seaforth raiders

Whether you are playing, coaching, managing, cheering from the sidelines, helping in the canteen, cooking at the BBQ or setting up the ground… it is your rugby!

Raiders Rugby is a volunteer-run organisation. Your help keeps the club going. We have roles for everyone… it is your club!

About
The Raiders

Seaforth “Pirates” Rugby Union Football Team, c 1963

The Raiders has a proud rugby union tradition within the local community that goes back to the 1920s with clubs such as the Balgowlah Browns, Balgowlah Heights and Seaforth Pirates. Through mergers and consolidations, and the continued hard work of the committee, past and present, today’s Raiders have continued to grow in numbers and in the quality of rugby played.

Raiders is one of six village clubs in the Manly District, playing alongside Allambie Jets, Forest Rugby, Harbord Harlequins, Manly Roos and Manly Savers with pathways towards the Manly Marlins and Manly Mermaids in Shute Shield and Sevens Rugby competitions.

In 2023, the Seaforth-Balgowlah Raiders celebrate their 35th anniversary. Following successful joint venture teams in the 1980s, in 1988 Balgowlah Heights and Seaforth Pirates merged to form the Seaforth-Balgowlah Raiders. 

Seaforth Raiders
Celebrating
35 years

former raiders

This great club prides itself on a community spirit, a big family if you will, where the boys and girls play to win. They play hard but fair. It is a club where our parents involve themselves in the club and the community and where most importantly they respect the code of conduct. 

Over the years, the club and its predecessors has continued to grow and has produced some exciting Wallabies from the Cox brothers, Phillip and Mitchell, through to George Smith. Our most recent Wallaby David Poreki, alongside other players including current Fox Sports Commentator Sean Maloney, won the U17s Premiership in 1997 before making his Test debut just 3 years later in 2000. 

Previously sharing Seaforth Oval, the continued growth of the club underlined the need for a permanent home ground. In 2005 with the help of Manly Council and a hard working committee, this came to fruition. Bantry Bay Oval became the home ground of the Raiders. 

In late 2007, further improvements were made when lights were installed. The lights were upgraded in 2019 with LED lights to deliver the best training and game experience for Raiders. 

Following a team in the late 1990’s, in 2007 the Raiders club fielded a men’s suburban team with the team going from strength to strength with each season played. That team eventually folded in 2012. 

In 2016, the Club finalised a joint venture with the Seaforth Bowling Club who adjoin Bantry Bay Oval to formalise our Raiders Clubhouse. Our spiritual home for years, this formal partnership allows Raider’s members to become social members of the bowling club with Raiders Rugby hosting numerous events and weekly clubhouse dinners through the regular season.