2023 Season
Our senior coaching team Chris Hickey Karl Lupton, Paul Morgan and Mick Greenhalgh have formulated a games based training program to kick the 2023 season off. There is plenty of knowledge in this coaching group and many players will benefit from the training, drills and experience of these coaches.
The Ballina Rugby Union Club is seeking to recruit a group of volunteers who can assist with some of the jobs that need to be done throughout the Rugby Season. In particular relating to home games (6-7 games throughout the season)
2022 Season
The Ballina Rugby Club invites applications for Senior Grade coaches (assistants) in 1st Grade, Reserve Grade,
Under 18’s and Women for the 2023 Season.
Notice: Come along to hear Ben Franklin announce important funding for Ballina Rugby Union Club.
21 days notice is hereby given of our Annual General Meeting.
I spent some time whilst sipping pints during the week pondering what effect a three week break would have on teams prior to playing a grand final, and whether we had the strength in the pack to match that shown by Range in last week’s preliminary final.
The preliminary (elimination) finals in all five competitions of Far North Coast Rugby were successfully completed at Ballina Seagulls last Saturday in perfect spring conditions. Our girls took on Lismore with the winners progressing to next week’s grand final and the losers to drown their sorrows over a few schooners. Lismore had recorded two last gasp victories over our girls during the preliminary rounds.
On return from her RDA duties my wife informed me that community based radio station Paradise FM had announced that today’s preliminary finals which were due to be held at Ballina Seagulls had been postponed due to concerns regarding the state of the pitch and the weather forecast. A quick call to Mick Koellner confirmed that to be the case, the decision made at 0830 by the zone in consultation with Ballina Shire Council ground staff.
The top four teams in all grades of the Far North Coast competition took the field over the weekend at Wollongbar with ten matches played in five divisions. Our three senior teams were involved and in fishing parlance the club caught a mixed bag, unfortunately the big one getting away.
OK, the hangover has gone and the synapses have re-joined……four down with three to go. In mountaineering parlance we’ve reached base camp with three weeks remaining to climb the summit, and the events of Saturday suggest that that goal is attainable.
Floods, ground closures and ‘Covid issues’ have led to postponed and cancelled fixtures, and we are at present playing catch-up rounds. I headed up to Casino with Morgo to watch Division II play Casino, whilst our women were at home against Lismore. My maths suggested that we could finish top two on the ladder with wins against the Bulls and Moonshiners, tempered by the fact that two losses would end their season.
Saturday 13th August, 4.54pm Williams Reserve Lennox Head. Four minutes remain in the match. Ballina playing with 14 men, scoreline Trojans 35-14 and counting the clock down with a string of cynical penalties on their line. We’re shot….season over. I’m thinking how can I softly break this news to my readership of four this week: a successful rebuilding, lost opportunities, close but no cigar, there’s always next year and reserves and the gals are in the semis?
2019 season
Please note the change to the upcoming monthly BRC committee meeting in December.
Check the details for the upcoming AGM where positions will be open to continue growing the Mighty Seahorses.
A disjointed week where Bangalow forfeited close to kick off and numbers filling in for 2nds and Presidents Cup meant chaos was in the air. Still a great effort from the club to get our numbers sorted and to help Mullumbimby with their fund raiser event. Tough times build character and we have shown plenty in all grades this year.
Let’s go Seahorses.
Check out the Ballina Seahorses most recent NSW Country Colts representative - Tupou Lolohea.
Check out this weeks match reports from the coaches from around the grounds.
A solid hit out against Casuarina has meant that 1sts and 2nds maintain and improve their positions on the ladder. The Dark Horses in Presidents Cup were narrowly beaten by a strong Yamba side. The Women’s 7’s had a break this week.
Let’s go Seahorses.
Check out this weeks match reports from the coaches from around the grounds.
A couple of victories against the Lennox Trojans is always a good weekend but the games are still tough in the back end of the competition.
Let’s go Seahorses.
Check out this weeks match reports from the coaches from around the grounds.
A bit of a wash out this week but Presidents Cup and the Under 13’s did the club proud.
Let’s go Seahorses.
Check out this weeks match reports from the coaches from around the grounds.
3 of 4 grades all played at the Maurie Dome at SCU. Cold, blustery day with all teams facing challenges with relish. While there was some adversity, it was great to see how all players and coaches responded with positivity and resolve. Having NSW Country Rep Alex Gibbon running on for the Kyogle Cockies while initially was seen as negative, the team applied themselves well and took on the challenge.
Let’s go Seahorses.
Get your teams sorted for the 2019 Far North Coast Secondary Schools 7’s comp.
Check out this weeks match reports from the coaches from around the grounds.
A tough assignment for the whole club with this round against W.A.R. with Presidents Cup also facing a daunting prospect against the Iluka Cossack’s.
Let’s go Seahorses.
Check out this weeks match reports from the coaches from around the grounds.
All 4 grades got a run this week and it sounds like some tough footy all around was played. Didn’t see too many photos from Tenterfield incriminating anybody so it sounds like the night away was worth while.
Let’s go Seahorses.
If you are an aspiring coach, please check out the details of this free coaching seminar to be conducted by Ballina Seahorses 1st grade coach Chris Hickey and seasoned International coach Scott Wisemantel.
Bring your clipboard and learn from these master coaches.
Check out this weeks match reports from the coaches from around the grounds.
Only the one Senior Men’s game and the Women’s 7’s. Great conditions at Byron Bay and a great result for 1st grade.
Let’s go Seahorses.
Check out this weeks match reports from the coaches from around the grounds.
It is difficult when all of our teams play at different grounds but this is part of the character and fabric that makes the Ballina Seahorses such a great club to be involved with.
Let’s go Seahorses.
If you have an interest in coaching and developing teams, check these videos that are free to view from Rugby Australia.
In anticipation of a big day at Seahorse Park on Saturday with 4 grades against Grafton and the Raz Burtonwood Memorial Day, the Ballina Rugby Club will also be holding a further minutes silence for Ian Hooper who tragically passed away last week while refereeing Lennox Head and Ballina Seahorses 2nd Grade.
It was a tough day last Saturday as local FNC lost one of it’s characters and leading referee Ian (Hoops) Hooper tragically on the footy field at Williams Reserve - Lennox Head.
Check out the details of the Raz Burtonwood Memorial Day this week to be held at Ballina Quays Reserve as the Ballina Seahorses play against the Grafton Redmen in 4 grades.
Check out Camp Waratah and see if it suits your kids this Thursday.
It looks like our recruitment page has gone viral with Adam Thomson who has played Super Rugby and Test Rugby for New Zealand looking for a run with the Ballina Seahorses.
Check out his application.
Junior training for season 2019 is now well underway.
Make sure that any parents or guardians who have children / players in the junior sides do sign up for Seahorse Nation because it will be the best place to access news and updates for the whole club as well as junior developments.
Check out this post and click the button to get your copy of this years Coopers Far North Coast Rugby Union draw.
It was a wet and slippery day up on the plateau for the first game of season 2019. While President's Cup was played at Seahorse Park, 2nd grade, Women's 7's and 1st grade all played for the Dane Cupitt Shield at Lyle Park.
An important component of building an even stronger Rugby Union club is to also build and support our community partners. By supporting the wider local community, the Ballina Seahorses will be able to attract the same support as we give.
Check out what Ballina Seahorse legend and life member Chris Long thinks about the Dane Cupitt Memorial Shield that Ballina Seahorses and WAR will be playing for this Saturday 30th March 2019.
So, you thought Chris Hickey was going to a wedding. Check out what Chris has been up to in developing the South Pacific combine to grow and develop emerging players.
Saturday 16th March saw the first signs of moisture in the region and this coincided with the trial game against the Coffs Harbour Snappers. It looks like there is a bit of work to be done on match fitness and teamwork and this trial against the Snappers was a great step forward in preparations for a great 2019.
Local lad come good, Sam Giltrap has been selected and had a couple of runs with the Auckland ITM Contenders who are a Kiwi based side who are currently touring in Australia. We all know the Giltrap name is synonymous with having a bit of an accent but apparently Sam has a Kiwi passport which allows him to play for teams across the ditch.
On Tuesday 5th March, The Ballina Rugby Union Club was greeted with a visit by Ben Franklin MLC who is the National Party candidate for the Ballina electorate for the upcoming 2019 NSW State election. While footy training has now clicked into full gear, there were many supporters, sponsors, players and family members in attendance to find out what Ben was going to announce.
Ballina Rugby Club joins with the broader Ballina Community in mourning the loss of one of its favourite sons, Lyn “Raz” Burtonwood.