Central Coast Rays
Encyclopedia
The Central Coast Rays were an Australian rugby union
football club that played in the now-defunct Australian Rugby Championship
. The Rays were formed as one of New South Wales
' three clubs that participated in the inaugural season of the championship, which started in August 2007. The team were based out of the Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium
, Gosford. The team colors were navy and emerald. Their local team rivals were the Sydney Fleet
and the Western Sydney Rams
.
The Rays were the inaugural ARC
Champions, defeating the Melbourne Rebels
in the Grand Final 20 points to 12.
. A team on the Central Coast was always likely, and before specific names and colours were unveiled, the locations of the three New South Wales' teams were revealed, one of which was the Central Coast. The name, logo and team colours were unveiled 15 March 2007 by the New South Wales Rugby Union
(NSWRU).
As well as the team's location and stadium, the coaching set up was also announced prior to the unveiling of the Rays' name, logo and colours. In December 2006, the NSWRU revealed that John McKee would be the head coach of the Central Coast team. McKee was the first coach appointed out of New South Wales' three clubs, he had previously coached the Eastwood
club, as well as worked with French club Montferrand
and Irish team Connacht
.
The Rays hosted the Melbourne Rebels
in the inaugural ARC
Grand Final, after coming from behind against the Perth Spirit
in their semi-final, winning 27 to 19. They won the Grand Final 20 to 12, and became the inaugural (and only) champions of the ARC.
of the area, from the ocean to the bush. Dave Gibson, NSWRU General Manager of Commercial & Operations said of the name that "When you think north of Sydney Harbour, beaches and nature are two recurring themes,". The Central Coasts' name and colours were chosen ahead of a whole host of possibilities that the steering committee went through. The name 'Rays' is designed to echo the maritime presence throughout some of the teams' catchment area.
The Rays played their home games out of the Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium
(formerly known as Northpower Stadium and Central Coast Express Advocate Stadium) is a sports venue on Grahame Park in Gosford
, on the Central Coast
of New South Wales
, Australia
. In the past the stadium has hosted numerous rugby union fixtures, including; Central Coast Waves
matches and New South Wales Waratahs
matches during the Australian Provincial Championship
.
Also home to the Central Coast Mariners
football club, the stadium is rectangular and is unusual in that seating is located on only three sides of the ground. The southern end is open giving filtered views of Brisbane Water
through a row of palm trees. With an all seater capacity of 20,059 it is currently the sixth largest stadium in the A League.
, Warringah
, Northern Suburbs, Gordon RFC
and the Central Coast Waves
. Manly, Warringah, Northern Suburbs and Gordon all play in the Tooheys New Cup
and Shute Shield
club competitions, and the Waves play in the NSW Country Championships as well as the Shute Shield.
,
Ben Jacobs,
Sam Harris,
Brett Sheehan,
Beau Robinson
,
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
,
Cameron Treloar,
Al Manning,
Ofa Fainga’anuku,
Pat McCabe
,
David Harvey,
Clint Eadie,
Jye Mullane
,
John Adams
Ross Duncan,
Steve Evans,
Alex Gluth,
Nick Lah
,
Jordan Macey,
Dustin McGregor,
Rod Moore,
Nifo Nifo,
Sam Norton-Knight
,
Jason Peseta,
Vili Ratu,
Dylan Sigg,
Andrew Smith,
Chris Thompson.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
football club that played in the now-defunct Australian Rugby Championship
Australian Rugby Championship
The Australian Rugby Championship, often abbreviated to the ARC , was a domestic Rugby union football club competition in Australia which ran for only one season in August–October 2007...
. The Rays were formed as one of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
' three clubs that participated in the inaugural season of the championship, which started in August 2007. The team were based out of the Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium
Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium
Central Coast Stadium, named Bluetongue Stadium due to sponsorship, is a sports venue in Gosford, on the Central Coast of New South Wales. The stadium is home to the Central Coast Mariners Football Club who compete in the A-League...
, Gosford. The team colors were navy and emerald. Their local team rivals were the Sydney Fleet
Sydney Fleet
The Sydney Fleet were an Australian rugby union football club that played in the now defunct Australian Rugby Championship. The Fleet were formed as one of New South Wales' three clubs that will participate in the inaugural season of the championship. The team was based out of the North Sydney...
and the Western Sydney Rams
Western Sydney Rams
The Western Sydney Rams were an Australian rugby union football club that played in the now defunct Australian Rugby Championship. The Rams were formed as one of New South Wales' three clubs that participated in the inaugural and only season of the championship, in 2007. The team were based out of...
.
The Rays were the inaugural ARC
Australian Rugby Championship
The Australian Rugby Championship, often abbreviated to the ARC , was a domestic Rugby union football club competition in Australia which ran for only one season in August–October 2007...
Champions, defeating the Melbourne Rebels
Melbourne Rebels
The Melbourne Rebels are a professional rugby union team based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They made their debut in SANZAR's Super Rugby tournament in 2011. They are the first privately owned professional rugby union team in Australia...
in the Grand Final 20 points to 12.
History
The inaugural Australian Rugby Championship, starting in August 2007, includes eight teams of which three of which are based in the state of New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. A team on the Central Coast was always likely, and before specific names and colours were unveiled, the locations of the three New South Wales' teams were revealed, one of which was the Central Coast. The name, logo and team colours were unveiled 15 March 2007 by the New South Wales Rugby Union
New South Wales Rugby Union
The New South Wales Rugby Union is the organisation responsible for the sport of rugby union in most of the state of New South Wales, Australia...
(NSWRU).
As well as the team's location and stadium, the coaching set up was also announced prior to the unveiling of the Rays' name, logo and colours. In December 2006, the NSWRU revealed that John McKee would be the head coach of the Central Coast team. McKee was the first coach appointed out of New South Wales' three clubs, he had previously coached the Eastwood
Eastwood Rugby Club
Eastwood Rugby Club is a rugby union club playing in the Sydney grade competition. The club is based at T G Millner Field, named in honour of its benefactor Colonel Tom Millner MC VD, and the club's players and supporters are primarily drawn from the Northern Suburbs and Hills District of Sydney....
club, as well as worked with French club Montferrand
ASM Clermont Auvergne
Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne are a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system, ASMCA are the were the 2010 France Top 14 Champions. It is the rugby section of the multi-sport club...
and Irish team Connacht
Connacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Connacht that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 comprising teams from the Celtic nations plus Italy. Normally, it also competes in the second-tier pan-European club competition, the European Challenge Cup...
.
The Rays hosted the Melbourne Rebels
Melbourne Rebels
The Melbourne Rebels are a professional rugby union team based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They made their debut in SANZAR's Super Rugby tournament in 2011. They are the first privately owned professional rugby union team in Australia...
in the inaugural ARC
Australian Rugby Championship
The Australian Rugby Championship, often abbreviated to the ARC , was a domestic Rugby union football club competition in Australia which ran for only one season in August–October 2007...
Grand Final, after coming from behind against the Perth Spirit
Perth Spirit
The Perth Spirit was an Australian rugby union football club based in Perth, Western Australia. Perth Spirit was one of eight clubs that competed in the Australian Rugby Championship which ran in 2007. Perth Spirit played at the Members Equity Stadium. The players in the squad adopted an...
in their semi-final, winning 27 to 19. They won the Grand Final 20 to 12, and became the inaugural (and only) champions of the ARC.
Colours and logo
The name was selected through a partnership between the NSWRU and the Rays' steering committee. The teams' navy and emerald colour scheme was also devised to reflect the natural landscapeNatural landscape
A natural landscape is a landscape that is unaffected by human activity. A natural landscape is intact when all living and nonliving elements are free to move and change. The nonliving elements distinguish a natural landscape from a wilderness. A wilderness includes areas within which natural...
of the area, from the ocean to the bush. Dave Gibson, NSWRU General Manager of Commercial & Operations said of the name that "When you think north of Sydney Harbour, beaches and nature are two recurring themes,". The Central Coasts' name and colours were chosen ahead of a whole host of possibilities that the steering committee went through. The name 'Rays' is designed to echo the maritime presence throughout some of the teams' catchment area.
Stadium
- Main article Bluetongue Central Coast StadiumBluetongue Central Coast StadiumCentral Coast Stadium, named Bluetongue Stadium due to sponsorship, is a sports venue in Gosford, on the Central Coast of New South Wales. The stadium is home to the Central Coast Mariners Football Club who compete in the A-League...
The Rays played their home games out of the Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium
Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium
Central Coast Stadium, named Bluetongue Stadium due to sponsorship, is a sports venue in Gosford, on the Central Coast of New South Wales. The stadium is home to the Central Coast Mariners Football Club who compete in the A-League...
(formerly known as Northpower Stadium and Central Coast Express Advocate Stadium) is a sports venue on Grahame Park in Gosford
Gosford, New South Wales
Gosford is a city located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 76 km north of the Sydney central business district...
, on the Central Coast
Central Coast, New South Wales
The Central Coast is an urban region in the Australian state of New South Wales, located on the coast north of Sydney and south of Lake Macquarie....
of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In the past the stadium has hosted numerous rugby union fixtures, including; Central Coast Waves
Central Coast Waves
The Central Coast Waves are a rugby union club based on the Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia. They contest the Shute Shield NSW club competition...
matches and New South Wales Waratahs
New South Wales Waratahs
The New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
matches during the Australian Provincial Championship
Australian Provincial Championship
The Australian Provincial Championship, often abbreviated to the APC, is a now defunct Australian national Rugby union tournament that commenced for just one season in 2006...
.
Also home to the Central Coast Mariners
Central Coast Mariners FC
Central Coast Mariners Football Club is a professional football club based on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. They participate in the A-League and are one of three teams from the state of New South Wales playing in the competition...
football club, the stadium is rectangular and is unusual in that seating is located on only three sides of the ground. The southern end is open giving filtered views of Brisbane Water
Brisbane Water
Brisbane Water is the northern arm of Broken Bay on the east coast of New South Wales Australia. Brisbane Water is named after Sir Thomas Brisbane, Governor of New South Wales between 1820 and 1825...
through a row of palm trees. With an all seater capacity of 20,059 it is currently the sixth largest stadium in the A League.
Franchise area
New South Wales' three teams in the ARC were aligned with existing clubs and regions. The New South Wales clubs aligned with the Central Coast Rays include ManlyManly RUFC
Manly Rugby Union Football Club are a rugby union club based in Manly, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales. The club was formed in 1906 and competes in the New South Wales Rugby Union competitions, the Shute Shield and Tooheys New Cup. Manly, known as the Marlins, play their home games at Manly...
, Warringah
Warringah Rugby Club
Warringah Rugby Club is a rugby union club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, New South Wales. Only located 25 km from the city centre, the club is close to many magnificent beaches, the Sydney Academy of Sport and Narrabeen Lake. The club currently competes in the New South Wales Rugby...
, Northern Suburbs, Gordon RFC
Gordon RFC
Gordon Rugby Football Club are a rugby union club based on the North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales. The club, known as the Highlanders, play out of Chatswood Oval and compete in the New South Wales Rugby Union grade competition.-Club information:...
and the Central Coast Waves
Central Coast Waves
The Central Coast Waves are a rugby union club based on the Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia. They contest the Shute Shield NSW club competition...
. Manly, Warringah, Northern Suburbs and Gordon all play in the Tooheys New Cup
Tooheys New Cup
The Tooheys New Cup is a rugby union competition established by the New South Wales Rugby Union in 2002 as a stepping stone between the existing grade rugby and Super 14 competitions. Open to the existing 12 grade clubs, the TNC features Super 14 players not on international duty and the...
and Shute Shield
Shute Shield
The Shute Shield is a rugby union competition in Sydney, New South Wales. It is the premier grade rugby trophy in NSW rugby. The Shute Shield is awarded at the end of the Sydney Club Rugby season to the team that wins the Grand Final...
club competitions, and the Waves play in the NSW Country Championships as well as the Shute Shield.
Former Squad
Peter HewatPeter Hewat
Peter Hewat is an Australian rugby union player now playing in Japan's Top League for Suntory Sungoliath. He previously played for the NSW Waratahs and London Irish...
,
Ben Jacobs,
Sam Harris,
Brett Sheehan,
Beau Robinson
Beau Robinson
Beau Robinson is an Australian rugby union player currently contracted to the QLD Reds. Robinson made his NSW debut against the Brumbies in the 2006 Australian Provincial Championships. He plays primarily as an openside flanker and was the back-up to Phil Waugh at NSW before gaining a starting...
,
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is a rugby league player currently with the Sydney Roosters in the NRL. He plays in the second-row.-Early years:Waerea-Hargreaves first made a name for himself playing schoolboy rugby union at Iona College in Queensland, through some impressive performances in the AIC...
,
Cameron Treloar,
Al Manning,
Ofa Fainga’anuku,
Pat McCabe
Pat McCabe (rugby player)
Pat McCabe is a professional Australian rugby union player. He plays with the ACT Brumbies in the Super 15, and Warringah in Sydney and has represented Australia...
,
David Harvey,
Clint Eadie,
Jye Mullane
Jye Mullane
Jye Mullane is an Australian rugby league player currently playing for the New Haven Warriors in the AMNRL. His position is primarily at centre. He has previously played rugby union with the Central Coast Rays and has played in the NRL with the Cronulla Sharks and recently with Lezignan Sangliers...
,
John Adams
Ross Duncan,
Steve Evans,
Alex Gluth,
Nick Lah
Nick Lah
Nick Lah is an Australian rugby union footballer. Lah has represented the Central Coast Rays in the Australian Rugby Championship and Northern Suburbs in the Sydney competition. He is a former Australian U/19 rep and plays the position of prop for the edinburgh club Melrose.-Footnotes:...
,
Jordan Macey,
Dustin McGregor,
Rod Moore,
Nifo Nifo,
Sam Norton-Knight
Sam Norton-Knight
Sam Norton-Knight is an Australian international rugby union footballer. He was born in Canberra but was educated on the Gold Coast....
,
Jason Peseta,
Vili Ratu,
Dylan Sigg,
Andrew Smith,
Chris Thompson.
Records
| ARC seasons | ||||||||||||
| Year | Played | Win | Draw | Loss | PF | PA | Diff | Bonus (4 tries) | Bonus (Loss <7pts) | Points | Place | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 268 | 159 | 109 | 5 | 1 | 26 | 2 | Champions |
See also
- New South Wales Rugby UnionNew South Wales Rugby UnionThe New South Wales Rugby Union is the organisation responsible for the sport of rugby union in most of the state of New South Wales, Australia...
(NSWRU) - New South Wales WaratahsNew South Wales WaratahsThe New South Wales Waratahs are an Australian rugby union football team, representing the majority of New South Wales in the Super 15 Super Rugby competition...
- Tooheys New CupTooheys New CupThe Tooheys New Cup is a rugby union competition established by the New South Wales Rugby Union in 2002 as a stepping stone between the existing grade rugby and Super 14 competitions. Open to the existing 12 grade clubs, the TNC features Super 14 players not on international duty and the...
- Shute ShieldShute ShieldThe Shute Shield is a rugby union competition in Sydney, New South Wales. It is the premier grade rugby trophy in NSW rugby. The Shute Shield is awarded at the end of the Sydney Club Rugby season to the team that wins the Grand Final...
External links
- ARC on NSW Rugby
- Australian Rugby Championship on rugby.com.au