Proten Community Cup Rugby League
Jamie Parsons Not too long after the town of Rankins Springs upped and moved itself 10km down the road from its original location at the old pub near a freshwater spring to get itself closer to the new railway, the local townspeople and farmers decided they were here for good, so we better get something to do. In 1925 & 1926, the same time as … Continue reading Rankins Springs celebrates 100 years of rugby league
Jamie Parsons After a couple of shake-ups in the last two years, with the inclusion of Deniliquin taking the competition to 7 teams and then the return of Narrandera to Group 20 late last year taking it back to 6 teams, the Proten Cup will go through it’s biggest change yet with the men’s competition confirmed to be playing under full international rules for the … Continue reading Changes on the way for Proten Cup this season after switch to full international rules
Tallon Smith The Hay rugby league community is mourning another legend of the club’s golden era after the passing of premiership coach and Magpies Team of the Century member Geoff Snowdon last week at the age of 81. Coach of the club’s 1967 side that defeated Coleambally 17-9 to claim the Group 17 crown, Snowdon led the Magpies to three straight grand finals from 1966 … Continue reading Vale Geoff Snowdon, Legendary 1967 Hay Magpies Premiership Captain-Coach
Jamie Parsons Last year’s grand finalists have now confirmed their coaches and committees for the 2026 season. The Rams had already locked in Noah Forbutt as coach for the fourth straight season, with co-coach Adam Thomas stepping down from the position this year. The Rams have also announced their women’s coaches, with four-time premiership winner Amie Fazekas joining with returning 2023 player Amanda Rourke to … Continue reading Proten Cup: Barellan, Ivanhoe and Deniliquin confirm 2026 coaches
Tallon Smith Coolamon is one step closer to having its own rugby league team once again after a successful initial meeting was held at the Coolamon Sports and Recreation Club on Saturday afternoon. Organised by Battlers For Bush Footy and the Coolamon Raiders JRLFC President Tom Besgrove, the meeting was designed to give locals an opportunity to explore, discuss and shape the direction of the … Continue reading Healthy attendance at initial meeting adds to momentum for senior league in Coolamon
Rugby league fans in Coolamon are being urged to attend a special formative meeting this weekend which aims to revive a senior team in the town. Organised by Battlers For Bush Footy and Coolamon Raiders JRLC President Tom Besgrove, the meeting aims to re-establish a senior rugby league presence in the town after three decades without a side. Battlers For Bush Footy founder and meeting … Continue reading Special meeting this weekend aiming to revive senior rugby league in Coolamon
Tallon Smith The famous green and gold jumper is set to return to Group 20 after an application from the Narrandera Lizards to re-join the competition was accepted at the competition’s annual general meeting. The Lizards, who have spent the past eight seasons playing in the Proten Community Cup, will return to the competition likely via Reserve Grade, marking the first time since 2005 that … Continue reading Narrandera to re-join Group 20 after application accepted by competition
Tallon Smith The country rugby league world has lost a giant of the game, after the passing of the great Peter “Parra” Montgomery last night aged 79. A legendary figure across Groups 9, 17 and 20, and the Country Rugby League as a whole, Parra held positions as a player, journalist and administrator at local, group and state level. Peter Montgomery originally hailed from Sydney, … Continue reading Vale Peter “Parra” Montgomery: A rugby league legend, a friend, and a mentor
The Proten Cup Presentation Night was held on Saturday at the Griffith Leagues Club. Barellan’s Noah Forbutt was awarded the Player of the Year award, coming first in the 3-2-1 votes conducted every week in the regular season. It is the second best & fairest award Forbutt has won, first winning in his debut year in 2021. Barellan has now won four player of the … Continue reading Proten Cup: Noah Forbutt and Tilly Heath crowned players of the year
Tallon Smith & Jamie Parsons Barellan’s men’s side have finally repeated their women’s side’s grand final feats, winning the Proten Cup Group 17 premiership for the first time in 22 years against Ivanhoe 22-20 at Stan Peters Oval in Hillston on Saturday. Barellan’s men’s side started their game the way their three-time champion girls’ finished, dominating early exchanges with Ivanhoe. Luke Farmer went over from … Continue reading Proten Cup: Barellan ends 22-year drought with dual premiership victories
Battlers For Bush Footy 