The Knox Rugby Club - Our History
Born out of the fun and camaraderie enjoyed on the school playing fields against Barker, Waverley, Kings, Riverview and the like, Graham Robinson, Warwick Evans and Forbes Pratt founded the Knox Old Boys Rugby Club in 1959.
| Noice Cup | 1975 |
| Richardson Cup | 1986, 1988 & 1989 |
| Blunt Cup | 1992 |
| Robertson Cup – Colts | 1995, 1998 |
| Herlihy Shield | 2002 |
| McLean Cup | 2002 |
| Grose Cup | 1987, 2002 |
| Walker Cup | 1987, 2002 |
| Clark Cup | 2003 |
| Keith Harris Shield | 2003 |
| Rugby Club Cup U19 | 2003 |
| Barraclough Cup | 1991, 2004 |
| Stockdale Cup | 2004 |
| Reliance Shield | 1992, 2004 |
| Kentwell Cup | 2005, 2009 |
| Burke Cup | 1966, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Bruce Graham Shield | 2006, 2009 |
| Barbour Cup | 2009 |
Club Legends:
Two of the men who made a huge impact on the club are the legendary "Dancing Dave" Hartnell and Phil "Twinkletoes" Tuck. Dave devoted his life to Knox Old Boys for over 30 years and Phil Tuck gave up a Grade and possibly Waratah selection to save the club when it was at risk of folding at the beginning of the 80s.
Another man who has also seen it all from the 60s to today is the Club's patron, Ian McPherson. "Mr Mac" has played, coached and inspired many players for 50 years. Ian "Big Kingie" King was a player all through the 1970s and then supported four of the next generation's 1st Graders (his three sons and his nephew). Kingie has served as President and is currently 1st Grade Manager (and Life Member).
Mrs Marilynn Buchanan has been truly invaluable as the Club's secretary through the lowest and highest of times. Interestingly and importantly, a succession of front rowers have played major roles in leading the Club with Richard Martyr, Rory Scott and Bryn Robertson – all tough as nails on the field and inspirational as Club Presidents. This also is true of Jon Bonwick who, when President and Club Captain, played centre and flanker despite really being a front rower. The baton has now been passed to an ex Shore boy Nick Hamley. He has had an amazing start to his tenure with winning the Kentwell, Barbour and Club Championships for 2009.
Knox's story would not be complete without mention of the great Barra Brui fire of 1999 where our clubhouse of 25 years was gutted by vandals. But thanks to the efforts of Grahame Pratt and Dave "Spider" Uttley, most of the "history making" photos were redeveloped and also a great number of fellow Subbies clubs volunteered vital training equipment.
Knox has had a number of Suburban Rugby representative players including Robert Fitzsimons (66), Roger Knight (66), Dan Hickson (80-82), Phil Tuck (80-85), Lester Stump (82), Bruce Peden (83), Scott Laycock (87), Andy Martyr (90), Stu Reed (90), Chris Waite (96), Guy Wilkonson (97), Richie Lingard (03), Hamish Bayliss (04-05), Mike Smith (06), Oliver Sheer (06,07), Stewart Graham (05-07), Rohan “Mammoth” Cook (07), Paul Nash (07).
However, arguably the Club's most valuable contribution to Australian Rugby are the three Old Boys players who went on to serve worthy roles as officials. Two players became chairman of the Australian Rugby Union – Ross Turnbull and David Clark and Ian Ross is currently the Chairman of NSW Suburban Rugby.
Being dropped two division 4 in 2000 almost ruined the club as a merger with close rival almost came to fruition. One week out from the 2001 season there were 7 players at preseason and it was decided on that night the club would do everything to stay as an entity.
Guys like Ian Frame and Jon Bonwick manned the phones and gathered some ex players and some fresh blood. In 2002 the club had risen from the ashes to steam roll 3 teams in division 4 and the fight back had begun….
In those history making days Club Coach Michael Kelynack brought a very professional approach to training, emphasizing to players that winning a premiership starts in February.
Mike gave training structure and purpose and introduced the First XV jersey to motivate players to want to play at the highest level.
In 2003, we were in 3rd division having just smashed 4th division and won 3 premierships in 2002 the club had just one sponsor The Blue Gum Hotel and there was lucky to be 5 grand in the bank. There was very little talk back then of 1st Division and 2nd Division seemed a distant goal as the footy was tough enough and playing the likes of Blacktown and Blue Mountains now seem a distant memory. In 2004 we again rose to the challenge and made it back into 2nd division playing some ding dong battles against Hornsby, Newport and Campbeltown. Names such as Jimmy Hunter, Richie Lingard, Steve Brown, Hamish Bayliss, The Mule, Big Figgo, Charlie Pearce, Boo, Toddy and Tim Cussell start ringing in the ears as old stalwarts such as Coops, Scotty Robbo, Rory Scott, Steve Jolly.
2004 was another amazing year as we amassed over 1000 club championship points, won 1st grade, 2nd grade and had a date with destiny in 1st division and the great unknown.
Winning 2nd division and heading into 1st Division was a very scary time for the club. We lost many players after the 2002 grand final either through injury or travel and retirement. Heading into the preseason with a new coach Pete Bromley, I remember him saying to us “where are all our players gone from last year”
We re-built first grade again and being in first division did not phase us in the slightest as we played massive teams with talented players. The 2005 Kentwell team consisted of many club greats Burnsy, Cuss, Banga, Toddy, Greggo and we blooded in new heads like Ogs, Dan Morelli, Will Sweeney, Stew Graham, Jeremy Farrell. We won that year and beat a St Pat’s team that had the wood on us all year. We were a team first and wanted to win for each other. We won the clubs first ever Kentwell Cup and claim to be the only rugby club in the history of the game to have won 4 consecutive divisions in 4 consecutive seasons.
Again the club lost players and we somehow found new ones in the likes of Nick Boyle, Mike McNair and Adam Carroll. We began to look overseas for some assistance and found Tom the Pom who was an amazing talent even though we now can’t get him to leave the country. In 2006 we played an immense Drummoyne and lost in the Second Grand final. In our second year in division 1 we came first in the Club Champs, this was a truly amazing second year for a club that had emerged from 4th Division.
Club Legend Bonners took hold of Seconds and started an amazing run of premierships for Second Grade led by some of the best in James “Flash” Gordon, Cairnsy, Mammoth, Benny Exton, Ben Mar, Figgo,Obi, Poochie, Macca, Babsy and Rubber man. We have also saw some new blood emerge in 2007 like Chuck “Tito” Anderson and Sam Renny who played in that colts grand final of 2007 with Myles Taylor, Riley Field, Cobby and a young spritely Addision Hunter. Again we made second in the club champs.
In 2008 we saw a big drop off in playing numbers and we thought the journey may have been stalled. Seconds kept the winning formula with Bangsy and Obi at the Helm and we recruited big Andy Barham for 10 seasons, Adam Renny and co returned from Bathurst and we welcomed Eddie Roach and the Sponge returned for a second year. Firsts were hurt again with retirements and travel but through the life blood of Colts managed to keep things going and did not make the finals for the first time in 7 seasons.
Season 2009 rolled around and we knew we wanted 1st grade back on the winning circle. Alan Manning came down with Kori Chan “Pele”, we introduced ourselves to the “Brothers” at touch and came second in the Bondi Tens. This season the cattle were thin on the ground but we managed to win the club championships for the second time in 1st division and won the Barbour cup for the first time in the clubs history and won back Ross Kentwell with a team made up of all cultures and backgrounds. To have Matt Petre announce that this is the best club he has ever played for and the best team environment he has been involved in speaks volumes for the entire club and management.
We don’t mean to leave names out but in 7 seasons these are the names and memories I have and cherish most. It’s not all about winning but we have created a culture that breeds success. We work hard on and off the field to make this all work and the satisfaction and reward are high and to see the colts win the grand final was perhaps one of the best memories in my mind as you guys are the future of this club and now is your time to continue this great chapter in KNOBS history and maintain momentum for seasons to come.