Bowral Blacks Rugby Club, NSW Verified listing

Bowral Blacks Rugby Union Club is based at Eridge Park, Burradoo in the Southern Highlands. We run both senior and junior grades which are open to men, boys and girls.

Bowral Blacks Rugby Club is proud of its 45 year commitment to providing opportunity and support to thousands of boys, girls, men and women to experience the joy of playing rugby.

The club commenced in 1972 when a gathering of rugby of rugby tragics responded to a call to arms from founder Robin Croker to form a club to be called the Bowral Blacks and to join the Canberra Cup competition. A second grade quickly followed as many local lads relished the opportunity for a game of rugby. A First Grade Premiership was won in 1973.

A change to the Illawarra Competition occurred in 1978. Five first grade premierships have been won, two third grade premierships, an Under 19’s premiership and in 2017 our second grade side defeated Vikings 35-10 in the Grand Final. 2017 also saw our first grade side reach the semi finals. The 2018 season was the most successful to date with First Grade defeating Avondale 34-18 to win the Grand Final and Second Grade defeated Campbelltown 28-18 to take the premiership. Both sides performances were enhanced by a higher level of fitness and skill development and the work of a very professional coaching team headed by Gene Fairbanks (Queensland Reds, ACT Brumbies and Western Force), Al Kanaar (Waratahs), Peter Burt and Ben Hindmarsh (Eastern Suburbs).

The Blacks are very proud of our Wallabies Jim Hindmarsh and Steve Streeter. Both lads are wonderful ambassadors for rugby and in particular the Blacks. Many NSW and Country players have emerged through the ranks of the Blacks. Supporting the Club in many different ways are 1976 Wallaby team members Reg Smith, Glen Eisenhauer, Ron Graham, Jim Hindmarsh and John Lambie who MC’s our member’s luncheon.

A clubhouse was built at Eridge Park in 1976 as a result of strong community support and a partnership with Wingecarribee Shire Council. This partnership was revised in 2015 allowing for major renovations and extensions to be undertaken. The local “Lift Up” ladies committee conducted a ladies luncheon and raised the funds to provide disabled access to the second floor of the Clubhouse. In 2018 the club formed a small committee to apply to the State Government for a grant to extend on the existing clubhouse which proved to be successful and construction is due to begin in 2019.

The “Short Blacks” are our juniors. They are a strength within the club as boys and girls develop a love of and skills in the game of rugby.

The Bowral Blacks upholds the responsibility we have to the Southern Highlands community to provide sporting and social opportunities for the youth of the District, in doing so developing appropriate attitudes around sport and life based on community expectations and values.