Western Sydney Two Blues Explained

Teamname:Western Sydney Two Blues
Fullname:Western Sydney "Two Blues" Rugby
Nickname:Two Blues
Founded:1879
Countryflag:Australia
Capacity:5,000 (750 seats)
Colors:Navy blue and Sky blue
Coach:Paul Hardwick, Greg Michell
Captain:Adrian Musico
Season:General Manager
Position:Craig Morgan
Url:www.twobluesrugby.com.au
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Western Sydney Two Blues Rugby, formerly Parramatta Two Blues Rugby, is a rugby union club based in Parramatta, the second CBD of Sydney, Australia. The club was formed in 1879 and competes in the Shute Shield run by the New South Wales Rugby Union. One of the oldest clubs in the Sydney Premier Rugby competition the club has produced nineteen Wallabies over the years, starting with the great Bill Cerutti in 1936 through to the club's current, Tatafu Polota-Nau. To date Parramatta has played in eight First grade grand finals.

History

Western Sydney Two Blues Rugby Club has enjoyed 130 years of top-grade rugby in Sydney's premier competition and is one of only five clubs (Manly, Randwick, Parramatta, Gordon and Warringah) to have never been relegated from the Top Grade.

Founded in 1879 as Cumberland, the club played in a senior Competition with University, Wallaroos, Waratah, Redfern and Pirates until 1899 when the existing system was disbanded.

The Club changed its name to Parramatta and was admitted to the Sydney First Grade competition in 1934 contesting its first Grand Final in 1945, a 9-3 defeat to Sydney University. The 1950s and 1960s were lean years but the development of a strong junior competition assured a sharp improvement in standards.

Former Wallaby Rod Phelps took over as captain-coach in 1971 and for three years he improved Parramatta‘s standing in the rugby fraternity. Grand Final appearances in 1974 and 1975 showed that the club was well on its way to becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Finally with the influx of young players in this period Parramatta won its initial First Grade premiership in 1977, a 17–9 victory against Randwick under coach Peter Fenton. The Two Blues had waited 44 years to sample the sweet taste of victory, but the wait was worthwhile.

The Club then played in the 1979 and 1984 grand finals going down to Randwick on both occasions, but revenge would be sweet in 1985 and 1986 when the underdogs from Sydney’s west succeeded in beating the Galloping Greens to win consecutive premierships under coach Paul Dalton.

In 2018 the club identified the need to evolve and deliver greater opportunity for the game of rugby in Greater Western Sydney. The clubs' members originate from all across the West with the club making the strategic decision to re-brand from Parramatta Rugby Club to the Western Sydney Two Blues to better reflect our presence in the competition, our members and playing group and to take lead for the game of rugby in Western Sydney.[1]

Four of Parramatta’s favourite sons switched to League with success. Ken Kearney (a Wallaby in 1947 and 1948), Ray Price (a Wallaby between 1974 and 1976), Tony Melrose who played for the Wallabies in 1978 and 1979, and Andrew Leeds who played for his country between 1986 and 1988 all wore the Two Blues with pride and then switched to the Parramatta Eels. Leeds and Peter Kay, capped against England in 1988, were the club’s most recent Wallabies until Tatafu Polota-Nau played two Tests on the Wallabies 2005 Tour against England and Ireland.

Club information

Club Name: Western Sydney Two Blues

Nickname: Two Blues

Founded: 1879

Home-stadium: Merrylands RSL Club Rugby Park (Formerly Granville Park)

Uniform colours: Navy-Blue and Sky-Blue

Premiership Titles: 3 titles: 1977, 1985, 1986

Office holders

As of 2021:

President: Scott Rogan

General Manager: Christian Burden

Director of Coaching: Sailosi Tagicakibau

Club Captain: TBA

1st Grade Captain: Aleks Dabek

Records

Honours

Grand Finalists and Premiers

Representative players

International men's teams 15-a-side players:

AustraliaBob BrownDebut: 1975-05-24 vs. England in Sydney Aus / fullback / (Wallaby 575)
AustraliaBill CeruttiAustralian Rep in 17 Tests & made famous the number 13 Jersey in the 1920s-30s.
AustraliaPhil ClementsDebut: 1982-09-11 vs. New Zealand in Auckland, NZ / Lock / (Wallaby 631)
AustraliaAdam ColemanDebut: 2016
AustraliaPatrick CooperPlayed for Wallabies is 1965
AustraliaPeter KayDebut: 1988-06-12 vs. England in Sydney, Aus / Prop / (Wallaby 669)
AustraliaKen KearneyDebut: 1947-06-14 vs. New Zealand in Brisbane, Aus / Hooker / (Wallaby 346)
AustraliaMartin KnightDebut: 1978-06-11 vs. Wales in Brisbane, NZ / centre / (Wallaby 593)
AustraliaAndrew LeedsDebut: 1986-09-06 vs. New Zealand in Auckland, NZ / fullback / (Wallaby 658)
AustraliaMick MartinDebut: 1980-05-24 vs. Fiji in Suva, Fiji / wing / (Wallaby 612)
AustraliaAdrian McDonaldPlayed for Wallabies in 1983
AustraliaTony MelroseDebut: 1978-09-09 vs. New Zealand in Auckland, NZ / Flyhalf / (Wallaby 601)
AustraliaTaqele NaiyaravoroDebut: 2015
AustraliaRod PhelpsDebut: 1955-09-03 vs. New Zealand in Dunedin, NZ / fullback / (Wallaby 412)
AustraliaTatafu Polota-NauDebut: 2005-11-12 vs England in Twickenham, England / Hooker / (Wallaby 806)
AustraliaDon PriceForward Toured Fiji with the Australian Rugby Union Team in 1980
AustraliaRay PriceDebut: 1974-05-25 vs. New Zealand in Sydney, Aus / Flanker / (Wallaby 573)
AustraliaEric TweedaleDebut: 1946-09-14 vs. New Zealand in Dunedin, NZ / Prop / (Wallaby 336)
AustraliaMalcolm van Gelder1958
AustraliaLance WalkerDebut: 1982-08-28 vs. New Zealant in Wellington, NZ / Hooker / (Wallaby 629)
AustraliaStan WickhamPlayed for Wallabies in 1901 to 1906
TongaDamien FakafanuaCentre/wing for Tonga in 2012 Pacific Nations Cup
TongaJohn FonuaDebut: 2002-06-15 vs. Samoa at Nuku A'lofa, Tonga / wing / (Tonga Player 472)
TongaSitiveni MafiLock, Flanker for Tonga Debut in the 2010 Pacific nations Cup
TongaSateki TuipulotuDebut:1994-07-17 vs. Fiji at Nuku A'lofa, Tonga / fullback / (Tonga Player 368)
FijiTaniela RawaqaFullback/Flyhalf for Fiji. The Second Highest point scorer in Pacific Nations Cup at 103 Points
SamoaFa'avaivai Tanoa'iDebut: 1996-07-13 Vs. Tonga at Apia, Samoa / Flyhalf
SamoaLua VailoaloaHalfback for the Manu Samoa in 2011 Pacific Nations Cup and non travelling reserve in 2011 Rugby World Cup
New ZealandSosene AnesiDebut: 2005 vs. Fiji in Albany / fullback,Wing / (All-Black 1054)
CanadaEvan OlmsteadDebut: 2011 Canada U20 Vs. Georgia in Tbilisi, Georgia / 2nd Row/Flanker/No.8
PhilippinesOliver SaundersCurrent Philippines Rugby player and Top point scorer (Flyhalf)
PhilippinesKenneth SternCurrent Philippines Rugby Player (Winger)

Other players signed to professional clubs:

AustraliaDaniel YakapoRugby Viadana
ItalySteven BortolussiPetrarca Padova Rugby
SamoaIese Leota Stade Montois
SamoaChris SeuteniCA Brive
TongaSitiveni MafiWestern Force

International women's teams players:

AustraliaAlex Sulusi Australian women's national rugby union team
AustraliaChloe ButlerAustralian women's national rugby union team
AustraliaNita MaynardAustralian women's national rugby union team
AustraliaHanna SioAustralian women's national rugby union team (sevens)

Other Australian team representatives:

AustraliaDaniel YakapoAustralian national rugby union team (sevens)
AustraliaAndrew VatuveiAustralian Schoolboys Rugby Union
AustraliaAndrew CoxAustralian Barbarians Rugby Team
AustraliaJosh KaifaAustralian Barbarians Rugby Team
AustraliaMika Polota NauAustralian Barbarians Rugby Team
AustraliaRodney Ma'aAustralian Barbarians Rugby Team

Life members

200 club

The following players have played over 200 Grade games for Parramatta Two Blues

Juniors

Parramatta junior clubs

Notable junior players

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Our History .