{"id":5924,"date":"2019-10-30T16:58:30","date_gmt":"2019-10-30T05:58:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/collaroyrugby.com.au\/?page_id=5924"},"modified":"2019-12-12T20:14:33","modified_gmt":"2019-12-12T09:14:33","slug":"club-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/collaroyrugby.com.au\/your-club\/club-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Club History"},"content":{"rendered":"
Cougars Rugby is an active and successful rugby union club based at Griffith Park, Long Reef on Sydney\u2019s Northern Beaches.<\/p>\n
From humble beginnings in 1970, the club is now home to 300+ players, fielding boys and girls teams from Under 6\u2019s to 18\u2019s, Subbies and a Golden Oldies team of dads. Collaroy Rugby has a strong following and enjoys the goodwill of thousands more from former years.<\/p>\n
The club is driven by the needs of its players and fills an important role in the community. Our sport inspires passion, teamwork and fitness \u2013 our club fosters a strong set of values that promote sportsmanship, respect, lasting friendships and community. While we boast a fine track record of performance on the field, no differences are drawn between players on the basis of talent, background or privilege and each wears our black and white jumper with a sense of belonging and pride.<\/p>\n
These values have seen the club grow, outstripping others to become one of the largest Warringah Junior<\/a> District Clubs and a key feeder club to representative teams.<\/p>\n<\/div> Future years will see many follow in the footsteps of former players such as Rod Macqueen, Steve Temple, Steve Crawford, Rick Davidson, Geoff Wayling, Greg Highfield, John Hearne, Mark Gerrard, Ed Doyle, Pat McCabe, Dave Feltscheer, Boyd Killingworth and Haydn Black who have all played first grade rugby with the \u2018Rats\u2019.<\/p>\n The club is proud to have two of these players become Wallabies who played junior rugby with the Cougars \u2013 Mark Gerrard and Pat McCabe. Another Cougars Junior, Boyd Killingworth has also gone on to represent Australia at Sevens Rugby.<\/p>\n The club is self-funding and applies its modest surplus funds to subsidising player registration fees, social events, and an annual family picnic and \u2018fathers & sons\u2019 weekend at the NSW Sports Academy at Narrabeen Lake.<\/p>\n This approach has seen Collaroy emerge as a most popular club appealing to players and families alike. It provides strong testimony to our values and the tireless work of our Committee and the mums and dads who coach and manage our teams, run the canteen, fundraise and produce our newsletters. Collaroy Rugby plays a vital role in giving local children the fun and passion of competing in a world sport, as well as strong community values, personal pride and lasting friendships.<\/p>\n<\/div> Prior to 1970 rugby was played on the plateau through the Collaroy Plateau Youth Club. The greater percentage of fund raising activities was carried out by the rugby fraternity and then pooled with other sporting activities within the youth club. In 1970 a few visionaries thought that the players were getting to the age when they should be involved with afternoon rugby. Much to the disapproval of the officials of the Youth Club.<\/p>\n A meeting was called and held at the Youth Club to discuss the situation and indeed the future of rugby on the plateau. Seventy five people attended that meeting and it was unanimously decided that rugby should breakaway from the Youth Club and so The Collaroy Plateau Rugby Football Club, a.k.a The Cougars, was born.<\/p>\n<\/div>How is all started<\/h2><\/span>
First Committee<\/h4><\/span>