Gosford/Kariong vs Woy Woy at Gosford Rugby Field – NSW Rugby TV
- Premier 3 – 11:45am
- Women’s Premier 1 – 12:55pm
- Premier 2 – 1:55pm
- Premier 1 – 3:15pm
Razorbacks vs Avoca Beach at Ourimbah Rugby Park
- Premier 3 – 11:45am
- Women’s Premier 1 – 12:55pm
- Premier 2 – 1:55pm
- Premier 1 – 3:15pm
Lake Macquarie vs Northlakes/The Bay at Walkers Park
- Premier 3 – 11:45am
- Women’s Premier 1 – 12:55pm
- Premier 2 – 1:55pm
- Premier 1 – 3:15pm
Terrigal vs Warnervale at The Haven
- Premier 3 – 11:45am
- Women’s Premier 1 – 12:55pm
- Premier 2 – 1:55pm
- Premier 1 – 3:15pm
The 2025 Central Coast Rugby Union season commences next Saturday. The opening round sees four (4) WLG Premier 1 matches – in fact the first round should be close in all four matches. All teams will be keen to get on the paddock, and all will be aiming to reach Grand Final day on the 30th August.
The Premier 1 competition will be known as the WLG Premier 1 competition.
There are so many unknowns about the matches this Saturday. There have been many changes in the off season. There are new coaches at several clubs, there has been considerable player movement between clubs, and a restructuring of a couple of the clubs for this year. It all makes it very exciting. The Gosford and Kariong clubs have joined forces for this year and have established a new club called Gosford/Kariong Rugby Club – the ‘Mountain Devils’. Northlakes and The Bay will also be combining as the one club this year, although still maintaining their own identities.
The Match of the Day will see the Razorbacks meeting Avoca Beach at Ourimbah Rugby Park in what should prove an exciting clash. These two teams were Finalists last year and were two of the dominant teams in 2024. This should also be the case in 2025. Both teams have played trial matches in their leadup to Round1 but not too much importance can be placed on what happened in trial matches. However, both teams will be ready to go this coning Saturday. The Razorbacks are at home which is a huge plus in any opening round match and this may be the only difference between these two teams. The Razorbacks have a similar coaching team this year. Head coach is Nick Meyer, while Brett Cunningham will be the 1st XV Coach. Avoca Beach have a different coaching team at the helm this year, comprising Mitch Magrath, Mitch Jacobs. There are masses of Premier 1 experience in both these two coaching groups. It all makes for a most exciting game of rugby on Saturday at Ourimbah.
The Haven will host an equally interesting clash on Saturday between home team Terrigal and visitors Warnervale. Terrigal are at home which is a huge plus for them but they meet a Warnervale side that have had a good build up to the season. Both teams have some changes in their coaching staff this year. Terrigal will be coached by Jonathon Bell. He is a very experienced coach and has been at the helm of the Terrigal 1st XV for several years. Warnervale will have 1st XV Coach Mathew Piukala in charge this year. These two teams were very successful last year but will be very keen to reach the big one at the end of the year. Terrigal are the reigning Premiers and they will be most keen to repeat the dose this year. Warnervale will, however, very much like to cause a hiccup to their plans this Saturday. So, the first few weeks will be very important in telling us the form and prospects of these teams this year. These sets of coaches would be just keen to get onto the paddock, and obviously would be hoping for a victory first up. Once again it is very difficult to choose a winner in this clash because of so many unknown factors, but the home ground advantage for Terrigal may be an influencing factor.
Woy Woy travel to Gosford Showground and meet the newly formed Gosford/Kariong Rugby Club. It is almost impossible to predict a winner in this match. Gosford/Kariong have had so many changes this year and a huge amount of planning has gone into this new club just to get it on the paddock for the 2025 season. They have a new Coach in ex-Wallaby Peter Kay. Kay comes to the club with huge experience having played in the Shute Shield competition in Sydney for 20 years. They have been training now for quite a while and have had two quite good trial matches. But it all comes to a head this coming Saturday. Like Gosford and Kariong last year, Woy Woy also had a very tough year in 2024. They are hoping to turn things totally around this year. A huge amount of effort has been put into this off season and Woy Woy will be primed ready to go this Saturday. New Head Coach, Stu Formston, will ensure that Woy Woy will be fit for this first game of the season.
The Bay Rugby Club and Northlakes Rugby Club will be playing as the one team in 2025, and they will meet Lake Macquarie at Walters Park, Boolaroo. This contest should prove a most interesting clash. These two clubs have combined and fill compete in all grades this season. The Premier 1 team will be coached by Paul Wilson and Iliesa Cama – these two bring much experience to the team. Lake Macquarie are at home and this is a huge plus for them but they know there are many unknowns about their opposition this coming Saturday. Lake Macquarie Coach, Neil McDonald, however, will have his team filly prepared for this however.
Saturday also sees the commencement of the Central Coast Women’s 12’s competition. This year, the women’s competition will again be 12-a-side rugby. There will be eight teams in this year’s competition. All 8 clubs on the Central Coast have a women’s team and this make for an interesting women’s rugby season this year. It will take several weeks before these teams sort themselves out but it all makes for some exciting rugby in the early rounds of this year’s competition.
Catch all of the live action by following on the app or the Rugby Xplorer app.