The 117-year-old feud between South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters has exploded once again after the Rabbitohs demanded the removal of their arch rivals from a local high school.
It comes just weeks after South Sydney’s bid to move their home games from Accor Stadium to Allianz Stadium was shut down by Venues NSW after strong opposition from current tenants the Roosters.
It appears South Sydney are now upping the ante in their feud with their bitter rivals after submitting a formal application to the NSWRL to have the Roosters removed from Matraville Sports High School.
The Roosters have used the Chifley-based high school for almost 15 years as a training base for their junior representative teams.
The NSWRL board recently came to a preliminary view that the rules were related to junior league teams and not the Sydney Roosters representative teams.
Roosters CEO Joe Kelly, who is on the NSWRL board, has been removed from meetings and email correspondence to avoid any conflict of interest.
Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly. Credit: Steven Siewert
South Sydney have now asked the NSWRL to reconsider its position and believes the Roosters junior representative program is an extension of the junior league.
The Rabbitohs are arguing that their juniors are being enticed to join the Roosters because of the convenience of having the training facility in their area.
The Roosters have provided $200,000 of funding to provide lighting and improve the school’s sporting facilities.
Under rule 2.18 of the NSWRL Community Rugby League Policies and Procedures Manual, it states: “Rugby league clubs are compelled to participate in matches and train for matches in the district or region in which the club is located and affiliated to.”
The manual also states that a rugby league club cannot choose to train at a venue that is located outside of the Boundaries of the District or Region to which they are affiliated to without the express sanction of the Boards of:
The District or Region they are affiliated to; The District or Region they wish to train in; The NSWRL The Rabbitohs have submitted a formal application to have the Roosters banned from training in their backyard and are awaiting a response from the NSWRL.
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“We have made our case to the NSWRL for the application of the Rule in this situation,” Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly said.
“We are waiting on the final decision and respect the NSWRL process. We think this is an important issue for all NRL Clubs that have a strong relationship with their Junior Rugby League competitions and invest in pathways programs.
“Souths Juniors are a remarkable organisation and their financial and emotional investment in Rugby League is extraordinary – over $2m per annum. This investment should be recognised, rewarded and protected.”
The NSWRL and Sydney Roosters have been contacted for comment.
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