Current season or competition: 2025 Group 7 Rugby League season | |
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| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Formerly known as | South Coast Rugby League |
| Instituted | 1914 |
| Inaugural season | 1914 (as South Coast Rugby League), 1955 (as Group 7 Rugby League) |
| Number of teams | 9 First Grade, 15 Senior Clubs |
| Country | Australia |
| Premiers |  Kiama Knights (2025) |
| Most titles |  Gerringong Lions(22 titles) |
| Website | Group 7 South Coast Rugby League Group 7 SRL (Facebook) Play Rugby League |
| Broadcast partner | Bar TV Sports |
South Coast Group 7 Rugby League (orGroup 7 Rugby League for simplicity) is the divisional boundary drawn from the SouthernIllawarra andSouth Coast regions (from the suburb ofWarilla south toUlladulla) ofNew South Wales, Australia and is governed by theNSWCRL. The main semi-professional competition comprises ten (10) teams from across the region. Group 7 Rugby League also administers reserve grade, third grade, and under-18s competitions, Ladies League Tag, as well as looking over many junior competitions.
The following twenty clubs compete in South Coast Group 7 competitions, with ten teams in the first-grade competition, seven clubs competing in lower grades and three clubs being junior standalone clubs.Due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in Australia the commencement of 2020 season was postponed.[1] Matches began on 25 July.[2]
| Club | Traditional colours | Home ground | Years contested in first grade | First-grade seasons | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Played | Premiers | Minor premiers | Runners-up | |||||
| First Grade Clubs | to 2023 | |||||||
| Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles |  | Centenary Field | 1919, (toIllawarra), 1940–49, 1951–53, 1955– | 81 | 13 | 10 | 6 | |
| Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies |  | Berry Showground | 1914–44, 1946–81, 1983–2001, 2003–20, 2022– | 103 | 12 | 8 | 10 | |
| Gerringong Lions | | Michael Cronin Oval | 1914–24, 1928–37, 1940–78, 1980– | 100 | 21 | 13 | 17 | |
| Jamberoo Superoos |  | Kevin Walsh Oval | 1914–22, 1926–27, 1931–67, 1971–79, 1987–88, 2009– | 70 | 9 | 6 | 10 | |
| Kiama Knights | | Kiama Showground | 1914–23, 1925, 1930– | 101 | 12 | 14 | 13 | |
| Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs |  | Bill Andriske Oval | (fromGroup 16) 1938–40, 1945–47, 1949–50, 1952–53, 1955–56, 1962–1991, 1994–2019, 2021– | 71 | 5 | 4 | 2 | |
| Nowra-Bomaderry Jets |  | Bomaderry Sports Complex | 2008–10, 2012– | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Shellharbour Sharks |  | Ron Costello Oval | 1931–36, 1939–93, 1995–2008, (toIllawarra), 2014– | 83 | 5 | 9 | 15 | |
| Stingrays of Shellharbour |  | Flinders Field | 2017– | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Warilla-Lake South Gorillas |  | Cec Glenholmes Oval | 1969– | 55 | 9 | 9 | 11 | |
| Lower Grade Clubs in 2024 | to 2023 | |||||||
| Culburra Dolphins |  | Crookhaven Park | Nil (Third Grade 2014, 2016–2022, 2024) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Mt. Warrigal United Kooris |  | Des King Oval | Nil (Third Grade 1980–81, 1995–2001, 2005–09, 2017–21, 2023–) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Robertson-Burrawang Spuddies |  | Robertson Showground | Nil (Group 6 first grade in most years from 1914 to 1990s, Third grade 2018–) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Southern Highlands Storm |  | Community Oval | Nil (fromGroup 6) (Third grade 2021–2023) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| St. Georges Basin Dragons |  | Francis Ryan Reserve | Nil (Reserve grade 2006–08, Third Grade 2023–) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Sussex Inlet Panthers |  | Finkernagle Oval | Nil (Third Grade 1992–2006, 2008, 2016–2022) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Junior-only clubs | to 2023 | |||||||
| Bomaderry Swamp Rats |  | Bomaderry Sports Complex | 1926–27, 1945, 1955–56, 1958–88, 1990–2001, 2005 | 49 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Nowra Warriors |  | Lyrebird Park | 1914–2007 | 98 | 10 | 13 | 11 | |
Ten clubs, including Mt Warrigal and Milton-Ulladulla, also field Women's League Tag teams. This competition has been running since 2010, and has comprised two divisions since 2018.
Sussex Inlet and Wreck Bay had fielded third-grade teams in 2019, but have not entered a team in 2020. Kiama, who fielded a Ladies League Tag team from 2010 to 2019, have not done so in 2020.
Of the original eight teams that competed in the inaugural competition in 1914, only four teams remain playing in first grade. They are theBerry Magpies,Gerringong Lions,Jamberoo Superoos, andKiama Knights. TheNowra Warriors were also a foundation club, but due to financial reasons were forced to merge with the Bomaderry Swamp Rats in 2007. The merger created the team Shoalhaven Jets, which was renamed Nowra-Bomaderry Jets in 2012.
There have been a few teams to expand into the Group 7 Rugby League First Grade Premiership. Through the 20s–30sAlbion Park were founded, joined theIllawarra Rugby League and returned to Group 7 in 1933. TheShellharbour Sharks are known to have joined the league at this time.Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs also joined fromGroup 16 Rugby League. TheWarilla-Lake South Gorillas were first introduced into first grade during the 1970s and in 1978 theBatemans Bay Tigers were another team to move from Group 16.
| Club | Traditional colours | Note | Years contested in first grade | Seasons | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Played | Premiers | Minor premiers | Runners-up | |||||
| Foundation Clubs | ||||||||
| Bombo | Merged withKiama in 1930 | 1914–15, 1923–24, 1929 (merged withKiama) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Kangaroo Valley | | 1914–21, 1925–28, 1937, 1955–57 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| Naval College / Albatross | 1914, 1920, 1926–30, 1949, 1955–59, 1963–65, 1973–74 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Nowra Warriors | | Merged with Bomaderry to form theJets | 1914–2007 (formedJets) | 98 | 10 | 13 | 11 | |
| Later Additions | ||||||||
| Batemans Bay Tigers |  | Re-Joined toGroup 16 | 1978–2013 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
| St. Michaels / Nowra Saints | 1968–84 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||
| Bomaderry Swamp Rats | | Merged withNowra to form theJets | 1926–27, 1945, 1955–56, 1958–88, 1990–2001, 2005 (formedJets) | 49 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| Bay and Basin United | 1996–99, 2009–10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Port Kembla Blacks | | Illawarra RL (1914–2008, 2019) | 2013–17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Also the following lower-grade teams:
The graph below shows the participation of all current and most former clubs. The club's highest grade in a particular year is displayed. The source is a compilation of competition tables, point scores and lists of participating teams. These have been taken from theKiama Independent,Illawarra Mercury and other past newspapers onTrove and microfilm. The current South Coast Group 7 Official Historian has assisted with the provision of more recent tables as printed in association guidebooks and theSouth Coast Register. Further research may add seasons thejuniors only clubs participated which are currently not shown.
Rugby league has been played in the South Coast region of New South Wales since 1913, with the first competition taking place between teams from theShoalhaven district. In May 1914, with other rugby clubs from across the region also splitting fromrugby union to join the new code, the South Coast Rugby League was formed. The first season of what is now known as theGroup 7 competition began with eight teams competing. These teams included:Berry, Bombo,Gerringong,Jamberoo,Kiama, Kangaroo Valley, Naval College, andNowra. The First round began on 30 May 1914, withKiama defeatingGerringong 6–3,Naval College defeatingBombo 7–5,Jamberoo Superoos defeatingKangaroo Valley 3–0, andNowra Warriors defeatingBerry Magpies 3–0. The inaugural premiers were Gerringong, winning the final 11–10 at the Kiama Showground. As soon as the league began, they entered a two-year hiatus due toWorld War I. No competitions were held between 1916 and 1917. When the competition reformed in 1918, Gerringong again won the title. TheNowra Warriors were the next team to win the title in 1919.
Gerringong went on to win the title a third time in 1920, with a 3–0 win overJamberoo. During 1925–26, some of the northern teams moved intoIllawarra Rugby League competition, including Gerringong, who took out the Illawarra Premiership in 1925. Jamberoo won the premiership in 1927. As a result, they were the first team to represent the South Coast in the first championship between South Coast and Illawarra Premiers. Jamberoo (South Coast) defeatedPort Kembla (Illawarra) 15–11. In 1929,Bombo won their first (and only) premiership.
After winning their first premiership in 1929, Bombo merged with Kiama in 1930. The new entity,Bombo-Kiama, took out the title in their first season. They followed this up with another in 1933.Albion Park became re-affiliated with South Coast Rugby League in 1933.Milton-Ulladulla joined the league in the 1930s fromGroup 16 Rugby League. Between 1935 and 1937, the Berry Magpies won the premiership three years consecutively. Junior aged competitions (U-17's, 18's, 19's) were first introduced in 1938. TheShellharbour Sharks won their first premiership in 1939.
Again, the competition faced a hiatus, this time between 1942 and 1943, due toWorld War II. Albion Park won their maiden Premiership in 1944. Kiama (as a single entity) won the title in 1945. They went on to win a further three titles, becoming the first and only club to win four consecutive titles (1945–1948).
For a second time, between 1952 and 1954, Berry record premiership wins three years consecutively. In 1955, the league was renamedGroup 7 Rugby League. Shellharbour won the Premiership in 1962 after a 23-year drought. In 1967,Bomaderry record their first premiership win.
In the 1970s, an expansion occurred whenWarilla entered the first grade competition in 1970. They go on to win their first premiership in 1978. TheBatemans Bay Tigers win their first premiership in 1979, after joining one year earlier in 1978 fromGroup 16. In 1980, the league was re-branded asSouth Coast Group Seven. Milton-Ulladulla record their first premiership win in 1987.
A hat-trick of premierships is again recorded, this time by theAlbion Park-Oak Flats Eagles between 1998 and 2000.
Source: Group 7 Rugby League History
| Team | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Gerringong Lions | 22 | 1914, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1924, 1940, 1956, 1960, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1990, 1994, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2023, 2024 |
| Kiama Knights | 13 | 1925, 1930, 1933, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1969, 1983, 1985, 2019,2025 |
| Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles | 13 | 1944, 1949, 1963, 1964, 1975, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 |
| Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies | 12 | 1923, 1926, 1928, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1941, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1966, 1967 |
| Nowra Warriors | 11 | 1913, 1919, 1934, 1938, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1977, 1981, 1993, 1996 |
| Warilla-Lake South Gorillas | 9 | 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984,1991, 1995, 1997, 2011, 2022 |
| Jamberoo Superoos | 9 | 1915, 1927, 1931, 1932, 1951, 1958, 1961, 1974, 2017 |
| Shellharbour Sharks | 6 | 1939, 1962, 1971, 1973, 2001, 2018 |
| Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs | 5 | 1987, 1989, 2004, 2005, 2008 |
 Batemans Bay Tigers | 5 | 1979, 1986, 1988, 1992, 2002 |
| Nowra-Bomaderry Jets | 1 | 2014 |
| Bomaderry Swamp Rats | 1 | 1976 |
| Bombo | 1 | 1929 |
| Team | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Shellharbour Sharks | 17 | 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1971, 1975, 1983, 1990, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2015, 2016 |
| Kiama Knights | 15 | 1919, 1921, 1923, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1936, 1950, 1951, 1982, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018 |
| Nowra Warriors | 13 | 1927, 1930, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1952, 1954, 1967, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1985 |
| Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles | 8 | 1938*, 1966, 1976, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2008, 2019 |
| Warilla-Lake South Gorillas | 8 | 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 2007, 2010, 2013 |
| Jamberoo Superoos | 6 | 1925, 1938*, 1946, 1947, 1969, 2022 |
| Gerringong Lions | 5 | 1995, 2002, 2011, 2023, 2024 |
| Bomaderry Swamp Rats | 4 | 1920, 1968, 1977, 1996 |
| Batemans Bay Tigers | 3 | 1984, 1986, 1993 |
| Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs | 3 | 1948, 1980, 1989 |
| Albatross | 3 | 1957, 1958, 1961 |
| Kangaroo Valley | 2 | 1922, 1953 |
| Stingrays of Shellharbour | 1 | 2025 |
| Nowra-Bomaderry Jets | 1 | 2020 |
| Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies | 1 | 2009 |
| Jervis Bay | 1 | 1960 |
| Roseby Park | 1 | 1949 |
| Pyree | 1 | 1935 |
| Bombo | 1 | 1924 |
| Team | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Jamberoo Superoos | 7 | 1972, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001 |
| Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles | 6 | 1974, 1981, 1985, 1991, 2002, 2003 |
| Crookhaven Magpies | 5 | 1984, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1998 |
| Mt. Warrigal United Kooris | 4 | 2007, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| Sussex Inlet Panthers | 3 | 1999, 2000, 2022 |
| Shellharbour Sharks | 3 | 1971, 1977, 2015 |
| Greenwell Point | 3 | 2004, 2008, 2009 |
| Warilla-Lake South Gorillas | 3 | 1975, 1976, 1983 |
| Stingrays of Shellharbour | 2 | 2014, 2023 |
| Albion Park Outlaws | 2 | 2005, 2006 |
 Wreck Bay United Bears | 2 | 1980, 1995 |
| Albatross | 2 | 1978, 1986 |
| Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs | 2 | 1969, 1982 |
| St Georges Basin Dragons | 1 | 2025 |
| Nowra-Bomaderry Jets | 1 | 2024 |
| Robertson-Burrawang Spuddies | 1 | 2020 |
| Culburra Dolphins | 1 | 2016 |
| Shoalhaven All Blacks | 1 | 1987 |
| Nowra Warriors | 1 | 1979 |
| Gerringong Lions | 1 | 1973 |
| Wandandian | 1 | 1970 |
| Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies | 1 | 1922 |
| Team | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Kiama Knights | 14 | 1945, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1982, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2013, 2016 |
| Warilla-Lake South Gorillas | 12 | 1968, 1970, 1974, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1998, 2001, 2012, 2019, 2023 |
| Shellharbour Sharks | 11 | 1944, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 2003, 2007, 2014, 2020 |
| Nowra Warriors | 10 | 1955, 1962, 1967, 1971, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1987, 1993, 1995 |
| Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles | 9 | 1954, 1965, 1966, 1978, 1984, 1990, 1999, 2018, 2024 |
| Gerringong Lions | 7 | 1938, 1940, 1951, 1994, 2000, 2010, 2022 |
| Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies | 6 | 1947, 1949, 1972, 1973, 1983,2025 |
| Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs | 6 | 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2017 |
| Bomaderry Swamp Rats | 4 | 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981 |
| Bay and Basin United | 2 | 1996, 1997 |
| Nowra-Bomaderry Jets | 1 | 2015 |
| Culburra Dolphins | 1 | 2009 |
| Pyree | 1 | 1939 |
| Team | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs | 2 | 2023,2024 |
| Team | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Kiama Knights | 5 | 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018 |
| Jamberoo Superoos | 4 | 2016, 2019, 2020, 2023 |
| Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs | 3 | 2014, 2024,2025 |
| Stingrays of Shellharbour | 1 | 2022 |
| Nowra-Bomaderry Jets | 1 | 2012 |
| Warilla-Lake South Gorillas | 1 | 2010 |
| Team | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Shellharbour Sharks | 2 | 2019, 2022 |
| Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles | 2 | 2018, 2020 |
| Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs | 1 | 2025 |
| Jamberoo Superoos | 1 | 2024 |
| Warilla-Lake South Gorillas | 1 | 2023 |
| Team | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Crookhaven Magpies | 1 | 2025 |
| Team | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Gerringong Lions | 5 | 2010, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2022 |
| Shellharbour Sharks | 3 | 2014, 2015, 2024 |
| Kiama Knights | 3 | 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| Stingrays of Shellharbour | 2 | 2023,2025 |
| Warilla-Lake South Gorillas | 2 | 2009, 2013 |
| Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies | 1 | 2011 |
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