The Drummoyne District Rugby Club (“DDRFC”), also known as the “Dirty Reds,” has a rich and complex history that can be traced back to the very origins of rugby union in Australia. The club’s story is an unbroken continuum of several pioneering clubs in the Sydney area.

The roots of the DDRFC are found in two clubs: the Balmain Rugby Club and the Glebe Rugby Club.

Balmain Rugby Club (1873): The Balmain Football Club was formed in 1873, and in 1874, it became a founding club of the Southern Rugby Union, the first rugby governing body in Australia. Balmain won the first-ever premiership in the competition in 1875. The club produced several notable players, including the captain of the 1875 premiership team, W.L. Murdoch, who would later become Australia’s test cricket captain.

Glebe Rugby Club (1889): A rugby club was founded in the neighboring district of Glebe in 1889. The club quickly earned the nickname “The Dirty Reds” due to their vigorous style of play and their scarlet jerseys. Glebe became a powerhouse in the early 20th century, winning seven premierships between 1900 and World War I.

The Merger and the Drummoyne Name (1919 – 1932)

The impact of World War I took a heavy toll on playing numbers, and in 1919, the two famous clubs were forced to merge to survive. The new entity was called the Glebe-Balmain Rugby Football Club. The merged club was highly successful in the 1920s, winning four premierships.

In 1931, the club secured the use of a newly constructed Drummoyne Oval. To ensure the longevity of their tenure at the new ground, the club reluctantly agreed to change its name to the Drummoyne District Rugby Football Club in 1932. Despite the name change, the club retained the traditions of its predecessor clubs, including Glebe’s scarlet jerseys and “Dirty Reds” nickname, as well as Balmain’s black and gold colors, which are still represented in the club’s socks today.

Today, Drummoyne Rugby competes in the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union, a leading amateur competition in Sydney. The club has experienced significant success in this competition, winning multiple Kentwell Cups (the first-grade premiership) and other championships.