The Hunter Wildfires,[a] also known as the Hunter Rugby Club, or simply NHRU Wildfires, are an Australian rugby union club based in the New South Wales city of Newcastle West, New South Wales. The club currently plays in the semi-professional competition the Shute Shield where they have been since the 2020 season. Formerly in the Shute Shield between 1995 and 1999, the Wildfires returned to the competition following various issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] The Hunter Wildfires made their debut against Warringah on 1 April 1995 at Pittwater Park, Warriewood.[3] The team lost 57–8, conceding nine tries.[3] are the only team in the Shute Shield competition that is based outside of the Sydney area.
| Union | Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Wildfires |
| Founded | 1869 |
| Location | Newcastle West, New South Wales |
| Region | Hunter Valley |
| Ground(s) | Newcastle No.2 Sportsground[1] (Capacity: 5,000) |
| Coach(es) | Scott Coleman |
| League(s) | Shute Shield |
| 2023 | TBD |
Established in 1869,[4] the club has since become a representative club for Newcastle and the surrounding area.[2] The Wildfires were given final approval to re-join the Shute Shield on 25 June 2020, after both the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union (NHRU) board and the local clubs approved of the decision.[5][6] The club has never won a premiership.
Notes
edit- ^ Colloquially called the “Newcastle Wildfires”.
References
edit- ^ "AuStadiums – Newcastle No.2 Sportsground". austadiums.com.
- ^ a b Decent, Tom (14 August 2020). "From rivals to matching it with the Shute Shield's best: How the Hunter Wildfires ignited as a team". Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ a b "Debutants drubbed in NSW union premiership". Canberra Times. Vol. 70, no. 21, 899. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 April 1995. p. 14. Retrieved 12 March 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Hunter Wildfires – Our History". wildfiresrugby.com.au. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023.
- ^ Gardiner, James (15 June 2020). "Rugby union: NHRU board gives tick for Wildfires but seeks final approval from clubs". Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023.
- ^ Gardiner, James (27 June 2020). "Rugby union: Wallabies legend to work with Wildfires in lead-up to Sydney return". Newcastle Herald. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023.