30th July - Vale John Stevenson Major General John Dennis Stevenson AO CBE passed away on Wednesday 30 July 2008, two weeks short of his 83rd birthday. John was a former player, club captain, patron (for 12 years over two terms) and a life member. He was captain of the 1954 premiership team. In the Seventies, the Combines Services Rugby Club was formed. His heart was with Melbourne, however, his subordinates played with Combined Services and he was an executive of that Club. It is due to his management skills, that a strong off field bond developed between Melbourne and Combined Services and when they folded, many of their players came to Melbourne The funeral will be held at 2:30PM, Wednesday, 6th August at St George's Anglican Church in Glenferrie Road, Malvern.(just north of the Malvern Town Hall)

26th July - Bledisloe Cup We now know why they were not at the game on Saturday. Note the broad smile from Barry Bowler, the lad from the North Island. If you watched the end of the last test, you would have seen that same smile in the crowd at Eden Park

11th July - Melbourne Barbarian's Team Management Barbarians Head Coach - Mitch Canning Coach - Rhys Thomas Coach - Steve Mobbs Manager - Andre Orr Lightning Green Coach - Gerry O'Neil Coach - Simon Doherty Manager - Giorgios Giannios Lightning Blue Coach - Paul Boyes Coach - Luke Doherty Manager - Michael Gillard

13th June - Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop honoured with Wallaby Hall of Fame induction "Weary" Dunlop has been inducted into the wallaby hall of fame Click Here Sir Edward played with the Old Boys Rugby Club, who united with Melbourne in the Thirties "Weary" designed the club emblem, as a rampant unicorn, ie with appendages in the appropriate area .

12th June - ‘Unicorn' born in captivity A DEER with a single horn in the centre of its head has been born in an Italian nature reserve, sparking talk of unicorns. Oh deer, this young buck sports the unicorn look "This is fantasy becoming reality,'' Gilberto Tozzi, director of the Centre of Natural Sciences in Prato, told The Associated Press. "The unicorn has always been a mythological animal.'' The roe deer was born in captivity in the research centre's park in the Tuscan town of Prato, near Florence, Mr Tozzi said. The condition is believed to have been caused by a genetic flaw; the deer's twin has two horns. Mr Tozzi, who had never seen the condition before, said such anomalies may have inspired the myth of the unicorn. The unicorn, a horse-like creature with magical healing powers, has appeared in legends and stories throughout history. "This shows that even in past times, there could have been animals with this anomaly,'' he said. We at the Melbourne Rugby Club do not know what all the fuss is about. Our members have produced half a dozen unicorns over the past 12 months, including a unicorn frog (see below)

7th June - Neishy got Married That is all we know! Your webmaster has know idea, who he got married to or whether it was a shotgun or not. He is condemned. No rugby player worth his salt, should ever get married during the season. Winter is for playing. Spring and summer is for rooting. We expect a unicorn snot machine within the next 9 months Here is some photos of the drunks that aided and abetted this crime.

2nd June - An Aussie Frog is Born Paul Lucmort has arrived in Australia via his mother Sabine with minimum help from father Maxime Max was heard to say that it was a pleasure to help out

22nd May - Health Cover with the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Bank are the first to recognise the important role played by sporting clubs in our communities. They also realise that maintaining your insurance, facilities and equipment can be a very costly exercise. So Bendigo Bank are looking to provide much-needed financial support to clubs - and that's where you come in. A special offer for the Melbourne Rugby club For the months of June & July Bendigo Health Cover will provide $100 for every new family hospital and extras policy and $50 for every new single hospital and extras policy purchased and quoting "Melbourne Rugby Club". This revenue will be paid directly to the club at the end of the promotion and can be used for whatever purpose we wish. Members and supporters will benefit from great value private health cover, while we will have more money available to make improvements for players, coaches and spectators. All members and supporters need to do is contact Angelo Mercuri at the Bendigo Bank Brighton Branch on 9592-5499. Alternatively, call Sharon on 0409 169 294 or email , quoting this special offer and the name of the club when arranging their health cover. And the team at Bendigo Health Cover will make the process of arranging health cover for the first time - or switching from another insurer - straightforward and hassle-free.

15th May - This Season When the current competition (Dewar Shield) finishes in July, the Pillar Cup will start in seniors and colts. There will also be a lightning competition for the other players. It is the club's intention to enter a: Senior pillar team Colts pillar team Lightning A grade Lightning B grade There will be 10 rounds in the Pillar competition plus finals There will be two pools in each grade of the lightning competition. It will run for five weeks with the top team in each pool contesting the final For more details Click Here

12th April - Kate Clampett Our Junior Co-ordinator, Kate Clampett, has resigned because her lad is now under 14 Kate has been looking after the juniors for several years now and has down a mighty job The Club thanks her and we hope to have the Clampett family back in the Colt's team of 2013

5th April - Sam Bridgeford Sam suffered a disocated hip on Saturday. He has returned home after spending the weekend in the Alfred Hospital Our physio, Peter Roberts' quick diagnosis prevented a major injury. It took three doctors and an X-ray to confirm what Peter worked out in 30 seconds.

5th April - Simon Blair Club Captain At the recent club captain's dinner, Chunks Blair was elected club captain (again) The club captain's job is to be the liaison between the players and the committee

14th March - Anton's Latest Achievement
Maali May Pilli was born on 10 Oct 07 to Keren and Anton	The other baby in the house is shown at a Bon Jovi concert

20th February - Rowzy's Touch Premiership Win The first premiership for 2008 was won last night with the Rowzy's defeating Powerhouse Barbarians in the men's touch at Fawkner Park. Final score was 7-5 in a close affair with Rob Weaver scoring a hat trick, to get the guys home and "Goalie Rob" giving a memorable celebration after scoring one in the corner also. The Barbarians were minor premiers but were smacked by the Rowzy's in the 1st semi 16-3 and then stacked the GF squad with PH 1st grade ring-ins, all to no avail as the Rowzy spirit prevailed & the lads came away with another premiership and a heap of hangovers today. Back: Olly, JT, Kaz, T-Train, Browny, Goalie Rob, Weaver & Gibbo Front: Fiji Lee, Benny, RickyBro, Gilly, FatarseAustin, Rimjoy & Bales Absent: WobbleFergus & LeprachaunQuinn

1st February - Coaching Staff 2008 Head of Coaching Mitch Canning Premier 1 Stephen Mobbs Premier 2 Andre Orr Premier 3 Luke Daley & Paul Boyes Colts Neil Hay Strength and Conditioning Anton Pilli Head of Coaching Mitch Canning has been appointed as Head of Coaching. Mitch comes to us from Auckland where he held various coaching positions and in 2005 his University of Auckland team won the Grand Final. In 2006 he was invited to coach the Auckland Restricted Representative side and the team went through the season undefeated. During 2006 Mitch was exposed to the Auckland representative rugby program which added further perspective to his coaching knowledge.

10th January - Peter Roberts Peter is our sports therapist. He is at the games every week and is on the field when you are hurt. He is the bloke who wipes your nose and the tears from your eyes. Peter holds a clinic in the clubrooms every Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:30PM during season for the poor lads who are convalescing. Peter W Roberts BSc(Hons) Sports Therapy Remedial Massage Therapist Reiki Treatment Practitioner 80 Dorcas Street South Melbourne Victoria Tel: 0401538713   Email: peter.roberts40@hotmail.co.uk

14th December - Douglas John Adam Doug passed away on the Friday 14th December 2007 He was a Caledonian/Kiwi/Australian (born in Scotland, raised in NZ, worked in Australia) who joined the Club in 1977. Doug was a tall, dashing centre who played 207 games from first grade to fourth grade. In his later years he was a permanent member of the geriatric social team He also coached second grade In his early days Doug was a New Zealand rowing champion

13th December - AGM The following office bearers were elected for 2008 Patron - Jonathon Ramsden President - Jed Macartney OAM Secretary - Trevor Hutchings Assistant Secretary - Paul "Slug" Henning Treasurer - Owain Stone Assistant Treasurer - Robert "Gabba" Gash Junior Co-ordinator - Katrina Coltmann Luke Daly - Committee Member Holly Aimes - Committee Member John Rosenhain - Committee Member Blood was spilt over discussions regarding the duties of the head coach There was also a heated debate regarding the VRU's proposed options for next season's competition Immediate Past President Tony "Chunky" Burge was elected to life membership

8th December - Dogga Retires Simon (yes folks he does have christian name) Dougherty has hung up his boots. Dogga started with us in 1998 as a colt and went on to play 100 first grade games His decision was made when he saw the quality of our up and coming props such as Elliot Bull, Stavros Iakovidis, Angus Booth and Andrew Hocking

20th October - Trophy Winners 2007 U12s Best Team Player: Nick Clampett Best & Fairest: Nick Biggs Best Clubman: Archie Chew U10s Best Team Player: Henry Hutchison Coaches Award: Lachlan Coltman Best Tackler: Jordan Ashworth Most Improved: Aaron Booth U8s Best Team Players: Ben Beagley and William Morris Coaches Award: Laughlin Moeller and Cameron Morris Click Here to view the junior photos 3rd Grade Most consistent - Julian Farrugia (DOUG GEORGE TROPHY) Best Player - Sean Condron (ALFRED TILLEY TROPHY) Colts Most consistent - Angus Lie (J.W RAMSDEN CUP) Most improved -Alex Stott Best Player - Jonno Nettle (J.S HARRISON CUP) 2nd Grade Most consistent - Will McNamara (IAN SHIACH AWARD) Best Player - Jonny Kastelan (J.J KING TROPHY) 1st Grade Most consistent - Mike Gibson (H.H RIGG TROPHY) Best Player -Max Lucmort (N.B WILSON TROPHY) Other Awards Junior Front Rower - Tony Kastelan (FRATUST AWARD) Senior Front Rower - Tom Lucas (FRATUST AWARD) Medicare Award - Rob Acteson (MEDICARE AWARD) Tryers Trophy - Ron Chin INFAMOUS TOILET SEAT Club Rising Star - Will Renton (FRATUST TROPHY) Most Improved Club Player - Ollie Garside (A.H GIBBS TROPHY) Clubman - Stavros Iakovidis (KENNINGTON CUP) Club Champion - Luke Daley (J.D STEVENSON CUP)

19th October - Susan & Rob Acteson produce a goal kicker Spencer Thomas Acteson at 3.5kg, arrived in this world via C-section. (She is the wife of a back) Rob is a Pom, so let us hope that this kid can kick like Jonny (for Australia) What is it with you lot? Your wives are all calving at the end of the season?

13th October - Yuri & Jenny Schneider produce another lock Thomas Schneider arrived on 13th Oct 07, 5 weeks early, weighing 8 pounds 4 ounces (3.76Kg) & 51cm long. It would have been hard work kicking Tom out if he had gone the full term

12 October - Nick and Rochelle Blake produce a hooker (As a colt, Nick played in the second row, however he never grew up) The Great Blake has responsibilities. Here he is holding Elijah Augustus Rupert Blake This poor kid is already acting like his father, by pissing & shitting out of one end and screaming, blowing snot, & spewing out of the other

25th August - Kimani Retires Our mighty Kenyan warrior Kimani Nduti has retired Followers of this web site may recall, that Kimani missed games several years ago when he was told that he had to attend pre-natal classes. We condemned Kimani at the time for this indiscretion and that reprimand still stands. Kimani will now be able to attend the president's lunches and stand on the side line with the rest of the aging drunks.

18th August - Simon Dougherty - 100 First Grade Games On Saturday, Dogga played his 100th first grade game for the club Dogga played his first game for the Melbourne colts in the last millennium We do not have a portrait of Dogga's girlfriend, therefore, we are forced to show him

14th August - Bailey Leonard Gillard This snot machine and dribbler was born on 14th August at 8.55pm weighing in at 6lb 7oz. Mum, Baby and Gilly are all doing well! Photo on the right. The baby is the one on the left

11th August - Luke Daley - 200 First Grade Games On Saturday, Luke played his 200th first grade game for the club Luke played his first game for the Melbourne colts in 1992. Since then he has been a member of the 1993 colt's premiership team. He captained the 1998 first grade premiership team and was part of the 2003 first grade premiership side He has also represented Victoria We do not have a portrait of Luke, however, his wife Anna is much better looking