North Sydney Oval to host both Shute Shield grand final qualifiers on same day

The Shute Shield grand final won’t be at North Sydney Oval this year but the picturesque old ground will still have a key role in the finals series.

Action from last season’s grand final between Warringah and Sydney University at North Sydney Oval. This year’s decider will be held at Bankwest Stadium but North Sydney Oval will host both grand final qualifiers on the same day.

• Waratahs crushed in final hitout

The Shute Shield will break new ground this season with both grand final qualifiers to be played on the same day at North Sydney Oval.

The innovative move to stage the double header was made by the Sydney Rugby Executive this week and follows the contentious decision to switch the following week’s grand final from North Sydney to Bankwest Stadium.

“We are holding both qualifying games for the grand final on the Saturday and we think North Sydney is a great venue for them,” Sydney Rugby Union president Dave Begg confirmed to The Daily Telegraph.

“Obviously there is a lot of connection between that oval and the club rugby community.

“We want to give four clubs the opportunity of playing there in the finals.

Action from last season’s grand final between Warringah and Sydney University at North Sydney Oval. This year’s decider will be held at Bankwest Stadium but North Sydney Oval will host both grand final qualifiers on the same day.

“And there has been a valid criticism in the past that one team gets seven days rest and the other team only gets six days rest before the grand final and that doesn’t happen anymore — both teams qualify on the same day.”

The first game will kick off at 2pm on August 17 and the second game at 4pm with both being televised live on 7TWO.

“For people who felt the Bankwest decision was not one that geographically fitted them, they now have an opportunity to go to North Sydney and see two games,” Begg said.

“It was unanimously decided — just as the Bankwest decision was unanimously decided.”

Begg said the Sydney Rugby Union have absolutely no second thoughts about the grand final move and said that some of the critics had not been to the impressive new western Sydney stadium.

Where and when the lower grades will be played is to be determined, but it is likely both second grade games could also take place at North Sydney Oval on that Saturday.

Tolu Latu won’t be playing for Sydney Uni on Saturday. Picture: Troy Snook

Meanwhile Sydney University coach Robert Taylor doesn’t intend playing Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu in Saturday’s game with Manly at University Oval.

He missed the Waratahs game with the Highlanders in New Zealand on Friday night as he was being sentenced yesterday in Sydney after pleaded guilty to drink driving without a valid licence.

Manly’s preparation for the game received a boost when Wallaby legend George Smith attended training on Wednesday night.

They also have the classy former NSW and Queensland Super Rugby player Sam Lane back for his first Shute Shield game of the year at fullback.

The Easts verses Souths game at Woollahra and Gordon against Randwick clash at Chatswood could prove crucial to all four sides’ finals hopes.

The Warringah Rats are chasing their seventh win on the trot when they play the Western Sydney Two Blues in Camden while Norths can expect a real workout for a spirited West Harbour at Concord Oval.