby league captain Johnny Raper assisted as coach of the 1977 Judd Cup winning side, whose players included advertising magnate John Singleton.[11]
Recent years
The Club was prominent in Division One rugby through the 1950s and 1960s and competitive into the 1980s.[3] The Club no longer competes in Division One, but won the Division Five Jeffrey Cup in 1982.[12]
In 2006, the club won the Division 4 Club of the Year.[citation needed]
In 2011, the seniors fielded a team in Division Five of the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union Competition.[13] The Club now has a separately administered Juniors Club. The Juniors have won many competitions through the six decade history of Lane Cove Rugby.[3] They participate in the Gordon Juniors competition, which is responsible for developing Junior Rugby in the Gordon District of Sydney's Northern Suburbs.[14]
In 2012, former player Rob Sinclair commissioned an historical documentary by Theo Clark Media, and a trophy cabinet was opened at The Longueville Sporting Club to celebrate the heritage of Lane Cove Rugby. LCRUFC's two Wallabies Saxon White and Ken Yanz, and Kangaroo Greg Florimo participated in the film and attended the launch.[15][16]
Lane Cove are part of the player pool for Gordon Rugby Football Club, a leading club in the New South Wales Grade Competition (Shute Shield).[17] A number of Lane Cove players have played Grade rugby for Gordon.
Jersey and club colours
The club colours are white, blue & gold.[1]
For decades, the club was one of the rare rugby clubs that had a V design on the jersey. The blue and gold V on a white jersey was a Lane Cove trademark. The current jersey still uses the blue and gold V design.
Alliance
Lane Cove Rugby shares an alliance with London club, Belsize Park Rugby Football Club. Belsize Park Rugby Football club was one of the founding clubs of the Rugby Football Union in 1871.[citation needed]
Notable players and coaches
Players:
- Ken Yanz – Rugby union international (Wallaby).[18]
- Saxon White – Rugby union international (Wallaby).[19]
- John Singleton (Australian entrepreneur)[20]
- Greg Florimo – Rugby league international (Kangaroo).[21]
Coaches:
- Johnny Raper, Rugby League International (Kangaroo).[11]
See also
References
External links
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