Sydney junior, senior rugby club on the rise with Manly Savers chasing fifth grand final win

In 2019 this Sydney rugby club had just one team. Now, in an extraordinary story of success, it’s chasing its fifth grand final victory in just six days.

The Manly Savers have had extraordinary success this season. Pics: Supplied and Facebook

Just three years ago the Manly Savers had one team playing rugby.

On Saturday their senior team will be chasing their fifth piece of silverware in just six days - with a fair bit of help from a group of overseas players.

The Manly Savers will take on Sydney Harbour in their grand final for the McLean Cup at Merrylands with the side made up of numerous expats including players from Argentina, Brazil, the UK and New Zealand - along with a number of talented locals from the northern beaches.

“We were a one team club in 2019 and in 2020 we had three junior sides, a first grade side and a colt side,“ said Manly Savers treasurer, life member and board member Cameron Wall whose father and son have both played with the club running for 113 years.

“In 2022 we have nine juniors and three senior teams and eight of those juniors went to semis and the two senior sides went to semis.

RUGBY GUN: Just playing is a win

The Manly Savers rugby club has been on fire this season. Pic: Supplied

“Then four out of the six juniors in the grans final last week won. And we’re hoping for another with the senior side this weekend.

“The growth of the club is extraordinary. We’re pretty sure we have the fastest growing club in Rugby.

“It’s really well run we have good sponsors and volunteers and it seems to draw people in.”

The Manly Savers have had extraordinary success in senior sand junior this season. Pics: Supplied and Facebook

Carlos Tempone, an accountant and Argentinian ex-pat who is captain of the Manly Savers, said the senior side is looking forward to it season decider.

“We are the United Nations, we have many players from overseas with people from Argentina, UK, Ireland, US, Japan, Brazil and New Zealand,’’ said the try scorer with 15 in the regular season.

The team has lost just two games this season before beating Epping in the semi-final to set up their clash with Sydney harbour.

“I think it will be like any other grand final, very similar to a Test match, the one with the best defence and being more clinical will win.,’’ he said.

“Of course it will be very physical, it will be a great game to watch.’’

The Manly Savers rugby club is a success story with big growth in recent times. Pic: Supplied

The Savers finish second on the pointscore ladder at the end of the regular season with 12 wins from their 14 outings.

Also in their competition were Epping, Redfield Old Boys, Merrylands, Macquarie Uni, Chatswood, Renegades, Western Raptors, Northern Saints, Hawkesbury Ag College and Canterbury.

Wall, who also coached Michael Hooper and Reece Hodge as juniors, said the explosion in the junior ranks has seen players from Manly, Forest, Harbord Harlequins, Seaforth Raiders, Manly Roos and Allambie Jets come to the club to play in their age groups.

The Savers 2nds lost their semi-final and the 3rd grade side played in the Halligan Cup and finished fifth.

In the Sydney Junior Rugby Union grand final last weekend the Manly Savers Black draw 10-10 with Penrith RSL in the 14Bs, the Forest Savers beat Randwick 15-3 in the 16As, Savers Black beat the Liverpool Cougars 27-0 in the 16Bs and Manly Savers Forest beat Oakley Opens 37-17.

Originally published as Sydney junior, senior rugby club on the rise with Manly Savers chasing fifth grand final win