No footy for Armidale club in 2025 after Rams withdraw in 20th anniversary season

Tallon Smith The Armidale Rams have withdrawn from the 2025 Group 19 Rugby League season after a lack of players saw them unable to field A-Grade or League tag sides this year. The proud club, formed in 2005 from the merger of the Armidale Galloping Greens and YCW, was set to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, before the disappointing news broke via a statement … Continue reading No footy for Armidale club in 2025 after Rams withdraw in 20th anniversary season

Return of the ‘reggies’: Group 19 to field second grade competition in 2025 under new model

Tallon Smith Group 19 Rugby League will field its first Reserve Grade competition in almost a decade after clubs were briefed on the idea at a Group meeting on Sunday. The competition will follow a similar model to the Castlereagh League reserves, with matches beginning on the latest possible week to complete a round robin before finals, with the grade set for a late May … Continue reading Return of the ‘reggies’: Group 19 to field second grade competition in 2025 under new model

Update: Group 19 Anzac Day to take place after 11th-hour backflip

By Tallon Smith An 11th-hour deal will see the traditional Group 19 Anzac Day fixture between the Inverell Hawks and Tingha Tigers go ahead after initially being cancelled yesterday. The match, which has been hosted by Inverell since 2015, was called off yesterday after a controversial change of venue to Tingha this year was made by the Group 19 Board. However, the match has now … Continue reading Update: Group 19 Anzac Day to take place after 11th-hour backflip

Group 19 Anzac Day match called off but confusion still reigns supreme

By Tallon Smith Update (Wednesday 5:32pm): An 11th-hour backflip will see the match proceed tomorrow. Details are here: Group 19 Anzac Day to take place after 11th-hour backflip Update (Wednesday 2:27pm): The Inverell Hawks have now expressed a desire to fulfil the fixture, however a decision is yet to be made by the Group 19 Board. It is unclear as to what will happen, and … Continue reading Group 19 Anzac Day match called off but confusion still reigns supreme

Four towns on the same highway without Senior Men’s teams in 2024

By Tallon Smith Country rugby league is again reeling after more clubs announced they will be sitting out the 2024 season this week. The latest losses have centred around the New England region, with the Tenterfield Tigers the latest club to announce their withdrawal after being unable to form competitive teams for the season. The club, which competes in the Border Rivers competition after leaving … Continue reading Four towns on the same highway without Senior Men’s teams in 2024

Grand Final Watch: Kendall, Narwan, Merimbula, Wolfpack all crowned premiers in respective competitions

By Tallon Smith The Kendall Blues have been crowned the Hastings League Premiers for the 2023 season after a 34-10 win over the Beechwood Shamrocks at Kendall Showground on Saturday afternoon. A large crowd gathered to watch the first Hastings League Final to be played outside of Wauchope in the league’s 103-year history, with the Blues piling on the points in the second half for … Continue reading Grand Final Watch: Kendall, Narwan, Merimbula, Wolfpack all crowned premiers in respective competitions

Group 19 Finals: Narwan seal Grand Final spot against Guyra

By Tallon Smith The Narwan Eels have secured a spot in the Group 19 Grand Final for the second year running after a 26-22 win over the Minor Premiers Guyra Super Spuds at the Guyra Sporting Complex on Sunday. After being runaway competition leaders and dropping just two games across the regular season, Guyra met their match in the Major Semi Final, with the defending … Continue reading Group 19 Finals: Narwan seal Grand Final spot against Guyra

Group 19 Finals: Guyra take out Minor Premiership, while ‘Plate’ competition re-imagines the concept of Reserve Grade

By Tallon Smith The Guyra Super Spuds have written one of rugby league’s true fairytales after comfortably securing the 2023 Group 19 Minor Premiership, just one year after not even fielding a side in the competition. After entering recess in their centenary season in 2022, the Spuds returned with a vengeance in 2023, winning 12 of 14 games to secure the league leadership and a … Continue reading Group 19 Finals: Guyra take out Minor Premiership, while ‘Plate’ competition re-imagines the concept of Reserve Grade

Groups 19, 21 to feature Under 18s competitions once again in 2023

By Tallon Smith The Group 19 and Group 21 Rugby League will feature Under 18s competitions once again in 2023 according to their competition draws released earlier this week.  After a lean few seasons on the Under 18s front, which has been highlighted to Battlers For Bush Footy by many a club and league president as the single biggest issue going forward for country rugby … Continue reading Groups 19, 21 to feature Under 18s competitions once again in 2023