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Rugby League
The History of the Illawarra Steelers
Rugby League’s birth in the Illawarra began back in 1910 where at a meeting at the old Terminus Hotel (Near Wollongong Railway station) plans were put in place to organise and run the first competitions.
Seventy years later the Illawarra's Application to be included into the New South Wales Rugby League First Division was granted at a meeting of the league on this 13th December 1980 - The introduction of the Illawarra District RLFC – known as the Illawarra Steelers.
The Illawarra District boasts a proud history and is known as one of the best nursery's in the game and has credit of producing some internationals including Graeme Langlands, Bob Fulton and Craig Young.
The Illawarra Steelers and St George RLFC formed the first of the NRL's joint ventures for the 1999 season. "The St George Illawarra Dragons".
The Illawarra Steelers history is well documented in the book Thirteen Years of Steel by David Middleton.
Steelers is a trading name adopted by the Illawarra District Rugby League Football Club Limited when the Club was formed to play rugby league in the major ARL competition in 1982.
The Steelers played in that competition until 1998, before forming a joint-venture club in 1999 - known as the St George Illawarra Dragons - playing half of their home matches at WIN stadium in Wollongong and half at Oki stadium in Kogarah.
The St George Illawarra Dragons field teams in the NRL and Toyota Cup competitions. The Steelers still field Junior Representative teams in their own right in the SG Ball and Harold Matthews competitions. Dragons Illawarra Rugby League administer all Rugby League competitions played in this district.
The Steelers Licensed Club opened in 1990 and is operated to generate revenue for the propagation and development of Rugby League in the Illawarra Region. It is the Rugby League "headquarters". Offices of all sections of Rugby League are located on the first floor of the Licensed Club.
The Steelers Board of Directors are elected by the members of the club and administer both the Rugby League and Licensed Club operations by setting policies to be carried out by Management and staff.
The Steelers Club continues to grow as the leading Club to support Rugby League in the Wollongong/Shoalhaven region.
Rugby League Links
St George Illawarra Dragons
Illawarra District Rugby League
Bush Telegraph Issue 10 2012
CRL | NSWRL
Contact Details
Julie Nicoll
Illawarra Rugby League
District Administrator
Phone: 02 4227 2255
jnicoll@dragons.com.au
