Shute Shield transfer centre: 2025 player movements from every club revealed

There is plenty of player movement already between clubs, and also new signings from interstate and overseas that will strengthen some teams in pursuit of Shute Shield glory. Every move revealed.

The new Shute Shield season kicks off on April 5, and teams are finalising their rosters for the 2025 competition.

There is plenty of player movement already between clubs, and also new signings from interstate and overseas that will strengthen some teams.

The 12-team tournament will run across 18 rounds in the regular season this year.

The first round will see defending champions Eastern Suburbs travel south to Forshaw Rugby Park to face Southern Districts. Easts ended their longstanding premiership drought in 2024 following a thrilling one-point grand final victory against Norths last August.

The Beasties attention now turns to an 11th Shute Shield title, however, the last club to successfully defend a Shute Shield premiership was Sydney University in 2019.

Eastern Suburbs are gearing up for their Shute Shield premiership defence.

Also in round one, Eastwood host heavyweights Randwick and the Marlins welcome rivals Northern Suburbs at Manly Oval.

Sydney Rugby Union general manager Peter Watkins revealed that the opening five rounds of the competition will offer fans both traditional and emerging rivalries; the Shoremen against Gordon (round two), Warringah against Sydney University (round three), West Harbour versus Two Blues (round four) and Easts against Manly (round five).

There will also be a return of Friday rugby, with the Marlins to host Warringah at Manly Oval on Anzac Day weekend.

Here are the latest player movements:

EASTERN SUBURBS

The Beasties broke their 55-year title hoodoo with a thrilling victory in last year’s premiership decider against Norths.

This season they’ve added talent from Queensland, Ireland and across the ditch to cover a string of players who retired on a high after the grand final.

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David Vaihu playing with the Melbourne Rebels U19s. Picture: Julian Andrews

NORTHERN SUBURBS

The beaten grand finalists have added a stack of players to their roster, including former Western Force lock Felix Kalapu and some acquisitions from rival clubs. But they’ll be missing their inspirational skipper, Harry Burey, who retired after the decider.

Northern Suburbs inspirational Harry Burey retired at the end of the 2024 season.

SYDNEY UNIVERSITY

The Students will be looking to bounce back following their disappointing seventh-place finish last season, and have added some Super Rugby calibre players toS their squad.

MANLY

Under new head coach Sam Lane, the Marlins will be looking to make their first grand final in nine years.

Lane and Harry Bergelin guided Manly’s second grade team to the title last season and they’ve taken charge of the Shute Shield side this year, and will be assisted by Wallabies great Michael Hooper, as well as Jackson Bird and Damien Cummins.

Playmaker Jordan Chait is a new recruit for Manly Marlins.

WESTERN SYDNEY TWO BLUES

There is another major overhaul in the Two Blues’ roster as they aim to build upon their impressive eighth-placed finish last year after claiming seven wins.

They’ve managed to poach a bunch of players from Randwick and Eastwood, while eight of their departing players earned professional contracts overseas.

EASTWOOD

Their disappointing ninth-placed finish last season has seen the Woodies call in some heavy artillery from overseas.

The 2023 semi-finalists will be desperate to get back in the playoff picture in 2025 and will be relying heavily on their new recruits.

Halfback Lachie Albert is a key new signing for Eastwood.

GORDON

After a top-four finish last year, the Highlanders will be aiming firmly for a grand final spot this year under coach Harry Fehily.

They’ve managed to sign overseas and sevens talent, while former player Pat Pellegrini is now excelling in Super Rugby for Moana Pasifika.

WARRINGAH

The Rats finished second after the regular season last year but failed to make the decider, and head coach Josh Holmes has lured a host of new players including former Souths club captain Phil Potgieter.

Warringah fell short in the finals to Norths in the 2024 Shute Shield playoffs. Photo by Deb Benefield.

HUNTER WILDFIRES

Having claimed five wins last season, the Wildfires will be confident of further improvement after adding depth in key positions.

But they’ll need to find a capable replacement for try-scoring hooker Andrew Tuala, who has stepped away from the Shute Shield due to work commitments.

SOUTHERN DISTRICTS

Scott Fava has taken over as head coach after Souths’ disappointing second-last place effort in 2024, with only three wins for the year.

Fava and assistant coach George Gargoulakis have been given a three-year term by management to turn the club around, and they’ve begun by bringing back some Eastwood defectors and picking up Canadian players.

Still to come

RANDWICK

WEST HARBOUR