History

Waverley Rugby Club was founded in 1971 by ex-students of the neighbouring Waverley College and their friends from other local schools.

Some of those who played for the Club in those early years were the sons whose fathers (as schoolboys) had won the 1932 Kentwell Cup - being the first to inscribe the name "Waverley" on the sterling silver cup of the NSW Suburban 1st Gde, 1st Divison, trophy. Apart from some of the members of that 1932 team being early supporters of the Club, one was the Coach of the Club's first premiership in 1972, the undefeated Walker Cup (1st Gde of the then NSW Suburban, 3rd Division "B" competition). Another cut the pocket from his "1932 Premiership Blazer" and had it placed in the centre of the Club's 1st Gde Best & Fairest Shield named in honour of the Captain of the 1932 Kentwell Premiers who kicked the winning goal.

As the Club developed during the 1970s and 1980s, the name "Waverley", its players and supporters, became synonymous with diversity, reflecting the multiculturalism of the Waverley municipality, comprising the suburbs of Bondi, Bondi Beach, Bondi Junction, Bronte, Clovelly (in part), Dover Heights, North Bondi, Queens Park, Rose Bay (in part), Tamarama, Vaucluse (in part) and Waverley itself. The Club also developed into a sporting club playing netball, softball, touch football, volleyball and, in 2001, womens' rugby.

The initial dream of those who founded and supported the Club, as well as the many others who joined and suported in the subsequent years, was realised in 1989, when the Club's 1st Grade brought the "Kentwell Cup" back to Waverley. This was repeated in 1990 and 1991 with Waverley becoming only the second Club to achieve a "three peat" in Kentwell Cup premierships and also winning the 1st Div Club Championship 1989-90-91-92.

The success has continued. Waverley has now won 12 Club Championships and 55 premierships (54 male and 1 women's) since 1971.

But the Club has also, since its foundation, had as one of its aims, apart from playing good Rugby, having a wonderful social side!  Indeed, in the 1980s, when the NSW Suburban Rugby Union had social awards, Waverley was voted by the member clubs in its division for 5 years in a row as having the best social life:

• 1984 1st Division "Most Social" & "Best Host"
• 1985 2nd Division "Most Social" & "Best Host"
• 1986 2nd Division "Most Social", "Best Host" & "Best Administered"
• 1987 1st Division "Most Social" & "Best Host"
• 1988 1st Division "Most Social" & "Best Host"

The tradition continues today. Waverley teams are instantly recognizable by the iconic playing strip of Royal Blue and Gold and the warm welcome extended to visiting teams, officials and supporters.

Waverley’s players, young and old, male and female, are renowned for being a very tight-knit group and over their years at the Club develop friendships that last a lifetime.

Former players of note include Owen Finegan (Australia, Men's, 56 Caps and 1999 World Cup Winning Wallaby), Paige Butcher, Annita Flannery  Noella Green and Ruan Sims (Australia, Women's), Emma McBride (Scotland, Women's), Josia Taqiri (Fiji, Men's, 1 Cap), Sebastian Valech Alonso (Chile, Men's, 8 Caps), Eddie Paea  (Tonga, Men's, 3 Caps) and Ben Evans (Wales, Men's, 27 Caps).

The Club currently competes in Division One of the NSW Suburban Rugby Union or  "Subbies" Rugby, as it is affectionately known, a six-team competition with clubs competing for the Kentwell, Burke, Whiddon, Judd and Sutherland Cups and U21s (Colts).  The Club also fields a 6th grade team in the Halligan Cup.  

In 2024, Waverley won the NSW Suburban Rugby Union 1st Division "Club Championship" for the second time in 3 seasons, and, in the minor premiership, Waverley was placed 3rd in 1st Gde, and "Minor Premiers" in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Grades, resulting in all 5 men's open teams reaching the semi-finals, while 5th Gde "B" ran second in a first-past-the-post competition.

Waverley then played in 4 grand finals, being "Grand Finalists" in 1st Gde, "Finalists" in 2nd Gde, "PREMIERS" in 3rd Gde for the third year in a row, "UNDEFEATED PREMIERS" and "back-to-back" premiers in 4th Gde, "Grand Finalists" in 5th Gde "A".

IN SUMMARY:

Bruce Graham Shield (NSW Suburban Rugby 1st Div. Club Championship):

Waverley "Club Champions" (2nd time in 3 seasons - 2022 & 2024)

Kentwell Cup (1st Gde): Waverley "Grand Finalists"

Burke Cup (2nd Gde): Waverley "Finalists"

Whiddon Cup (3rd Gde): Waverley "PREMIERS" (three-peat Premiers 2022-23-24)

Judd Cup (4th Gde): Waverley "UNDEFEATED PREMIERS" (back-to-back Premiers 2023-24)

Sutherland Cup (5"A"): Waverley "Grand Finalists"

Halligan Cup (5"B"): Waverley "Runners-up"​​​​​​​

Honour Roll

(1971-2024)

1 Inter-Divisional Club Championship

11 Divisional Club Championships

88 Grand Finals, 55 Premierships

NSW Suburban Rugby Union Inter-Divisional Club Champions – 1 time

 (The Ian "Cowboy" Ross Cup – Across all Divisions. Instituted 2010): 2022

Runners-Up: 2016

NSW Suburban Rugby Union Divisional Club Champions – 11 times

Bruce Graham Shield (1^stDiv.) (6): 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2022, 2024

Reliance Club Shield (2^nd Div.) (4): 1979, 1986, 2002, 2016

Dr Keith Harris Shield (3^rdDiv.) (1): 2007

Runners-Up 5 times: 1973 (3^rd Div), 1974 (3^rd Div), 1987 (1^st Div), 1988 (1^st Div), 2001 (2^nd Div), 2015 (3^rd Div)

NSW Suburban Rugby Union 1^stGrade Premiers – 7 times

Kentwell Cup (1^st Div.) (3): 1989, 1990, 1991

Barraclough Cup (2^nd Div.) (2): 1986, 2001

Clark Cup (3^rd Div.) (1): 2007

Walker Cup (3^rdDiv. “B” – now 4^th Div.) (1): 1972 (Undef.)

Runners-Up 9 times: 1979 (2^nd Div), 1987 (1^st Div), 1988 (1^st Div), 1999 (2^nd Div), 2000 (2^nd Div), 2002 (2^nd Div), 2014 (3^rd Div),

2020 (1^st Div), 2024 (1st Div)

NSW Suburban Rugby Union 2nd Grade Premiers – 10 times

Burke Cup (1^st Div.) (4): 1990, 1991, 2017, 2022

Stockdale Cup (2^nd Div.) (2): 1979, 2016

Farrant Cup (3^rd Div.) (3): 2012, 2014, 2015

Grose Cup (3^rd Div. – now 4^thDiv.) (1): 1974

Runners-Up 7 times: 1986 (2^nd Div), 1992 (1^st Div), 1995 (1^st Div), 2007 (3^rd Div), 2008 (2^nd Div), 2013 (3^rd Div), 2018 (1^st Div)​​​​​​​

NSW Suburban Rugby Union 3rd Grade Premiers – 10 times

Whiddon Cup (1^st Div.) (5): 1992, 1995, 2002 (Undef.), 2023, 2024

Blunt Cup (2^nd Div.) (4): 1977, 1979, 2002 (Undef.), 2016 (Undef.)

Campbell Cup (3^rd Div.) (1): 2013

Runners-Up 6 times: 1987 (1^st Div), 1989 (1^st Div), 2000 (2^nd Div), 2001 (2^nd Div), 2014 (3^rd Div), 2020 (1^st Div)

NSW Suburban Rugby Union 4th Grade Premiers – 19 times

Judd Cup (1^st Div.) (13): 1981, 1982, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2019, 2023,

2024 (Undef.)

Richardson Cup (2^nd Div.) (5): 1985 (Undef.), 1986, 2000, 2009 (Undef.), 2010 (Undef.)

Nicholson Cup (3^rd Div.) (1): 2013

Runners-Up 5 times: 1983 (1^st Div), 1997 (1^st Div), 2015 (3rd Div), 2016 (2nd Div), 2022 (1^st Div)

NSW Suburban Rugby Union 5th Grade Premiers – 7 times

Sutherland Cup (1^st Div.) (7): 1983, 1986 (no gf), 1987 (Undef.)(no gf), 1988, 1989, 1997, 2023

Runners-Up 5 times: 1992 (1^st Div), 1996 (1^st Div), 2009 (Halligan Open Div), 2022 (1^st Div), 2024 (1^st Div)

NSW Suburban Rugby Union U21s ("Colts")  – 1 time

Barbour Cup (1^st Div.): 2022

NSW Rugby Union Women's Premiers – 1 time

Plate (2nd Div.): 2006

Runners-Up: 2007 

NSW Suburban Rugby Union 6th Grade

Runners-Up 1 time: 2024 (Halligan Open Div - no gf)

NSW Suburban Rugby Union 7th & 8th Grades

Runners-Up 3^rd Div 2 times: 1990 (7^th) 1990 (8^th)

Knock-out Competitions

Taki Toa Challenge Shield Winners – 18 times

1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999,

2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009​​​​

NSW Suburban Rugby Union 7s Knockout winners

2023 (Plate)

NSW Suburban Rugby Union 7s Knockout Under 21s Winners

2021 

Internationals

Internationals who began at Waverley ​​​​​​​

Owen Finegan - Supporter 1981-89, Player 1990 Whiddon Cup Minor Prems

(Australia, Men’s, 1996-2003, 56 caps, 1999 RWC Winner)

Emma McBride (Scotland, Women’s) 

Sebastian Valech Alonso (Chile, Men's 2014-17, 8 Caps);

Finn Wright (Australian Schoolboys, 2017)

Internationals selected from Waverley

Paige E. Butcher (Australia, Women's, 2001); Annita Flanery (Australia, Women's, 2002); 

Ruan Sims (Australia, Women's, 2007-08)

Noella Green (Australia, Women's, 2012)