Current season or competition: 2024 Group 7 Rugby League season | |
Sport | Rugby league |
---|---|
Formerly known as | South Coast Rugby League |
Instituted | 1914 |
Inaugural season | 1914 (as South Coast Rugby League), 1955 (as Group 7 Rugby League) |
Number of teams | 10 First Grade, 16 Senior Clubs |
Country | Australia |
Premiers | Gerringong Lions (2024) |
Most titles | Gerringong Lions (22 titles) |
Website | Group 7 South Coast Rugby League Group 7 SRL (Facebook) Play Rugby League |
Broadcast partner | Bar TV Sports |
South Coast Group 7 Rugby League (or Group 7 Rugby League for simplicity) is the divisional boundary drawn from the Southern Illawarra and South Coast regions (from the suburb of Warilla south to Ulladulla) of New South Wales, Australia and is governed by the NSWCRL. The main semi-professional competition, (named South Coast Group 7 VB First Grade for sponsorship reasons), comprises ten (10) teams from across the region. Group 7 Rugby League also administers reserve grade, third grade, and under-18s competitions, Ladies League Tag, as well as looking over many junior competitions.
The following twenty clubs compete in South Coast Group 7 competitions, with ten teams in the first-grade competition, seven clubs competing in lower grades and three clubs being junior standalone clubs. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia the commencement of 2020 season was postponed. [1] Matches began on 25 July. [2]
Club | Traditional colours | Home ground | Years contested in first grade | First-grade seasons | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Played | Premiers | Minor premiers | Runners-up | |||||
First Grade Clubs | to 2023 | |||||||
Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles | Centenary Field | 1919, (to Illawarra), 1940–49, 1951–53, 1955– | 81 | 13 | 10 | 6 | ||
Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies | Berry Showground | 1914–44, 1946–81, 1983–2001, 2003–20, 2022– | 103 | 12 | 8 | 10 | ||
Gerringong Lions | Michael Cronin Oval | 1914–24, 1928–37, 1940–78, 1980– | 100 | 21 | 13 | 17 | ||
Jamberoo Superoos | Kevin Walsh Oval | 1914–22, 1926–27, 1931–67, 1971–79, 1987–88, 2009– | 70 | 9 | 6 | 10 | ||
Kiama Knights | Kiama Showground | 1914–23, 1925, 1930– | 101 | 12 | 14 | 13 | ||
Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs | Bill Andriske Oval | (from Group 16) 1938–40, 1945–47, 1949–50, 1952–53, 1955–56, 1962–1991, 1994–2019, 2021– | 71 | 5 | 4 | 2 | ||
Nowra-Bomaderry Jets | Bomaderry Sports Complex | 2008–10, 2012– | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
Shellharbour Sharks | Ron Costello Oval | 1931–36, 1939–93, 1995–2008, (to Illawarra), 2014– | 83 | 5 | 9 | 15 | ||
Stingrays of Shellharbour | Flinders Field | 2017– | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
Warilla-Lake South Gorillas | Cec Glenholmes Oval | 1969– | 55 | 9 | 9 | 11 | ||
Lower Grade Clubs in 2024 | to 2023 | |||||||
Culburra Dolphins | Crookhaven Park | Nil (Third Grade 2014, 2016–2022, 2024) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Mt. Warrigal United Kooris | Des King Oval | Nil (Third Grade 1980–81, 1995–2001, 2005–09, 2017–21, 2023–) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Robertson-Burrawang Spuddies | Robertson Showground | Nil (Group 6 first grade in most years from 1914 to 1990s, Third grade 2018–) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Southern Highlands Storm | Community Oval | Nil (from Group 6) (Third grade 2021–2023) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
St. Georges Basin Dragons | Francis Ryan Reserve | Nil (Reserve grade 2006–08, Third Grade 2023–) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Sussex Inlet Panthers | Finkernagle Oval | Nil (Third Grade 1992–2006, 2008, 2016–2022) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Junior-only clubs | to 2023 | |||||||
Bomaderry Swamp Rats | Bomaderry Sports Complex | 1926–27, 1945, 1955–56, 1958–88, 1990–2001, 2005 | 49 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
Nowra Warriors | Lyrebird Park | 1914–2007 | 98 | 10 | 13 | 11 |
Ten clubs, including Mt Warrigal and Milton-Ulladulla, also field Women's League Tag teams. This competition has been running since 2010, and has comprised two divisions since 2018.
Sussex Inlet and Wreck Bay had fielded third-grade teams in 2019, but have not entered a team in 2020. Kiama, who fielded a Ladies League Tag team from 2010 to 2019, have not done so in 2020.
Of the original eight teams that competed in the inaugural competition in 1914, only four teams remain playing in first grade. They are the Berry Magpies, Gerringong Lions, Jamberoo Superoos, and Kiama Knights. The Nowra Warriors were also a foundation club, but due to financial reasons were forced to merge with the Bomaderry Swamp Rats in 2007. The merger created the team Shoalhaven Jets, which was renamed Nowra-Bomaderry Jets in 2012.
There have been a few teams to expand into the Group 7 Rugby League First Grade Premiership. Through the 20s–30s Albion Park were founded, joined the Illawarra Rugby League and returned to Group 7 in 1933. The Shellharbour Sharks are known to have joined the league at this time. Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs also joined from Group 16 Rugby League. The Warilla-Lake South Gorillas were first introduced into first grade during the 1970s and in 1978 the Batemans Bay Tigers were another team to move from Group 16.
Club | Traditional colours | Note | Years contested in first grade | Seasons | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Played | Premiers | Minor premiers | Runners-up | |||||
Foundation Clubs | ||||||||
Bombo | Merged with Kiama in 1930 | 1914–15, 1923–24, 1929 (merged with Kiama) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
Kangaroo Valley | 1914–21, 1925–28, 1937, 1955–57 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||
Naval College / Albatross | 1914, 1920, 1926–30, 1949, 1955–59, 1963–65, 1973–74 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Nowra Warriors | Merged with Bomaderry to form the Jets | 1914–2007 (formed Jets) | 98 | 10 | 13 | 11 | ||
Later Additions | ||||||||
Batemans Bay Tigers | Re-Joined to Group 16 | 1978–2013 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 3 | ||
St. Michaels / Nowra Saints | 1968–84 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||
Bomaderry Swamp Rats | Merged with Nowra to form the Jets | 1926–27, 1945, 1955–56, 1958–88, 1990–2001, 2005 (formed Jets) | 49 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
Bay and Basin United | 1996–99, 2009–10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Port Kembla Blacks | Illawarra RL (1914–2008, 2019) | 2013–17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Also the following lower-grade teams:
The graph below shows the participation of all current and most former clubs. The club's highest grade in a particular year is displayed. The source is a compilation of competition tables, point scores and lists of participating teams. These have been taken from the Kiama Independent, Illawarra Mercury and other past newspapers on Trove and microfilm. The current South Coast Group 7 Official Historian has assisted with the provision of more recent tables as printed in association guidebooks and the South Coast Register. Further research may add seasons the juniors only clubs participated which are currently not shown.
Rugby league has been played in the South Coast region of New South Wales since 1913, with the first competition taking place between teams from the Shoalhaven district. In May 1914, with other rugby clubs from across the region also splitting from rugby union to join the new code, the South Coast Rugby League was formed. The first season of what is now known as the Group 7 competition began with eight teams competing. These teams included: Berry, Bombo, Gerringong, Jamberoo, Kiama, Kangaroo Valley, Naval College, and Nowra. The First round began on 30 May 1914, with Kiama defeating Gerringong 6–3, Naval College defeating Bombo 7–5, Jamberoo Superoos defeating Kangaroo Valley 3–0, and Nowra Warriors defeating Berry Magpies 3–0. The inaugural premiers were Gerringong, winning the final 11–10 at the Kiama Showground. As soon as the league began, they entered a two-year hiatus due to World War I. No competitions were held between 1916 and 1917. When the competition reformed in 1918, Gerringong again won the title. The Nowra Warriors were the next team to win the title in 1919.
Gerringong went on to win the title a third time in 1920, with a 3–0 win over Jamberoo. During 1925–26, some of the northern teams moved into Illawarra Rugby League competition, including Gerringong, who took out the Illawarra Premiership in 1925. Jamberoo won the premiership in 1927. As a result, they were the first team to represent the South Coast in the first championship between South Coast and Illawarra Premiers. Jamberoo (South Coast) defeated Port Kembla (Illawarra) 15–11. In 1929, Bombo won their first (and only) premiership.
After winning their first premiership in 1929, Bombo merged with Kiama in 1930. The new entity, Bombo-Kiama, took out the title in their first season. They followed this up with another in 1933. Albion Park became re-affiliated with South Coast Rugby League in 1933. Milton-Ulladulla joined the league in the 1930s from Group 16 Rugby League. Between 1935 and 1937, the Berry Magpies won the premiership three years consecutively. Junior aged competitions (U-17's, 18's, 19's) were first introduced in 1938. The Shellharbour Sharks won their first premiership in 1939.
Again, the competition faced a hiatus, this time between 1942 and 1943, due to World War II. Albion Park won their maiden Premiership in 1944. Kiama (as a single entity) won the title in 1945. They went on to win a further three titles, becoming the first and only club to win four consecutive titles (1945–1948).
For a second time, between 1952 and 1954, Berry record premiership wins three years consecutively. In 1955, the league was renamed Group 7 Rugby League. Shellharbour won the Premiership in 1962 after a 23-year drought. In 1967, Bomaderry record their first premiership win.
In the 1970s, an expansion occurred when Warilla entered the first grade competition in 1970. They go on to win their first premiership in 1978. The Batemans Bay Tigers win their first premiership in 1979, after joining one year earlier in 1978 from Group 16. In 1980, the league was re-branded as South Coast Group Seven. Milton-Ulladulla record their first premiership win in 1987.
A hat-trick of premierships is again recorded, this time by the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles between 1998 and 2000.
Source: Group 7 Rugby League History
Team | Titles | Years |
---|---|---|
Gerringong Lions | 22 | 1914, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1924, 1940, 1956, 1960, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1990, 1994, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2023, 2024 |
Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles | 13 | 1944, 1949, 1963, 1964, 1975, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 |
Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies | 12 | 1923, 1926, 1928, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1941, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1966, 1967 |
Kiama Knights | 12 | 1925, 1930, 1933, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1969, 1983, 1985, 2019 |
Nowra Warriors | 11 | 1913, 1919, 1934, 1938, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1977, 1981, 1993, 1996 |
Warilla-Lake South Gorillas | 9 | 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984,1991, 1995, 1997, 2011, 2022 |
Jamberoo Superoos | 9 | 1915, 1927, 1931, 1932, 1951, 1958, 1961, 1974, 2017 |
Shellharbour Sharks | 6 | 1939, 1962, 1971, 1973, 2001, 2018 |
Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs | 5 | 1987, 1989, 2004, 2005, 2008 |
Batemans Bay Tigers | 5 | 1979, 1986, 1988, 1992, 2002 |
Nowra-Bomaderry Jets | 1 | 2014 |
Bomaderry Swamp Rats | 1 | 1976 |
Bombo | 1 | 1929 |
Team | Titles | Years |
---|---|---|
Shellharbour Sharks | 17 | 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1971, 1975, 1983, 1990, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2015, 2016 |
Kiama Knights | 15 | 1919, 1921, 1923, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1936, 1950, 1951, 1982, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018 |
Nowra Warriors | 13 | 1927, 1930, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1952, 1954, 1967, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1985 |
Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles | 8 | 1938*, 1966, 1976, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2008, 2019 |
Warilla-Lake South Gorillas | 8 | 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 2007, 2010, 2013 |
Jamberoo Superoos | 6 | 1925, 1938*, 1946, 1947, 1969, 2022 |
Gerringong Lions | 5 | 1995, 2002, 2011, 2023, 2024 |
Bomaderry Swamp Rats | 4 | 1920, 1968, 1977, 1996 |
Batemans Bay Tigers | 3 | 1984, 1986, 1993 |
Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs | 3 | 1948, 1980, 1989 |
Albatross | 3 | 1957, 1958, 1961 |
Kangaroo Valley | 2 | 1922, 1953 |
Nowra-Bomaderry Jets | 1 | 2020 |
Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies | 1 | 2009 |
Jervis Bay | 1 | 1960 |
Roseby Park | 1 | 1949 |
Pyree | 1 | 1935 |
Bombo | 1 | 1924 |
Team | Titles | Years |
---|---|---|
Jamberoo Superoos | 7 | 1972, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001 |
Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles | 6 | 1974, 1981, 1985, 1991, 2002, 2003 |
Crookhaven | 5 | 1984, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1998 |
Mt. Warrigal United Kooris | 4 | 2007, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
Sussex Inlet Panthers | 3 | 1999, 2000, 2022 |
Shellharbour Sharks | 3 | 1971, 1977, 2015 |
Greenwell Point | 3 | 2004, 2008, 2009 |
Warilla-Lake South Gorillas | 3 | 1975, 1976, 1983 |
Stingrays of Shellharbour | 2 | 2014, 2023 |
Albion Park Outlaws | 2 | 2005, 2006 |
Wreck Bay United Bears | 2 | 1980, 1995 |
Albatross | 2 | 1978, 1986 |
Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs | 2 | 1969, 1982 |
Nowra-Bomaderry Jets | 1 | 2024 |
Robertson-Burrawang Spuddies | 1 | 2020 |
Culburra Dolphins | 1 | 2016 |
Shoalhaven All Blacks | 1 | 1987 |
Nowra Warriors | 1 | 1979 |
Gerringong Lions | 1 | 1973 |
Wandandian | 1 | 1970 |
Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies | 1 | 1922 |
Team | Titles | Years |
---|---|---|
Kiama Knights | 14 | 1945, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1982, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2013, 2016 |
Warilla-Lake South Gorillas | 12 | 1968, 1970, 1974, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1998, 2001, 2012, 2019, 2023 |
Shellharbour Sharks | 11 | 1944, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 2003, 2007, 2014, 2020 |
Nowra Warriors | 10 | 1955, 1962, 1967, 1971, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1987, 1993, 1995 |
Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles | 9 | 1954, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1984, 1990, 1999, 2018, 2024 |
Gerringong Lions | 7 | 1938, 1940, 1951, 1994, 2000, 2010, 2022 |
Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs | 6 | 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2017 |
Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies | 5 | 1947, 1949, 1972, 1973, 1983 |
Bomaderry Swamp Rats | 4 | 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981 |
Bay and Basin United | 2 | 1996, 1997 |
Nowra-Bomaderry Jets | 1 | 2015 |
Culburra Dolphins | 1 | 2009 |
Pyree | 1 | 1939 |
Team | Titles | Years |
---|---|---|
Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs | 2 | 2023, 2024 |
Team | Titles | Years |
---|---|---|
Kiama Knights | 5 | 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018 |
Jamberoo Superoos | 4 | 2016, 2019, 2020, 2023 |
Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs | 2 | 2014, 2024 |
Stingrays of Shellharbour | 1 | 2022 |
Nowra-Bomaderry Jets | 1 | 2012 |
Warilla-Lake South Gorillas | 1 | 2010 |
Team | Titles | Years |
---|---|---|
Shellharbour Sharks | 2 | 2019, 2022 |
Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles | 2 | 2018, 2020 |
Jamberoo Superoos | 1 | 2024 |
Warilla-Lake South Gorillas | 1 | 2023 |
Team | Titles | Years |
---|---|---|
Gerringong Lions | 5 | 2010, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2022 |
Shellharbour Sharks | 3 | 2014, 2015, 2024 |
Kiama Knights | 3 | 2017, 2018, 2019 |
Warilla-Lake South Gorillas | 2 | 2009, 2013 |
Stingrays of Shellharbour | 1 | 2023 |
Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies | 1 | 2011 |
Kiama is a coastal country town 120 kilometres south of Sydney in the Illawarra. One of the main tourist attractions is the Kiama Blowhole. Kiama features several popular surfing beaches and caravan parks, and numerous alfresco cafes and restaurants. Its proximity to the south of Sydney makes it an attractive destination for many day-trippers and weekenders. Kiama also has historically been a farming and agricultural centre. Even to today it maintains a country and agricultural community with a weekly farmers markets held on Wednesday afternoons.
Nowra is a city in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 160 kilometres (99 mi) south-southwest of the state capital of Sydney. As of the 2021 census, Nowra has an estimated population of 22,584. Situated in the southern reaches of the Sydney basin, Nowra is the seat and commercial centre of the City of Shoalhaven.
The Illawarra is a coastal region in the southeast of the Australian state of New South Wales. It is situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the South Coast region. It encompasses the two cities of Wollongong, Shellharbour and the coastal town of Kiama. Wollongong is the largest city of the Illawarra with a population of 240,000, then Shellharbour with a population of 70,000 and Kiama with a population of 10,000. These three cities have their own suburbs. Wollongong stretches from Otford in the north to Windang in the south, with Maddens Plains and Cordeaux in the west.
Gerringong is a town located about ten minutes drive south of Kiama, and about twenty minutes north of Nowra in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia in the Municipality of Kiama. At the 2021 census, Gerringong had a population of 4,165. One theory says that the name derives from an Aboriginal word meaning "fearful place".
Jamberoo is a village on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia in the Municipality of Kiama. It is approximately 11.3 km inland from Kiama. At the 2021 census, Jamberoo had a population of 1,910. The town's name is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning 'track'.
Gerringong railway station is a single-platform intercity railway station located in Gerringong, New South Wales, Australia, on the South Coast railway line. The station serves NSW TrainLink diesel multiple unit trains travelling south to Bomaderry and north to Kiama. Early morning and late night services to the station are provided by train replacement bus services. In the past, the station precinct also catered to freight trains carrying dairy products.
The Illawarra Steam Navigation Company was a shipping company that serviced the south coast of New South Wales, Australia from 1858 to the early 1950s. It was formed through the amalgamation of the General Steam Navigation Company, the Kiama Steam Navigation Company and the Shoalhaven Steam Navigation Company, each of whom serviced parts of the south coast with their respective vessels. After merging, the new company held a near monopoly in regard to shipping on the south coast, and their fleet visited every significant port between Sydney and the border of Victoria. The company transported both passengers and a range of produce, including livestock, and hence it became known as the 'Pig and Whistle Line': it was said that ships would wait an hour for a pig but not a minute for a passenger.
The Illawarra Rugby League is a rugby league competition in Wollongong, NSW. It is one of the oldest rugby league competitions in Australia, founded in 1911 with five clubs. The area provides a nursery of juniors for the Illawarra Steelers and St George Illawarra Dragons. The season is contested by seven teams and concludes with a finals series involving the top four teams.
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The Municipality of Kiama is a local government area in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is situated south of Shellharbour and the City of Wollongong and is located adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, the Princes Highway and the South Coast railway line.
The AFL South Coast is an Australian rules football competition in the Shoalhaven and Illawarra regions of New South Wales. The AFLSC has two divisions of senior men's football and one division of senior women's football. In 2012 The South Coast AFL became "AFL South Coast" incorporating the three leagues of South Coast AFL Seniors, Shoalhaven Juniors and Illawarra Juniors.
The Kiama Knights are an Australian rugby league football team based in Kiama, a coastal town of the Illawarra and South Coast regions. The club was formed in 1914 as one of the founding members of South Coast Rugby League, and continue to participate in this league's local competition.
The Warilla-Lake South Gorillas are an Australian rugby league football team based in Lake Illawarra, a coastal town of the Illawarra region. The club is a part of Country Rugby League and have competed in the South Coast first grade competition since 1970. The club's greatest achievement to date is winning the Clayton Cup in 1982.
The Jamberoo Superoos are an Australian rugby league football team based in Jamberoo, a country town of the Illawarra region. The club is a part of Country Rugby League and have competed in the South Coast first grade competition since its inception in 1914.
The Nowra Warriors are an Australian rugby league football team based in Nowra, a coastal town of the South Coast region. The club is a part of Country Rugby League and previously competed in the South Coast first grade competition since its inception in 1914 until they merged with Bomaderry in 2008 to form the Shoalhaven Jets. The Nowra Warriors still field teams in junior rugby league competitions.
Country Cricket New South Wales is responsible for the development of cricket in regional New South Wales. It is under control of the governing body Cricket NSW.
Premier Transport Group is an Australian operator of bus and coach services in New South Wales and Queensland. Its origins can be traced back to December 1987 when John King purchased Nowra Coaches. It has since expanded through a number of acquisitions.
Narooma Devils Junior Rugby League Football Club is an Australian rugby league football club based in Narooma, New South Wales formed in 1929. They conduct teams for both Junior & Senior competitions from Under 6's to First Grade.
The 2021 Group 7 Rugby League season was the 109th season of rugby league in the New South Wales country region of Group 7. On 16 August 2021, it was announced by the New South Wales Rugby League governing body that all competitions in Group 7 would be abandoned due to the ongoing issues involving COVID-19 in the area and surrounding regions.
The 2022 Group 7 Rugby League season was the 110th season of rugby league in the New South Wales country region of Group 7.