The Waratah Shield is a rugby union knock-out competition for high school teams from New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. First contested in 1963, it is organised by New South Wales Rugby Union in conjunction with NSW Schools' Rugby Union and NSW Combined High Schools and attracts around 100 entries each year.

St Edmund's College, Canberra is the most successful school with fourteen victories, until 2004, when the ACT was released due to their dominance. The NSW Schools Rugby Union asked ACT schools to 'show cause' as to why they should stay in the competition. The injustice of the exclusion was the subject of an adjournment statement from House of Representative Member for Canberra Annette Ellis in the Australian Parliament.

The Shield was not contested from 2018 until it was relaunched in 2022. Finals have been live streamed on NSW Rugby TV. Replays and highlights from the 2023 Final are also available.

Notable players Many notable rugby players, including Wallaby greats, took part in the Waratah Shield in their youth. Many came from St Edmund's College in Canberra, shield winners 14 times. They include Ricky Stuart in their first title win in 1984 at the Sydney Cricket Ground which brought him to the attention of the sporting public, Matt Giteau, David Furner, George Gregan, Matt Henjak, Anthony Fainga'a and Saia Fainga'a. Other notable players include Joe Roff also from Canberra who played in Marist College, Canberra's 1992 and 1993 victories, George Smith, Gordon Bray, Mark Ella, Gary Ella, Glen Ella and Lloyd Walker among others.

Number of victories A total of 18 schools have won the Waratah Shield since it began in 1963. St. Edmund's College, Canberra is the most successful school in the history of the Waratah Shield with a total of 14 victories, seven more than the next most successful schools, St Augustine's College, Brookvale, with eight titles. School Victories Years wonSt. Edmund's College, Canberra 14 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004St Augustine's College, Brookvale 8 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016Matraville Sports High School 5 1972, 1976, 1977, 1983, 2007Randwick Boys High School 4 1963, 1975, 1978, 1982St Stanislaus' College 4 1974, 1980, 1981, 1995Epping Boys High School 3 1967, 1968, 1969Marist College, Canberra 3 1988, 1992, 1993Manly Boys High School 2 1966, 1970North Sydney Boys High School 2 1971, 1973Hurlstone Agricultural College 1 1964Homebush Boys High School 1 1965James Ruse Agricultural High School 1 1979The Scots College 1 1990Oakhill College 1 1994St Patrick's College, Strathfield 1 1996Westfields Sports High School 1 2005Barker College 1 2006The Hills Sports High School 1 2010Hunter Valley Grammar School 1 2022Central Coast Grammar School 1 2023Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School 1 2024

Waratah Shield premiers

The following table sets out winners and notable players over the history of the Waratah Shield. Year Champions Runners-up Score Notable players1963 Randwick Boys High School 1964 Hurlstone Agricultural College 1965 Homebush Boys' High School Oakhill College 8–3 Gordon Bray1966 Manly Boys' High School 1967 Epping Boys' High School Normanhurst Boys High School 9 -6 1968 Epping Boys' High School Manly Boys' High School 1969 Epping Boys' High School Matraville Sports High School 1970 Manly Boys' High School 1971 North Sydney Boys' High School Randwick Boys High School 1972 Matraville Sports High School 1973 North Sydney Boys' High School Randwick Boy's High School 6–3 1974 St Stanislaus' College, Bathurst Lyneham High School, Canberra 16–10 1975Randwick Boys' High School St Stanislaus' College, Bathust17–13 1976Matraville High School North Sydney High 12–3 Gary Ella, Mark Ella, Glen Ella Lloyd Walker1977 Matraville High School Randwick Boys' High School 25–3 Mark Ella1978 Randwick Boys' High School Chevalier College 7–0 1979 James Ruse Agricultural High School Birrong Boys High 15–7 1980 St Stanislaus' College, Bathurst North Sydney Boys High 26–15 1981 St Stanislaus' College, Bathurst Matraville High School James Grant1982Randwick Boys' High School St Edmund's College, Canberra 10–6 1983 Matraville High School St. Stanislaus' College, Bathurst13–91984 St Edmund's College, Canberra Cranbrook School, Sydney 14–4 Ricky Stuart1985 St Edmund's College, Canberra Oakhill College 22–4 1986 St Edmund's College, Canberra Killarney Heights High School 38–0 David Furner, Matt Pini1987 St Edmund's College, Canberra Randwick Boy's High 11–3 1988 Marist College, Canberra Oakhill College 13–3 1989 St Edmund's College, Canberra St Stanislaus' College, Bathurst 9–6 George Gregan1990 The Scots College St Edmund's College, Canberra 6–0 1991 St Edmund's College, Canberra Scots College, Sydney 25–18 1992 Marist College, Canberra St Stanislaus College, Bathurst 38–8Joe Roff 1993 Marist College, Canberra Oakhill College 29–14 1994 Oakhill College Marist College, Canberra 24–20 1995 St Stanislaus' College, Bathurst Daramalan College, Canberra 22–15 1996 St Patrick's College, Strathfield Marist College, Canberra 24–23 1997 St Edmund's College, Canberra St Patrick's College, Strathfield50–7 1998 St Edmund's College, Canberra Cromer High School 45–22 George Smith1999 St Edmund's College, Canberra St Patrick's College, Strathfield 27–15 Matt Giteau, Matt Henjak2000 St Edmund's College, Canberra 2001 St Edmund's College, Canberra 2002 St Edmund's College, Canberra St. Stanislaus' College, Bathurst 41–22 2003 St Edmund's College, Canberra Prairiewood High School51–0 Anthony Fainga'a, Saia Fainga'a2004 St Edmund's College, Canberra Rankwick Boys High School 2005 Westfields Sports High School Barker College 2006 Barker College 2007 Matraville Sports High School 2008St. Augustine's College, Brookvale St. Stanislaus' College, Bathurst 26–16 2009 St. Augustine's College, BrookvaleSt. Stanislaus' College, Bathurst 18–13 2010 The Hills Sports High School St. Augustine's College, Brookvale 38–18 2011 St. Augustine's College, BrookvaleThe Hills Sports High School 20–13 2012 St. Augustine's College, Brookvale Oakhill College 27–17 2013 St. Augustine's College, BrookvaleOakhill College 64–21 2014 St. Augustine's College, BrookvaleOakhill College20–13 2015 St. Augustine's College, Brookvale Hills Sport High School 26–16 2016 St. Augustine's College, Brookvale Oakhill College 13–102017 St. Augustine's College, Brookvale Hills Sport High School forfeit2018 Not contested2019 Not contested2020 Not contested2021 Not contested2022Hunter Valley Grammar SchoolRandwick Boys High School22-122023Central Coast Grammar SchoolRandwick Boys High School25-18(*18-18 at full time, match won in extra time)2024Farrer Memorial Agricultural High SchoolCentral Coast Grammar School7-0

See also Rugby union trophies and awards

References

External links Australian Schools Rugby Union NSW Schools Rugby Union