St Patrick's Rugby Club, also known as St Pats, is a

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the Comparison of rugby league and rugby union, two codes of ru ...

club based in

Strathfield Strathfield is a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 12 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the Municipality of Strathfield. A smal ...

, New South Wales. The club, formerly known as St Patrick's Old Boys, currently field six teams in the second division of the NSW Suburban competition, known as "Subbies". St Pats was formed in 1964 and since their elevation to first division had not been relegated until 2017. The club was formed by ex-students of

St Patrick's College, Strathfield , motto_translation = Matthew 5:16: Let Your Light Shine , location = , Inner West Sydney , state = New South Wales , country = Australia , coordinates = , other_n ...

but now has members from various backgrounds including a number of international players.

History

The club was founded in 1964, but initially played rugby league. After St Patrick's College changed to being a rugby union school in 1965, St Pats Rugby Club fielded an under 20s rugby union side in the Western Sydney Junior competition in 1966. The club had expanded to field three teams by 1969, with two sides playing in the NSW Subbies second division. John O’Rourke was the coach. Because

Knox Rugby Club The Knox Rugby Club, formerly known as Knox Old Boys RUFC, is a rugby union football club which plays in Division One of the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union and is based in Sydney, Australia. The club has won the Kentwell Cup, among other tro ...

also played in black, St Pats made a jersey change to include gold hoops. The club added a fourth team in 1971 as the competition expanded, but was still training at St Patrick's College during those years. St Pats won the Club division two championship in 1973 (as well as the C.W. Blunt Cup for the second grade premiership) and gained promotion to play in Subbies division one for the following season. The club's training location was moved to Ashfield Centenary Sports Ground in 1974 and the Illinois Hotel was the de facto clubhouse. The black jersey with a gold collar (as used by St Patrick's College) was adopted in 1979. In 1980, the club moved home ground again, this time to Hudson Park and a new clubhouse was built and opened the following year. Field lighting was installed in the 1990s and upgraded in 2005 to allow night matches to be played. The St Pats club currently fields six teams in the NSW Subbies competition .

Premierships

The club has won twenty six premierships across various grades. The

Kentwell Cup The Kentwell Cup is the major trophy for the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union (NSWSRU), colloquially known as the "Subbies" competition. It is awarded to the first grade premiers of the first division competition. The Kentwell Cup was origin ...

trophy has been won on four occasions; in 1975 – coached by Don Loughry, in 1993 – coached by Paul Donnellan, in 2013 – shared with Balmain after a 33-all extra-time draw, and in 2014 after a 40–5 trouncing of Drummoyne * 2020 Robertson Cup * 2018 Robertson Cup * 2014 Kentwell Cup * 2013 Kentwell Cup * 2013 Judd Cup * 2012 Burke Cup * 2011 Barbour Cup * 2010 Burke Cup * 2001 Judd Cup * 2000 Whiddon Cup * 2000 Judd Cup * 1999 Whiddon Cup * 1999 Judd Cup * 1998 Sutherland Cup * 1998 Burke Cup * 1997 Whiddon Cup * 1996 Barbour Cup * 1995 Burke Cup * 1994 Burke Cup * 1993 Kentwell Cup * 1989 Whiddon Cup * 1988 Whiddon Cup * 1985 Whiddon Cup * 1976 Whiddon Cup * 1976 Judd Cup * 1975 Kentwell Cup * 1973 Blunt Cup * 1969 Under 20s Notes

Club Championships

St Patrick's has won the Club Championship Trophy on six occasions. The Second Division "Reliance Shield" in 1973, and the Club Championship in the First Division in 1976, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2013, and 2014. The club also won the interdivisional championship, known as the Cowboy Cup, in 2013.

Notable players

Steve Devine Stephen John Devine (born 12 December 1976) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He is a former All Black and international sevens player for Australia. Devine played for Australia Under-21 before relocating to New Zealand. A loyal servant ...

– St Pat's Best and Fairest (1989), Australia 7s (1998),

All Blacks The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 198 ...

(2002–03). The club's current first grade coach is

Don Burke Donald William Burke (born 16 July 1947) is an Australian television presenter, television producer, author and horticulturist. He is best known as the longtime host of '' Burke's Backyard'', a lifestyle program produced by his wife's company ...

Burke's Backyard ''Burke's Backyard'' was an Australian gardening and lifestyle series presented by horticulturist Don Burke, broadcast on both radio and television. On television, it was a regular weekly series on the Nine Network from 12 September 1987 to 26 ...

fame.

References

External links

* {{NSWSRU Rugby union teams in Sydney Rugby clubs established in 1964 1964 establishments in Australia