Gridiron NSW

Last updated

Gridiron NSW
Gridiron NSW Logo.jpg
FormerlyNSW Gridiron Football League (NSWGFL) (1984-2007)
Sport Gridiron
American Football
Founded1984
Country New South Wales
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
HeadquartersSydney
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Most recent
champion(s)
(Men)
UNSW Raiders

(Women)
UNSW Raiders

(Colts)
Nepean Ducks
Most titlesSydney University Lions
(22 titles)
Official website gridironnsw.org.au

Gridiron NSW, originally known as NSW Gridiron Football League (NSWGFL) until 2007, is the governing body for American football (otherwise known as 'gridiron') in the state of New South Wales, Australia.

Contents

Arguably the longest tenured American football league in Australia, Gridiron NSW took over from the Australian American Football Conference (AAFC) after its inaugural 1984 season and ultimately survived a threat from the breakaway NSW Premier State Gridiron League between 1993 and 1996.

The teams from the NSW Premier State Gridiron League returned to the NSW Gridiron Football League prior to the commencement of the 1997 season and since that time, Gridiron NSW has continued to expand as the sport has enjoyed increasing popularity both in New South Wales and Australia generally.

Gridiron NSW currently consists of four divisions: Mens, formally known as Division 1 (Men 18+ years), Womens (18+ years), Colts (16–19 years) and Juniors (8–15 years).

The two top teams in each division (with the exception of the Juniors) participate in the Waratah Bowl (Men), Opal Bowl (Women) and the Kookaburra Bowl (Colts) respectively. These games and also known as the State Finals.

The team with the most Waratah Bowl championships is the Sydney University Lions, who have won 21 in total, including 16 straight championships between 2003 and 2018 inclusive. This streak was broken when the UNSW Raiders were defeated by the Northern Sydney Rebels 38-32 in the 2019 Waratah Bowl.

Each season the best players across the league are selected to represent New South Wales at the Australian Gridiron League National Championships in representative teams known as the NSW Wolfpack (Men), the Coyotes (Women) and the Wolverines (Colts) respectively.

Following the demise of the Newcastle Kings, the Hunter Gridiron League was launched as a separate competition for players in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley area of NSW.

League Members

Current Members

Former Members

Former Senior Teams

  • Army
  • Astros
  • Blacktown Vikings
  • Canberra Sabretooths
  • Canterbury Cougars
  • Central Coast Sharks
  • Central West Giants
  • Concord Jaguars
  • Eastern Suburbs Buccaneers
  • Fairfield Argonauts
  • Hills District Eagles
  • Manly Redbacks
  • Newcastle Cobras
  • Newcastle Kings
  • Newcastle Uni Thunder
  • North Western Rebels
  • NorthWestern Predators
  • Parramatta Bears
  • Parramatta Saxons
  • Penrith Outlaws
  • Ryde Spartans
  • St George Fireballs
  • Tempe Jets/Mascot Jets
  • Western Wolverines

Former Junior Teams

  • Blacktown Stars
  • Caringbah Chargers
  • Casula Bears
  • Eastside Colts
  • Lansvale Trojans
  • Newcastle Pirates
  • North Shore Falcons
  • NorthWestern Panthers
  • Penrith City Chiefs
  • Penrith Wolverines

Championship Game History

Men - Waratah Bowl

YearChampionRunner-upScore
2024UNSW Raiders (9)UTS Gators70-42
2023UNSW Raiders (8)Sydney University Lions48-25
2022Sydney University Lions (22)Northern Sydney Rebels35-0
2021SEASON CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19**
2020Sydney University Lions (21)UTS Gators25-12
2019Northern Sydney Rebels (1)UNSW Raiders38-32
2018Sydney University Lions (20)UNSW Raiders33-16
2017Sydney University Lions (19)West Sydney Pirates17–0
2016Sydney University Lions (18)West Sydney Pirates20–19
2015Sydney University Lions (17)West Sydney Pirates36–18
2014Sydney University Lions (16)West Sydney Pirates42–14
2013Sydney University Lions (15)NorthWestern Predators83–18
2012Sydney University Lions (14)UTS Gators38–0
2011Sydney University Lions (13)West Sydney Pirates47–8
2010Sydney University Lions (12)UTS Gators37–0
2009Sydney University Lions (11)UTS Gators34–26
2008Sydney University Lions (10)West Sydney Pirates38–34
2007Sydney University Lions (9)UTS Gators34–28
2006Sydney University Lions (8)UTS Gators34–26
2005Sydney University Lions (7)Bondi Raiders23–0
2004Sydney University Lions (6)West Sydney Pirates32–7
2003Sydney University Lions (5)UWS Outlaws38–21
2002UWS Outlaws (1)Sydney University Lions33–18
2001Sutherland Seahawks (3)Sydney University Lions28–21
2000Sutherland Seahawks (2)Sydney University Lions12–6
1999Bondi Raiders (7)Sutherland Seahawks9-7
1998Bondi Raiders (6)ACT Astros10–3
1997Sutherland Seahawks (1)ACT Astros21–17
1996ACT Astros (1)Sydney University Lions14–0
1995Sydney University Lions (4)ACT Astros13–3
1994Canberra Sabretooths (1)Manly Redbacks10–6
1993Manly Redbacks (1)Sydney University Lions14–13
1992Sydney University Lions (3)Bondi Raiders14–6
1991Bondi Raiders (5)Sydney University Lions14–12
1990Bondi Raiders (4)Sydney University Lions16–13
1989Bondi Raiders (3)Sydney University Lions14–13
1988Bondi Raiders (2)Hills District Eagles ??-??
1987Bondi Raiders (1)Eastern Suburbs Buccaneers25-0
1986Sydney University Lions (2)Fairfield Argonauts20–0
1985Sydney University Lions (1)Bondi Raiders15–9
1984Canterbury Cougars (1)Sydney University Stormtroopers (Lions)19–7

Women - Opal Bowl

YearChampionRunner-upScore
2024UNSW Raiders (6)UC Stars32-20
2023UNSW Raiders (5)Northern Sydney Rebels18-14
2022Northern Sydney Rebels (2)UNSW Raiders36-8
2021SEASON CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19**
2020Northern Sydney Rebels (1)UNSW Raiders30-24
2019UNSW Raiders (4)Northern Sydney Rebels22-8
2018Sydney University Lions (1)Northern Sydney Rebels14-16
2017UNSW Raiders (3)Canberra Diamonds28-18
2016UNSW Raiders (2)NorthWestern Phoenix40-6
2015UNSW Raiders (1)UTS Gators40-16
2014UTS Gators (1)Newcastle Cobras42-26
2013NorthWestern Phoenix (1)Newcastle Cobras28-12

NSW Premier State Gridiron League

New South Wales Premier State Gridiron League
Sport American Football
Founded1993
Ceased1996
CountryAustralia

The NSW Premier State Gridiron League (NSWPSGL) was formed by disgruntled members of the NSWGFL, which was the only American Football league in NSW at the time. [1] It operated between 1993 and 1996. The affiliated NSW Premier State Youth Gridiron League (NSWPSYGL), which was the first junior gridiron competition in Australia, was also conducted under its administration.

In its inaugural 1993 season, the league consisted of 6 teams – Bondi Raiders, Liverpool Pirates, L.U.S.C. Argonauts, Mascot Jets, Newcastle Cobras and Wollongong Mustangs. Prior to the commencement of the 1997 season, and after only four seasons, the league was disbanded and its teams rejoined what was then the NSW Gridiron Football League.

NSW Premier State Youth Gridiron League

New South Wales Premier State Youth Gridiron League
Sport American Football
Founded1993
Ceased1996
CountryAustralia

The origins of the NSW Premier State Youth Gridiron League (NSWPSYGL) may be traced to the establishment in 1991 of the first two junior teams in New South Wales: Blacktown Starrs and Penrith Wolverines. The teams played two exhibition games at Penrith Park and Parramatta Stadium in June and July 1991 before games between touring US Down Under Bowl high school teams from North Dakota and Colorado.

In its inaugural 1993 season, the Penrith City Chiefs defeated the North Shore Falcons 32-0 in the State Championship Game.

In 1994, the NSWPSYGL consisted of 5 teams: Caringbah Chargers, Eastside Colts, Lansvale Trojans, North Shore Falcons and Penrith City Chiefs. The 1994 season ended with the Penrith City Chiefs being crowned State Champions following an amazing 13-12 comeback victory against the North Shore Falcons in the State Championship Game on 29 May 1994. Trailing 12-6 late in the 4th quarter, quarterback Graeme Pollard led the Chiefs on a final drive, ultimately connecting with wide receiver Andrew Stowe in the end zone for the game winning score, with just 47 seconds remaining.

The Penrith City Chiefs completed a three-peat in the 1995 season and in the NSWPSYGL’s final season in 1996, the newly formed Casula Bears won the State Championship. The Casula Bears also heavily recruited players from the Penrith City Chiefs, who had since moved to the NSW Gridiron League. The team went on to once again beat Bondi in the State Championship game.

See also

References