Here’s the draw for the 2013 Season.

If you are interested in playing for us in 2013 please email balmainrugby@gmail.com and let us know you are thinking of joining us or simply rock up to training. We train on Tuesday & Thursdays from 7:30pm to 9:00pm at Leichhardt #2, Glover St (next to Leichhardt Oval)

Saturday 6 April – Round 1: Balmain v Beecroft at Blackmore Park.

Saturday 13 April – Round 2: Mosman v Balmain at Rawson Park

Saturday 20 April – Round 3: Colleagues v Balmain at Woollahra Oval #2

Saturday 27 April – Wet weather week. BRC’s world famous Pub Golf

Saturday 4 May – Round 4: Balmain v St Patrick’s at Blackmore Park

Saturday 11 May – Round 5: Balmain v Old Ignatians at Blackmore Park. Stillbirth Foundation Day

Saturday 18 May – Round 6: Drummoyne v Balmain at Drummoyne Oval

Saturday 25 May – Round 7: Balmain v Hunters Hill at Blackmore Park

Saturday 1 June – Round 8: Knox v Balmain at Barra Brui Oval

Saturday 8 June – Guaranteed bye

Saturday 15 June – Round 9: Balmain v Campbelltown at Blackmore Park

Saturday 22 June – Round 10: Balmain v Mosman at Blackmore Park. 1st Lions Test in Brisbane

Saturday 29 June – Round 11: Beecroft v Balmain at Headen Park. 2nd Lions Test in Melbourne

Saturday 6 July – Wet weather week. 3rd Lions Test in Sydney

Saturday 13 July – Round 12: Balmain v Colleagues at Blackmore Park

Saturday 20 July – Round 13: St Patricks v Balmain at Hudson Park

Saturday 27 July – Round 14: Old Ignatians v Balmain at Ryde Oval

Saturday 3 August – Round 15: Balmain v Drummoyne at Blackmore Park. Old Boys Day

Saturday 10 August – Wet weather week

Saturday 17 August – Round 16: Hunters Hill v Balmain at Boronia Park

Saturday 24 August – Round 17: Balmain v Knox at Blackmore Park. Ladies Day

Saturday 31 August – Round 18: Campbelltown v Balmain at Campbelltown Showgrounds

Saturday 7 September – Semi Finals: venue TBC

Saturday 14 September – Semi Finals: venue TBC

Saturday 21 September – Grand Finals: venue TBC

Balmain Rugby Club is headed to Argentina this off-season for a playing tour that includes two Tests; Argentina vs New Zealand & Argentina vs Australia, as well as some fantastic touring.

This tour is limited to 30 places. We need 20 players and the remaining 10 are open to friends, fathers, mothers, wives, girlfriends or mistresses.

We are using the services of our sponsor Fanatics who are an official tour operator of the Australian Rugby Union so all tickets are 100% guaranteed. We are staying at the same hotel as the Wallabies in Rosario and have some great 4 star hotels, tickets, merchandise and pre-match functions included as well as a discounted price via our sponsorship. As part of our sponsorship Fanatics are not making a cent from organising this tour so you are already in front there.

Tour includes:

• Return economy flight from Sydney to Buenos Aires
• Return economy flight from Buenos Aires to El Calafate to Buenos Aires
• Private coach transfer from Buenos Aires to Rosario to Buenos Aires
• All transfers & English speaking guides as detailed in the itinerary in each city.
• 4 x nights’ 4 star accommodation in Buenos Aires with breakfast included.
• 3 x nights’ 4 star accommodation in Rosario with breakfast included.
• 3 x nights’ 4 star accommodation in El Calafate with breakfast included.
• 2 x matches in Rosario & Buenos Aires & their after match functions.
• Minitrekking excursion at the Perito Moreno Glacier
• Todo Glaciares boat excursion at Lago Argentino, Glaciers national park
• Rugby Championship ticket for Argentina v New Zealand match
• Rugby Championship ticket for Argentina v Australia match
• 3 x Balmain Rugby Club touring jerseys (2 to swap with the locals, 1 to keep)
• 1 x Balmain Rugby Club tour bag
• Other Balmain Rugby Club touring paraphernalia

Price:

$4,950 per person based on twin share. The price may increase a little for those that delay booking as we are not paying any money to suppliers until you pay us.
$2,000 deposit is needed to book your place. We need a further $1,000 paid April 6 with the balance due July 1.
If you are interested to in booking or have any more questions email balmainrugby@gmail.com

Not included:

• Insurance which can be booked separately and is highly recommended.
• USD$100 arrival tax in Argentina. Must be paid on arrival.
• Boca Juniors match ticket. Approx USD$100 to be purchased in BA.

Spending money:

You will easily get away with spending US$100 a day which will include a great meal and lots of beers. You could do it for $50 if you are on a budget. Prices in shops are similar to Australia so you can base it on what you spend day to day here.

Our tour itinerary:

Thursday 26 September 2013: Arrive in Buenos Aires

We arrive at Ezeiza International airport, where we meet Adriana our English speaking guide (pictured below. Please note she may be substituted for a less attractive tour guide)

From the airport we are transferred into town where we are based for the first 4 nights with breakfast included.

Friday 27 September 2013: Free day in Buenos Aires

This morning after breakfast we spend the day walking through the old town and seeing the sites and tasting the delights of BA.

One of the world’s great cities BA is known as the Paris of South America. You could spend a lifetime in this city and never see everything (although we’ll give it a good nudge)

Saturday 28 September 2013: Buenos Aires – Match 1 + Argentina v New Zealand

After breakfast we head out to a local rugby club for our first match of the tour. After the match we will have a traditional BBQ and beers with the local footy club before heading back to the hotel to dump your gear and grab your Los Pumas jersey for the night ahead.

We depart this afternoon on our private coach to La Plata Stadium for the Pumas v All Blacks Rugby Championship match.

Category 1 match tickets are included. At the conclusion of the match we have a transfer back to the hotel before kicking on for the rest of the night with the locals.

Sunday 29 September 2013: Buenos Aires + Boca Juniors

A lie in this morning followed by breakfast and a walk to the famous San Telmo antique markets where we find ourselves dancing the tango in the streets.

This afternoon we will try and attending a Boca Juniors match at the world famous La Bombonera. The draw is not announced yet so we are unsure of times and dates but we will see a match in BA today.

Monday 30 September: Buenos Aires to El Calafate

This morning we have a bite of breakfast, check out of our hotel and take our transfer to Aeroparque Domestic airport for our flight to El Calafate.

El Calafate is in the heart of Argentinean Patagonia nestled on the banks of Lake Argentino and is a popular base for visits to different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park, including the awe-inspiring Perito Moreno Glacier!

Upon arrival at El Calafate airport we will meet Adriano our local English speaking guide and be transferred by private coach to our hotel where we are based for the next 3 nights with breakfast included.

We have the rest of the day to linger at the local bars and restaurants which dot the phenomenal landscape of this town.

Tuesday 1 October 2013: El Calafate – Minitrekking

This morning we are collected from the hotel and transferred by private coach with Adriano to the Perito Moreno National Park.

The Moreno glaciers are in BRC’s committee’s opinion one of the world’s great natural wonders. (they really are f*cken amazing!)

We begin at Bay Harbor “Bajo de las Sombras” – 22km from Glaciers National Park entrance & 8km from the Perito Moreno Glacier.

We board a boat and travel to the opposite coast of Peninsula de Magallanes where local guides will take our group along a coastal path that leads to the southern margin of the glacier.

There you will be given strap ons (not that type of strap on sicko) to connect to your shoes to allow you to walk on the ice.

We take a two hour slow walk to the glacier, making sure we are not close enough to fall off the edge!

The companies blurb says it will be a “unique opportunity to appreciate the different formations of the glacier (drains, cracks, etc.) & the varied tonalities of the ice that constitute a show by themselves” so there you have it.

On the way back we are transferred to the Perito Moreno walking trails for a different view of the magnificent glacier before heading back to the hotel.

Night on the gas with the locals. Cowboy hats optional.

Wednesday 2 October 2013: El Calafate to Todo Glaciares

Today we head into the mountains surrounding El Calafate, mostly at lake level as your cruise to three other awesome glaciers that terminate at points overlooking Lago Argentino.

We depart the hotel by transfer and head to Punta Bandera where we board a catamaran with large panoramic windows for optimum viewing.

The excursion tracks around Lago Argentino to the Upsala, Spegazzini & either Onelli or the Seco Glaciers, dependant upon lake conditions & icebergs en-route.

The Upsala Glacier is by far & away the largest in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares & the Spegazzini Glacier is the tallest, being the equivalent of a 24 story building. It is a phenomenal sight and you will well and truly be blown away.

At the conclusion of the cruise we head back to the hotel.

Thursday 3 October 2013: El Calafate to Buenos Aires to Rosario

This morning after breakfast we check out of the hotel and transferred to El Calafate airport for our flight to Aeroparque Domestic airport.

Upon arrival we are met by Adriana (or similar) & transferred by private coach the 300km to Rosario the location for the Pumas vs Wallabies match.

We check into our hotel for 3 nights with breakfast included. We will be staying at the same hotel as the Wallabies just in case Robbie is short on a few blokes to hold the hit shields.

Friday 4 October 2013: Rosario – Match 2

Breakfast and free day to check out Rosario.

In the afternoon we are transferred to a local club for our 2nd tour match.

After the match we will enjoy a traditional BBQ and a beers with the local rugby team before heading back to the hotel to sign autographs for unsuspecting tourists in the lobby.

Saturday 5 October 2013: Rosario – Rugby Championship

Lie in, breakfast and some free time to stroll around town.

In the afternoon we are transferred by private coach to Rosario Stadium where the Rugby Championship match Argentina vs Australia will be played.

At the conclusion of the match we will take a transfer back to the hotel.

Sunday 6 October 2013: Rosario – Ezeiza airport – Return Home

This morning we are transferred by private coach back to Buenos Aires city and Buenos Aires International “Ezeiza” airport for our flight back home.

Balmain Rugby is looking for players to join us in 1st Division for the 2013 Season. We have 5 teams plus Colts (under 21′s) so we need players of varying ability.

In 2013 we will have 5 Senior teams with players of varying standards; from very good to not so good. We will also have a Colts team (under 21′s) and juniors. We need players and you’ll get a good run so round up your mates.

Pre-season starts Tuesday 15 January and will run each Tuesday & Thursday from 7:30pm to 8:30pm at Leichhardt #2, Glover St (next to Leichhardt Oval)

We have 3 trials on the 9, 16 & 23 March with the Season starting 6 April 2013.

If you are interested in playing for us in 2013 please email balmainrugby@gmail.com and let us know you are thinking of joining us or simply rock up to training.

Our Home Ground

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Balmain Rugby merchandise is now available online.

Buy now and have them shipped anywhere in the world.

We have caps, visors, scarves, beanies, polos and replica jerseys available. Click here to go to our online shop

Do yourself a favour and look the goods.

2012 was a monumental season for the Balmain muzzled wolves with all 5 teams making the Semi-Finals, 1st, 2nd & Colts making the Grand Final and 1st and 2nd grade winning Premierships.

2012 was a monumental season for the Balmain muzzled wolves with all 5 teams making the Semi-Finals, 1st, 2nd & Colts making the Grand Final and 1st and 2nd grade winning Premierships.

On top of that we won the Division 2 Club Championships and were promoted to Division 1 in 2013.

We also won the NSW Suburban Rugby Competitions Cowboy Cup for the most number of Club Championship points throughout the 6 Divisions and were joined by French superstar Sebastien Chabal and Wallaby Drew Mitchell for matches throughout the season.

We had two players; Dylan Baudinet and Karl Gemmell nominated for the best player in Division Two with Dylan being the leading try scorer across all Divisions and Jared Trevathan being the highest point scorer across all divisions. Young Colts James Curnow was also nominated for Club player of the year.

Congratulations to those involved. It was a lot of hard work but I am sure you’ll agree it was worth it. Onwards & upwards!

A story broke yesterday about Balmain Rugby Club’s involvement in a $1 million rugby revolution currently being developed. With that in mind here is some clarification on our plans and its ‘wrinkles’.

Since March this year we have been working on the creation of a 3rd tier competition to supplement the development of rugby in Australia. Over that time we have worked on different models while trying to maintain a strict fiscal discipline to ensure that this is an achievable goal and not a pipe dream. We are now a lot closer to that goal but there is still a long way to go.

Our plan is not anti-establishment, instead we are developing a viable solution and we will be working with the various bodies to ensure its success.

Our proposal includes the realignment of club competitions to match the Super rugby finishing date which would free up players to compete in this competition while The Rugby Championship was played.

We believe there is a window in late August, September and early October each season for an attractive rugby product using players that do not make the Wallabies 30 player squad, alongside young developing players. It would act in part as a selection tool for Australia’s rugby franchises and assist them with assessing talent in a higher standard than premier rugby. We know from our discussions with these franchises that it is a concept they would support.

This competition will be similar to the 3rd tier competitions currently existing for the last two World Cup winning nations New Zealand and South Africa; the ITM and Currie Cups.

Our short term plan is based on building a sustainable competition by managing overheads. The vast majority of rugby followers agree that a completion like the proposed is a tremendous opportunity but the barriers to entry are primarily fiscal.

Conscious of this we have decided, at least in the first season, to concentrate on two conferences; one in Sydney and the other in Brisbane. It is then hoped once the tournament proves itself that we will expand into other rugby strongholds in Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and potentially NSW Central Coast, NSW & QLD country.

In the first season each Sydney and Brisbane conference will have 6 privately funded teams based on districts that will appeal to a broad supporter base.

By keeping participating teams to 12 in the first year we believe the returning players from each Australian Super rugby franchise (30 contracted players + 5 extended playing squad members) will strengthen these teams beyond what is possible in premier rugby.

The introduction of 5 Super rugby franchises has undeniably diluted the standard in premier rugby competitions and the well documented financial challenges of these premier clubs have been exacerbated by the player drain to Super rugby. All clubs have an important part in Australian rugby but the cavernous hole between club rugby and super rugby is only getting bigger.

The Australian Rugby Championship in 2007 provided this bridge between club and Super rugby and produced some tremendous rugby while uncovering current Wallabies such as Kurtley Beale and Lachie Turner. But the high cost of travel dictated for the new proposed tournament that we would need to look at a different model, at least in the first instance that is played in cities where travel is reduced to short commutes.

New Clubs will be created and all 12 teams will be privately owned. Importantly we would not have promoted this concept without the substantial interest in ownership from individuals we have targeted and we are confident that creating these Clubs with inspired owners will not be a speed hump.

The basic premise of this competition is the promotion of developing footballers – providing pathways that will once again make Australia a great rugby nation yet at the same time appeal to the rugby faithful who have come out and overwhelmingly endorsed the idea.

To develop young footballers all 30 man squads must be made up of at least 10 players under 22 years of age. Marquee signings will be encouraged and will be outside the modest salary cap. Non-marquee players will receive modest match payments with the opportunity to win the $1 million prize money. They will be part-time players and will need to supplement their incomes with other employment or rugby contracts.

This competition won’t make players rich but it will provide players increased exposure to potential future employers while continuing their development via contact in game situations with a higher standard of players, teams and coaching.

The season will be short and intense. 5 games will be played in each conference with the top 2 teams from each conference playing off in the conference Semi-Finals – Sydney 1 v Brisbane 2, Brisbane 1 v Sydney 2. Winners will go through to the Grand Final.

Matches will be played at times attractive for television such as Friday night double headers at 6:30pm & 8:30pm. These matches will be played at suburban grounds; eg Leichhardt Oval, Redfern Oval with low entry fees offering fans value for money. Sunday afternoon games will be played at 4:00pm with mid-week night games as the tournament develops.

Earlier this year we spoke in confidence, to key decision makers at Fox Sports and Channel 10 about the concept of a 3rd tier rugby tournament and the resulting proposal we are developing is based on their feedback.

It is without doubt a work in progress and we look forward to the continued refinement to make this an attractive product for television and Australian rugby fans. Watch this space! We Are Balmain.

For discussion on this go to
Balmain Rugby’s Facebook page or to Green and Gold Rugby forums

Balmain Rugby are pleased to announce that in 2013 our End of Season tour will be to Argentina!

This tour will coincide with the Wallabies and All Blacks playing the Argies in Buenos Aires on consecutive weekends in late September/early October. In between that we’ll spend 9 days traversing the countryside playing 3 games and enjoying the best hospitality that Argentina has to offer!

Details will be announced after the draw for the 2013 Rugby Championship is confirmed.

Get set for South America!

Here’s all the details of the 2012 Season draw and our social calendar. Get out and support the muzzled wolves this season!

2012 Draw

Whats left of the season.

Balmain Rugby’s Sportsmen’s Lunch: Friday 17 August – La Montage, Leichhardt

Round 17: 18 August – + Ladies Day Balmain v UNSW at Blackmore Park, Canal Rd, Leichhardt

Round 18: 25 August – St Ives v Balmain at Hassall Park, Mona Vale Rd, St Ives

Finals:

1 September: Semi-Finals week 1
8 September: Semi-Finals week 2
15 September: Grand Final

Tuesday’s Training – Leichhardt #3 Ground (next to La Montage) We train from 7pm to 9pm. Be there at 6:45pm ready to go. See map of the ground below.

Thursday’s Training – Leichhardt #2, Glover St (next to Leichhardt Oval) We train from 7pm to 9pm. Be there at 6:45pm ready to go. See map of the ground below.

Venue for training below

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We are please to have finalised our coaching staff for the 2012 season. Our new coaching roster includes….

Club Coach: Nathan Holman – ph. 0414 591 910

1st Grade: Anthony Ekert & Matthew Gralton. Manager is Stephen ‘Ciggy’ Alborough.

2nd Grade: Justin Trollip, Rueben Bogue and Murray Stewart. Manager is Cliffy Tonga.

3rd Grade: David Snell.

Colts: Mick McIntosh -ph. 0434 784 683, David ‘Irish’ Feeney, Dean ‘Buddha’ Woodbury.

4th Grade: Axis of Evil/ 3 leafed clover – Tommy Howard, David Pinson and Brian ‘the Dog’ Rimmer.

5th Grade: Ian Stansfield

Strength & Conditioning: Nathan Mageropoulos.

Here are a few dates to help you plan your 2012 pre-season. Get ready for Division 2 next season!

Saturday mornings throughout summer – Camo’s Hour of Power starts! 9:30am – meet at Clovelly Beach for 60 minutes of running, swimming and a little touch on the side.

Sunday 15 January 2012 at 4pm – Sunday Arvo touch at Birchgrove Oval starts.

Tuesday 17 January 2012 – pre-season training starts.

Saturday 18 February 2012 – Twenty20 Cricket – ground TBC

Saturday 25 February 2012 – Kiama 7s

Saturday 17, 24, 31 March 2012 – Trials commence

Sunday 1 April 2012 – Pub Golf

Saturday 7 April 2012 - Easter weekend off

Saturday 14 April 2012 – Competition begins