- Western Sydney Rams
Rugby team
teamname = Western Sydney Rams
union =Australian Rugby Union
location =Western Sydney ,Australia
country
founded = 2007
ground =Parramatta Stadium
capacity = 20,000cite web | work=austadiums.com | title=Parramatta Stadium |url=http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=85| accessdate=2007-03-20]
coach = Brian Melrose
captain = Ben Hand
league =Australian Rugby Championship
season = 2007
position = Semi-Finalist
unionurl=www.westernsydneyrams.com.au
pattern_la1=_navylower|pattern_b1=_thinwhitesides|pattern_ra1=_navylower| leftarm1=FF6633|body1=FF6633|rightarm1=FF6633|shorts1=003366|socks1=003366The Western Sydney Rams were an Australian
rugby union football club that played in the now defunctAustralian Rugby Championship . The Rams were formed as one ofNew South Wales ' three clubs that participated in the inaugural and only season of the championship, in 2007. The team were based out of theParramatta Stadium , Parramatta. The team colors were orange andblue . Their local team rivals are theSydney Fleet and theCentral Coast Rays . The Rams were the minor premiers of the 2007 ARC season. The Rams were knocked out of the 2007 finals by theMelbourne Rebels at the semi-final stage.History
The inaugural Australian Rugby Championship included eight teams of which three of which were based in the state of
New South Wales . A team in Western Sydney was always likely, and before specific names and colours were unveiled, the locations of the three New South Wales' teams were revealed, one of which was a Western Sydney team to play out of Parramata. The name, logo and team colours were officially unveiled20 March ,2007 by theNew South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU).cite web | work=rugby.com.au (NSWRU) | title=Western Sydney Rams Ready to Charge | date=March 20, 2007 |url=http://rugby.com.au/news/western_sydney_rams_ready_to_charge,54797.html/section/21893| accessdate=2007-03-20]As well as the teams' location and stadium, the coaching set up was also announced prior to the unveiling of the Rams' name, logo and colours. In January 2006, the NSWRU announced that Brian Melrose as the head coach for the inaugural season.cite web | work=waratahs.com.au | title=Melrose to Lead Western Front | date=January 17, 2007 |url=http://www.waratahs.com.au/MediaExtranet/News/2007/January/MelrosetoLeadWesternFront.aspx| accessdate=2007-03-20] Melrose has in the past been assistant coach to the Waratahs and is also involved with Manly and the Australian Sevens team. He has also played with Eastwood and Parramatta.
Colours and logo
The colours, logo and name of the Rams' was officially unveiled at the team launch on March 20, 2007. The inspiration for the name Rams derives from the pioneering past of Western Sydney - in respect to the history of settlers starting Australian sheep and wool industries in Parramatta. The team launch took place at Old Government House, Parramatta - a National Trust location which is also near the Rams' stadium. The NSWRU Chief Executive Officer said of the location; "History is being created in the Australian Rugby Championship and it’s fitting in doing so we pay tribute to our past, Old Government House is Australia’s oldest public building and it provides a strong foundation upon which to launch a new team.". Inaugural head coach Melrose described the name as a strong front for the team. The Rams were the last of three NSW-based teams to be officially launched for the ARC championship. The Rams' team colours consist of orange and blue.
tadium
:"Main article
Parramatta Stadium "The Rams played atParramatta Stadium - home of theNational Rugby League clubParramatta Eels . The current stadium was built in 1985, and at present has an all-seater capacity of 20,000. Prior to Parramatta Stadium, Cumberland Oval existed on the grounds from 1847 to 1981.Cumberland Oval was burnt down after theParramatta Eels won their first of 3 consecutive grand finals 1981, 1982, 1983, by a mob of drunken Eels fans. Rugby union was first played at Cumberland Oval in 1879, through to 1939. The construction of Parramatta Stadium began in the early 1980s, and the new stadium was opened in 1986.Franchise area
New South Wales' three teams in the ARC were aligned with existing clubs and regions. The New South Wales clubs aligned with the Western Sydney Rams were Eastwood, West Harbour, Parramatta and Penrith, who all compete in the
Tooheys New Cup andShute Shield club competitions.Current squad
Records
Head coaches
* Brian Melrose (2007 -)
Captain
Ben Hand
ee also
*
New South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU)
*New South Wales Waratahs
*Tooheys New Cup
*Shute Shield References
External links
* [http://waratahs.com.au/DrawsandCompetitions/AustralianRugbyChampionship/ARC-TheFacts.aspx ARC] on NSW Rugby
* [http://rugby.com.au/fixtures_results/australian_rugby_championship/overview,50381.html Australian Rugby Championship] on rugby.com.au
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