The NSW Tertiary Student Rugby League is an affiliated body of the New South Wales Rugby League, established to promote the development of Rugby League within Universities, TAFE and other Tertiary Institutes within the state of NSW.
Formed in late 1969, the NSW Tertiary Student Rugby League came about when the Sydney University, Macquarie University, University of NSW and University of Newcastle Rugby League clubs joined to create their own competition that was not restricted by the same boundaries as other senior open age competitions within Sydney.
In 2009 the NSW Tertiary Student Rugby League had 12 clubs from Sydney, Bathurst, Canberra and Newcastle, making it one of the most geographically spread competitions under the New South Wales Rugby League.
History
Arnold Stehr Tertiary Nines
The Tertiary Nines was an annual pre-season competition run by the NSW Tertiary Student Rugby League to kick start the Tertiary League season.
The original competition set up by the NSW Tertiary Student Rugby League back in 1970, the Tertiary League is the premier week-to-week competition run in NSW for University, TAFE and other Tertiary college students.
CSU Bathurst take on Cumberland College in the NSWTSRL First Division competition
With a significant influx of teams joining the NSW Tertiary Student Rugby League after the competition was originally created, it was deemed that in 1973 a Second Division competition would be created. The competition has been run every year since.
Nirimba make a hit up against Macquarie in the 2006 Second Division Grand Final at Leichhardt Oval
* Bill Buckley Memorial Trophy 3rd v 4th Play-off match
John Pollard Trophy: Third Division
The NSW Tertiary Student Rugby League operated a Third Division competition from 1981 to 2004. Originally the Third Division was operated as a completely separate competition from First and Second Division, however after the Super League war when a number of Tertiary institutes stopped playing Rugby League, the Third Division was made up of teams who failed to make the Second Division finals.
The Annual City v Country clash gives a chance for some of the best players from the NSW Tertiary Student League competition to battle it out for the City/Country Shield.
Year
Winner
Score
Runner-up
2012
Country
24 – 22
City
2014
City
34 – 22
Country
2016
Country
22 – 22
City
2017
City
32 – 18
Country
2018
East Metro
18 – 14
West Metro
2019
Metro West
38 – 22
Metro East
Clubs
Twelve clubs from Sydney, Bathurst, Canberra Newcastle have confirmed their participation in the 2009 New South Wales Tertiary League season.[1]
Club Name
Tertiary Institute
Year Formed
Australia Catholic University
Australia Catholic University
2015
Cumberland Beavers
University of Western Sydney, Nepean / Parramatta TAFE
TAFE NSW Polecats (Formerly: Catholic College of Education, Polding College Polecats, ACU Castle Hill Polecats, UWS Nirimba Polecats, Norwest Polecats, WSI TAFE Polecats)[2]