Sydney University
Vs
Canberra Royals
14 March 2026
By Bruce China Lin
The world today is beset with uncertainty. Global conflict, rising fuel costs,inflation and who has betrayed their partner on Married at First Sight are the norm on the 6.00pm news.
But one thing that’s for certain Sydney’s rugby season is less than a month away.
St John’s oval was drenched in sunshine, There was a colourful cross section of old and new entities in attendance. Ruth Matthews loyal as ever was cheering on her bubba fullback Jack. New club medico Dr Julia Chan was tending to the players. The Osborne family was gathered to watch the youngest Daniel play in the colts trial. From ball boy only a few years ago to now packing in the front row, the red haired prop is following in his big brother former club Captain Tom’s footsteps. Like Tom, Daniel has an eclectic background. A first year business student, speaks Mandarin, makes pork and prawn won tons with a pinch of coriander as a hobby and is a debating coach.
Trials throughout last Saturday was a mixture of seasoned grade, new and lower grade players versus the Queanbeyan Whites in an earlier trial. These games were not covered by this scribe as there was a Chinatown all you can eat yum cha special @ $50 per head for sixty minutes hence make hay while the sun shines!
However the 3.15 pm kickoff versus the Canberra Royals was monitored and showed that University are focused on making a red hot go of this season after some lean times recently.
The game was only four minutes old with University applying considerable pressure inside the Royals quarter for the initial try. New recruit fullback Australian sevens player James McGregor gave an entrée of what is in store for supporters coming to the Birthplace in 2026.
Donning his trademark head gear McGregor made the extra man and sliced through the Royals defensive line with scintillating pace.
University were enjoying a dominant scrum anchored by tight head prop the new red P plater Ty Manson. Ty looking noticeably bulked up during the off season through force feeding by his mother colt’s manager Kandy with Max von Appen’s signature homemade *schnitzengruben’s .
The first half was finished with a deceptive try by five eighth Olly Schmude to reflect a lead of 35-0.
In the spirit of trials some changes were made at halftime. University’s coaches led by head coach the Godfather John Manenti were perched high on the ridge below the sandstone parapets of St Johns college. With the chapel bells ringing during the game an almost majestic aura enveloped St John’s oval.
Inside the half time huddle the message from the coaches was clear. 1974’s satire-parody Blazing Saddles was paraphrased to inspire the run on team for the second stanza. *My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.”
The Royals managed to score a converted try but the sheer pace of the Students play was hard to quell. Backs Boston Faukanauka and another Australian sevens player winger Ollie Harvey were creating inroads when they decided to run the ball.
The scoreline ballooned into the forties but this was irrelevant. What the trial did show were the combinations developing and new players introduced to the style of play this season.
University would not be a *taradiddle in 2026.
Next Saturday University are down the road against the unpredictable West Harbour Pirates.
*Schnitzengruben – a fictional non sensical German sounding large sausage.
*Blazing Saddles – 1974 iconic western satire movie. Line by comedian Harvey Korman playing nefarious civil servant Hedley Lamarr .
*Taradiddle – Someone or something that is filled with pretentious nonsense or something that is a lie.