Central Coast Rays

Rugby team
teamname = Central Coast Rays

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union = Australian Rugby Union
location = Gosford, Australia
country

founded = 2007
ground = Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium
capacity = 20,159cite web | work=austadiums.com | title=Central Coast Stadium |url=http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=79| accessdate=2007-03-15]
coach = John McKee
captain = TBA
league = Australian Rugby Championship
season = 2007
position = Champions
unionurl=www.nswrugby.com.au
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_thindkbluesides|pattern_ra1=| leftarm1=000033|body1=33CC33|rightarm1=000033|shorts1=000033|socks1=000033

The Central Coast Rays were an Australian rugby union football club that played in the now-defunct Australian Rugby Championship. The Rays were formed as one of New South Wales' three clubs that participated in the inaugural season of the championship, which started in August 2007. The team were based out of the Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium, Gosford. The team colors were navy and emerald. Their local team rivals were the Sydney Fleet and the Western Sydney Rams.

The Rays were the inaugural ARC Champions, defeating the Melbourne Rebels in the Grand Final 20 points to 12.

History

The inaugural Australian Rugby Championship, starting in August 2007, includes eight teams of which three of which are based in the state of New South Wales. A team on the Central Coast 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 the Central Coast. The name, logo and team colours were unveiled 15 March, 2007 by the New South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU).cite web | work=waratahs.com.au | title=The Central Coast Rays :: A Natural Choice | date=2007-03-15 |url=http://www.nswrugby.com.au/MediaExtranet/News/2007/March/TheCentralCoastRaysANaturalChoice.aspx| accessdate=2007-03-15]

As well as the team's location and stadium, the coaching set up was also announced prior to the unveiling of the Rays' name, logo and colours. In December 2006, the NSWRU revealed that John McKee would be the head coach of the Central Coast team.cite web | work=waratahs.com.au | title=Aussie Coach Returns for Australian Rugby Championship | date=2006-12-20 |url=http://www.waratahs.com.au/MediaExtranet/News/2006/December/AussieCoachReturnsforAustralianRugbyChampionship.aspx| accessdate=2007-03-15] McKee was the first coach appointed out of New South Wales' three clubs, he had previously coached the Eastwood club, as well as worked with French club Montferrand and Irish team Connacht.

The Rays hosted the Melbourne Rebels in the inaugural ARC Grand Final, after coming from behind against the Perth Spirit in their semi-final, winning 27 to 19. They won the Grand Final 20 to 12, and became the inaugural (and only) champions of the ARC.

Colours and logo

The name was selected through a partnership between the NSWRU and the Rays' steering committee. The teams' navy and emerald colour scheme was also devised to reflect the natural landscape of the area, from the ocean to the bush. Dave Gibson, NSWRU General Manager of Commercial & Operations said of the name that "When you think north of Sydney Harbour, beaches and nature are two recurring themes,". The Central Coasts' name and colours were chosen ahead of a whole host of possibilities that the steering committee went through. The name 'Rays' is designed to echo the maritime presence throughout some of the teams' catchment area.

tadium

:"Main article Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium"The Rays played their home games out of the Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium (formerly known as Northpower Stadium and Central Coast Express Advocate Stadium) is a sports venue on "Grahame Park" in Gosford, on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. In the past the stadium has hosted numerous rugby union fixtures, including; Central Coast Waves matches and New South Wales Waratahs matches during the Australian Provincial Championship.

Also home to the Central Coast Mariners football club, the stadium is rectangular and is unusual in that seating is located on only three sides of the ground. The southern end is open giving filtered views of Brisbane Water through a row of palm trees. With an all seater capacity of 20,059 it is currently the sixth largest stadium in the A League.

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 Central Coast Rays include Manly, Warringah, Northern Suburbs, Gordon RFC and the Central Coast Waves. Manly, Warringah, Northern Suburbs and Gordon all play in the Tooheys New Cup and Shute Shield club competitions, and the Waves play in the NSW Country Championships as well as the Shute Shield.

Former Squad

Peter Hewat, Ben Jacobs, Sam Harris,Brett Sheehan,
Beau Robinson,
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves,Cameron Treloar, Al Manning, Ofa Fainga’anuku,
Pat McCabe, David Harvey, Clint Eadie,
Jye Mullane, John AdamsRoss Duncan,Steve Evans,Alex Gluth,
Nick Lah,Jordan Macey,Dustin McGregor,Rod Moore,Nifo Nifo,
Sam Norton-Knight,Jason Peseta,Vili Ratu,Dylan Sigg,Andrew Smith,Chris Thompson.

Records

Head coaches

* John McKee (2007)

Captains

* Cameron Teloar (2007)

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