Old Ignatians' Rugby Club - The Published Histories of New Zealand Rugby Football

Club History

Old Ignatians’ Rugby Club

The Old Ignatians’ Rugby Club, often called “Iggies,” was founded in 1969 by the Old Ignatian’s Union, the ex-students association of Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview, a Jesuit school in Sydney, Australia. The club began with a single team that, in a memorable start, forfeited its first match due to a clash with the school’s Head of the River rowing competition. They went on to draw their second match and reached the Grand Final in their inaugural season, though they lost. The early years of the club were marked by a series of Grand Final defeats before they secured their first premiership in 1974. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the club grew, adding more teams and winning several premierships. A key period of success came in the late 1980s. In 1987 and 1988, the 1st Grade team won the McLean Cup and Barraclough Cup, respectively. This success, along with a Club Championship win in 1988, saw the club promoted to the 1st Division of the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union competition. After a brief return to 2nd Division in the mid-1990s, the club experienced a resurgence. The year 1996 was particularly successful, with four premierships and another Club Championship, which saw them return to 1st Division. The club’s pinnacle achievement came in 2002 when, after 32 years, their 1st Grade side won the prestigious Kentwell Cup. They also won the Burke Cup in 1999, 2001, and 2003, and the Bruce Graham Shield as Division 1 Club Champions for three consecutive years from 2000 to 2002. In 2024, facing declining participation numbers, the Old Ignatians Rugby Club merged with the nearby Lane Cove Rugby Club, which was founded in 1949, to form the Lane Cove Old Ignatians. This new entity is dedicated to promoting rugby in the Lane Cove community while honoring the traditions of both founding clubs. They play in the New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union competition.

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Old Ignatians’ Rugby Football Club 30th Anniversary Dinner

Club:

Year published:

Author:

Page count:

Notes:

Old Ignatians’ Rugby Club

1999

Michael Fahey (President)

24 pages

Lovely small book that commemorates 30 years of Old Ignatians’ rugby. It contains the history of the club, its successes, team photo’s, players, anecdotes and the dinner menu!

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Old Ignatians’ Rugby Football Club 30th Anniversary Dinner

Club:

Old Ignatians’ Rugby Club

Year:

1999

Author:

Michael Fahey (President)

Pages:

24 pages

Notes:

Lovely small book that commemorates 30 years of Old Ignatians’ rugby. It contains the history of the club, its successes, team photo’s, players, anecdotes and the dinner menu!

Club History