Welcome to The Rogues Rant, an occasional look at all things Rugby.

By Ron Wood

Sad to hear of the passing of Shamrocks Stalwart Garth Doyle last week. Garth was a past President of the Rocks and held many other roles at the club over the years. Not only did he have a big involvement in the Shamrocks club over the years but he was a significant contributor to the fabric of the Northern Beaches community. Garth became involved with the club through his son Chris Doyle, who was a prominent player at the club during the club’s success in the 1990s. The next generation of the Doyle family moved through the club as well, with his Grandson Michael Turpenou and recently Chris’s son Eamon who is currently touring with the Australian Under 20 side in South Africa. I’ll miss the inevitable friendly chats I regularly had with Garth on the western side of Ocean Park whenever I attended a Shamrocks home game. A true gentleman of Rugby. My condolences to the Doyle and Turpenou families. Rest in Peace Garth Doyle.   

Michael Hooper has called time on his illustrious Rugby Career. Hoops has had a difficult time with injury in recent times, with time now finally running out on one of the true warriors of our game. Although a bit shorter than  most of his compatriots Hooper always stood tall in the Wallaby jumper and led from the front as one of our greatest captains of all time. It is not likely that we will see the likes of this fine footballer again.

Test Match time is coming around for 2024, with the Wallabies up to play Wales in two matches starting this week in Sydney. Along with the Wallaroos playing Fiji, there will be a double header at Homebush in front of what will probably be a big crowd eager to see a new chapter start for the Wallabies under Coach Joe Schmidt. It is certainly going to be interesting just who Schmidt goes for in his first outing as Wallaby Coach. It will also be just as interesting to see how he asks the team to play. Will this be the beginning of a new successful period for the Wallabies. Let’s hope so, we need that to be the case. 

Round twelve this week of the local comp, weather permitting. Shamrocks are home to Camden at Ocean Park and can expect a solid outing. The Rams are sitting outright third and traveling well while the Rocks are one off the bottom of the table with just one win for the year. Camden should get the points here despite traveling to Woonona. Camden to Win. Tech Waratahs and Vikings meet at Saunders Oval with both clubs struggling at the bottom end of the table. I’ll have to go for the home side here but much will depend on just which players are on deck for Tech Tahs this week. Tech Waratahs to Win. Match of the Round is at Campbelltown for the second week running with the locals up against second placed Kiama. The Quinnies put on a good show last week against the Premiers and after not having a game for the three weeks prior will have benefited from the run. Kiama had a close call last week against Tech Tahs and will need to be switched on and ready to go against a well-organized Campbelltown side. I will go for the Cows to win here but a result in favor of the locals would not surprise. Kiama to Win.    

Rugby Diary 

Saturday July 13     IDRU Round 13

                                Bowral V Tech Waratahs

                                Camden V Campbelltown

                                Vikings V Shamrocks

                                2nd Grade

                                Bowral V Tech Waratahs              

                                Camden V Campbelltown

                                Vikings V Shamrocks    

                                University V Shoalhaven