Welcome to the first Blues News of the 2026 season 💙🩵
After a fantastic Season Launch, the energy around the club is building with the Juniors season off and running, and as we count down to Round 1 for our Senior teams and netballers. In this edition, catch up on launch night highlights, pre-season trial action, women’s fixtures, junior updates, and important news from across the club — including a tribute to one of our own and a look ahead at exciting plans for No. 2 Sportsground.
Let’s get into it.
2026 Season – Launched!
Our Season Launch on Saturday 21 March was a fantastic celebration of everything that makes the Wanderers so special — from our players and members to our sponsors, volunteers and supporters. It was great to see so many familiar faces (and a few new ones!) come together to launch the year ahead.
A huge thank you to everyone behind the scenes who worked so hard to bring the event together — we couldn’t do it without you.
Here’s to a big season of rugby 🏉 and netball 🏐 — we’re ready to Bleed Blue 💙🩵
PRE-SEASON WRAP
Pre-season has continued to build strongly for our men and women as we move closer to Round 1, with training intensity lifting across all grades. We’ve seen excellent numbers at training, and the focus has now shifted to refining combinations, sharpening structures and building cohesion across the squads.
TRIAL MATCH V TERRIGAL
Our clash with Terrigal on March 21 was a valuable hit-out, with two squads rotating across six 20-minute periods at No. 5 Sportsground. It provided a great opportunity to test depth and combinations against quality opposition. The day also carried added meaning, with players proudly supporting World Down Syndrome Day by wearing mismatched socks — a small gesture that sparked important conversations and awareness within the community.
TAMWORTH TRIP SUCCESS
The following weekend saw our senior squads travel to Tamworth for a strong day of rugby against non-Hunter Zone opposition. It was a successful outing for the Blues, recording wins across the board against Gunnedah, Scone and Barraba. Beyond the results, the trip was an important step in strengthening team culture and highlighted the depth and potential within the group as we head into the season proper.
2026 WOMEN’S FIXTURES
Lock in — our season kicks off on April 11 with an away clash against Cooks Hill, and we can’t wait to get underway.
A big season lies ahead for our Women’s squad. Check out the full draw and start planning your game days. Let’s go girls!
As we head into the start of a new season, there’s plenty that’s been happening around the club!
IMPACT ACADEMY – WRAP-UP
A big thank you to Andrew Katoa and the Impact Academy for running an outstanding program for our older juniors, over the summer period. It was a great opportunity for our players to develop their skills and we really appreciate the time, energy and expertise that went into delivering a high-quality experience for our juniors.
WEE WANDERERS PROGRAM – WRAP-UP
Our Wee Wanderers program wrapped up after another successful run, with over 70 participants involved and great parent feedback. It’s been a valuable experience and introduction to the game for the youngest kids in our community. A big thank you to Adam Lewis and our senior players who helped coordinate and support the program.
JUNIOR SEASON KICK-OFF
The season is underway and it’s great to see the kids back on the field. We’ve already surpassed 225 junior registrations this year, which is a fantastic start to the season. It’s great to see so many players returning and we’re all looking forward to what is set to be a big season ahead.
WANDERERS JUNIOR – NATIONAL SELECTION
Congratulations to Wanderers junior Harper Strachan on his selection in the 32-man Australia U20s training squad. Head coach Chris Whitaker has named a 32-player group that will assemble in Coffs Harbour this April for a week-long camp. The camp marks the beginning of preparations for the U20 Rugby Championship in South Africa, followed by the World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia. This is a fantastic achievement, and the Wanderers community is proud of Harper and wishes him every success.
VOLUNTEERS – WE NEED YOU!
Our club couldn’t operate without the support of our volunteers. A huge thank you to everyone who already gives their time to help the Club run smoothly with much of this work happening quietly behind the scenes. As the season continues, we will need support across a range of roles including canteen helpers, ground managers, first aiders and assistant referees. Please make sure you make yourself available to help on game days when you can.
U16S JAPAN TOUR
Our Under 16s Japan Tour is fast approaching, with the group set to depart in April. This will be an incredible experience for the players both on and off the field following on from the inaugural trip in 2025. We look forward to sharing updates from the trip.
WOMEN AND GIRLS IN RUGBY
Kenzie and Zahli from our U12s (pictured), along with girls from our U15s Spring 7s team, attended the Our Turn event celebrating Women & Girls in Rugby Week. It was fantastic to see so many young players getting involved, supporting each other and showcasing the bright future of girls’ rugby in our region.
JUNIOR CLUB STANDARDS AND VALUES
The start of the season is a good time to remind everyone of the standards and values for our club. Respect for teammates, opponents, referees and volunteers is essential, and we ask all players, parents and supporters to help create a positive and supportive environment around the Club and fields. Several documents were shared recently that we require parents, carers, coaches and players to agree to (see below). These documents will be made available on our website for easy reference. If you have any questions about this, please reach out to our Junior Club President, Ben Towers.
Please click here to complete the Parents & Guardians Code of Conduct Policy
Please click here to read and resign the Social Media Policy.
The 2026 Winter Netball season is just around the corner, with our Two Blues girls set to take the court from 18 April. With six teams representing Wanderers this year, it’s fantastic to see such strong participation across the program. Training is already well underway, and there’s a real sense of excitement building as the girls prepare to get back out on court and compete for the season ahead. 💙🩵🏐
VALE DAVID FAIRFULL
The Wanderers Rugby community is saddened to acknowledge the passing of David Fairfull, who passed away in late February. An outstanding outside centre, David was a key figure in the great Wanderers sides of the 1960s, going on to also represent Newcastle and NSW Country during a distinguished rugby career. Reflecting on his time at the club, David described his years at Wanderers as “the best Rugby years I experienced,” built on strong friendships, proud representative honours, and the unique camaraderie that defined the era. We extend our sincere condolences to David’s family and friends, and honour his lasting contribution to our club and the game.
SECURING OUR LEGACY: THE FUTURE OF NO. 2 SPORTSGROUND
Wanderers RFC is excited to announce that we have formally submitted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to the City of Newcastle (CN) for National Park No. 2 Sportsground. This submission initiates a significant infrastructure revitalisation and paves the way for our application to the 2025/26 Community Grants Program, set to open on 4 May 2026.
Modernising the Match-Day Experience
Our immediate priority is a PA system upgrade. This isn’t just about better sound; it’s a vital move to meet modern safety standards and ensure a premier match-day experience for players, members, and spectators alike.
This project is a unified effort, supported by our Newcastle Rugby Union administrative bodies. This collaboration continues a century-long tradition of Wanderers leading the development of No. 2 Sportsground as the regional home of Rugby Union.
A Vision for the Next 100 Years
Beyond the audio upgrades, the NOI officially registers our long-term vision for the ground, including:
- The Blue Room Extension: Expanding our social hub for future generations.
- Permanent Concourse Shelter: A unique project using repurposed heritage elements recovered from the Hunter Street Mall.
- High-Performance Training: We are exploring the installation of a dedicated lineout practice target to keep our training sharp.
We are working closely with the City’s Sports Liaison Coordinator to ensure No. 2 Sportsground remains the crown jewel of community rugby for another century.
WANDERERS OLD BOY IN THE SPOTLIGHT: DAVID HANKIN
Wanderers Old Boy and 1975 Premiership 1XV player David Hankin has recently been featured in ABC News, highlighting his remarkable contribution to preserving Australia’s pinball history. A valued member of our club both on and off the field, David has remained a proud supporter of Wanderers over the years as a sponsor, with his connection to the club continuing through his sons, who also pulled on the blue jersey. It’s fantastic to see one of our own recognised on a national stage — a great reminder of the diverse and inspiring stories within the Wanderers community.
Listen to the news feature on David here.
Community Lunch Program
For anyone keen to lend a hand this Easter Sunday, we’d love your support at the community lunch. WRFC will be on the BBQ, helping serve up snags along with tea and coffee for those doing it tough in our community.
It’s only a couple of hours, a great way to give back, and even better with a few familiar faces alongside you. If you can spare some time, come down and get involved — the more the merrier. 💙
Sponsors Shout Out
We’re proud to introduce the businesses who stand at the top level of support for our club in 2026. Your backing plays a vital role in keeping our club strong—both on and off the field. From supporting our players to helping create opportunities across all levels of the game, your contribution makes a real difference. We’re incredibly grateful to have you as part of the Wanderers community.
Check out our 2026 Sponsors here.
Did we miss something?
Do you have important news to share with the Wanderers community? Send it to our Brand and Communications team for consideration in the Blues News or on our social channels. We’d love to help spread the word!
Share your news by emailing us at brand@wanderersrugby.com.au.