HISTORYThe Campbelltown Harlequin Rugby Football Club was formed in 1972 by several rugby buffs at the local pub “Lacks Hotel” and fielded a team in Sydney Subbies for several seasons. Growing membership brought a move to the Illawarra District competition in 1974. 1st and 2nd Grade teams were fielded in that initial year. With player numbers growing even further and on the back of a Club Championship win and the 1974 2nd grade premiership in Illawarra, the Club moved back to the old Sydney 2nd Division competition in 1977. In 1978, the most successful season to that time, all 4 grades competed in the Grand Finals with 1st and 4th grades successful. Over the years between 1979 to 1987, the Club moved between 2nd and 3rd Divisions in the Subbies competition as a promotion and relegation system was introduced. Then, with the Club at the crossroads from a playing numbers position, a decision was taken to return to the Illawarra competition. From 1987, the Harlequins reestablished itself as one of the leading Clubs in both Illawarra and NSW Country Rugby. The 25th anniversary year, 1997 will fondly remembered as a high point of the Club’s success. Both the Illawarra Club Championship and the initial 1st grade premiership trophies were resting in the Clubhouse. Throughout the decade, the Harlequins were the only Club in the competition to have every grade qualify for semifinals, every hears from 1994 to 2001. Due primarily to increased playing numbers and the need for consistent competition games, the Harlequins returned to the Sydney Suburban competition in 2003. The Club contested the 2nd Division competition until 2006, when, on winning the 2nd Division Club Championship, the Quins were promoted to 1st Division Sydney Suburban Competition. JUNIOR RUGBYThe Junior Rugby Club was formed in 1980, with teams initially playing in the Parramatta Junior Rugby competition. In the late 1980's, the Juniors moved across to the Illawarra competition. The Club now fields age teams from Under 11's to Under 17's and has been a most successful club in its own right. The Harlequin Junior Club has supplied numerous players to Illawarra and NSW Country representative teams and several to NSW sides. The fantastic success of the senior Club during the 1990's can be attributed in no small way to the calibre of player the junior club has produced. REPRESENTATIVESPeter Delavere played for Sydney against Russia in 1991; Michael Delavere for NSW Country against Scotland in 1992; Martin Harber for NSW Country versus Scotland 1998; John Va'alotu for NSW Country against the British Lions, Coffs Harbour in 2001 and in the Australian Rugby Shield. The Quins have had representatives Glen Hodgson, Nathan Roby, Nathan Willard and Jason Thompson in the Illawarra team at the Southern Provincial Championship and NSW Country Week. Since the move to Sydney Suburban in 2003, the Harlequins have provided players to the NSW Suburban Representative side, including – Adam Choice, Aaron Loxley, Chris Smith and Nick Duffy.
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