Eric Weissel Oval

Eric Weissel Oval
Location	Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Coordinates	35°6′37″S 147°21′5″E / 35.11028°S 147.35139°E
Capacity	10,000
Surface	Grass
Opened	1959
Closed	2007
Tenants
	Wagga Magpies RLFC (Group 9), ; Wagga Brothers RLFC & ; Ladysmith-Forest Hill United RLFC (Group 13)

Eric Weissel Oval was a multi-use stadium in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. It was named after local rugby league footballer Eric Weissel and opened in 1959.^[1] It was used mostly for rugby league matches and had a capacity of 10,000 people, with a record crowd of 11,685 recorded on 20 July 1988 for the Australia vs Papua New Guinea as part of the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup where the Aussies defeated the Kumuls by a then world record score of 70–8.^[2]^[3] The oval has hosted City vs Country (ARL), National Rugby League premiership and trial games, Brumbies vs Waikato Chiefs (Rugby union).^[4]

Name

The oval was named after Eric Weissel, a state and national representative rugby league five-eighth who played in the 1920s and 1930s. In spite of representative honours and the allure of the Sydney first grade competition Weissel played his entire club football career in the Riverina with five different clubs including Wagga Wagga.

Closure and redevelopment

In June 2004 the owners of the oval, Wagga Wagga Leagues Club went into receivership,^[4] however the oval remained open up until 2007.^[3] In 2005 Wagga Wagga Leagues Club, Eric Weissel Oval and Allen Staunton Oval were sold to developers.^[5] The oval was rezoned from private recreation to residential by the Wagga Wagga City Council on 26 September 2005.^[6] In December 2008 the owners of the site, McIntyre Nash Pty Ltd, lodged an application to demolish which includes the removal of fencing, grandstand, change rooms and a broadcast box.^[6] The Oval was demolished in 2015 by McIntyre Nash along with the neighbouring leagues club, and the housing development is due to start in 2016.

Notable Rugby League Matches

World Cup

Date	Home	Score	Away	Referee	Crowd	Competition
20 July 1988	Australia	70–8	Papua New Guinea	Neville Kesha	11,685	1985-1988 Rugby League World Cup

International Tour Matches

Date	Home	Score	Away	Referee	Crowd	Competition
26 May 1954	Riverina	26–36	Great Britain Lions	Eric McIlhatton	10,732	1954 Great Britain Lions tour
10 July 1974	Riverina	10–36	Great Britain Lions	Graham Barby	8,000	1974 Great Britain Lions tour
4 June 1978	Riverina	18–25	New Zealand Kiwis	Kevin Riolo	3,000	1978 New Zealand Rugby League tour
26 June 1979	Riverina	10–37	Great Britain Lions	Noel Bissett	8,403	1979 Great Britain Lions tour
11 July 1982	Riverina	3–29	New Zealand Kiwis	Ray Collins	4,500	1982 New Zealand Rugby League tour
26 June 1984	Riverina	18–22	Great Britain Lions	Bill Foran	3,000	1984 Great Britain Lions tour
15 July 1986	Riverina	16–14	New Zealand Kiwis	Barry Priest	5,000	1986 New Zealand Rugby League tour

City vs Country

Date	Home	Score	Away	Referee	Crowd	Competition
10 May 2002	NSW Country	16–26	NSW City	Tim Mander	8,342	2002 City vs Country Origin

NSWRL Pre-Season/Midweek Cup

Date	Home	Score	Away	Referee	Crowd	Competition
23 April 1975	Parramatta Eels	27–19	Monaro Colts	Tom Spain	3,600	1975 Amco Cup Round 1
23 April 1975	Canterbury-Bankstown Berries	21–16	Riverina Bulls	Laurie Bruyeres	3,600	1975 Amco Cup Round 1
3 May 1978	Riverina Bulls	36–2	Penrith Panthers	Tom Spain	4,400	1978 Amco Cup Round 3
27 March 1985	Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs	16–6	Canberra Raiders	Steve Asbury	8,500	1985 National Panasonic Cup Round 1
28 February 1988	Eastern Suburbs Roosters	36–16	Western Suburbs Magpies	Mick Stone	6,832	1988 Panasonic Cup Round 1
26 April 1989	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	22–10	St George Dragons	Greg McCallum	9,831	1989 Panasonic Cup Round 1
6 March 1991	Penrith Panthers	34–6	Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs	Greg McCallum	9,000	1991 Lotto Challenge Cup Semi-Final 1
1 March 1992	Brisbane Broncos	14–10	Gold Coast Seagulls	Ian Parnaby	9,320	1992 Tooheys Challenge Cup Quarter Finals 1 and 2
1 March 1992	Western Suburbs Magpies	16–14	Penrith Panthers	Greg McCallum	9,320	1992 Tooheys Challenge Cup Quarter Finals 1 and 2

NRL

Date	Home	Score	Away	Referee	Crowd	Competition
16 August 1998	Sydney City Roosters	34–10	Gold Coast Chargers	Paul Simpkins	4,115	1998 NRL season, Round 23

Gallery

Schnelle Harmon Stand
Centenary of Rugby League plaque

References

^ Morris, Sherry (1999). Wagga Wagga, a history. Wagga Wagga: Bobby Graham Publishers. p. 259. ISBN 1-875247-12-2.
^ "Eric Weissel Oval". Austadiums. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
^ ^a ^b "Riverina weekend in sport, September 22 and 23". ABC Riverina. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 November 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
^ ^a ^b Maguire, Daryl (23 February 2005). "Wagga Wagga Electorate Sporting Facilities". Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 2 July 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
^ "New oval owners consider community use". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 June 2005. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
^ ^a ^b Holliday, Rebekah (17 December 2008). "WEISSEL'S LAST STAND". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 17 December 2008.

External links

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[1] Morris, Sherry (1999). Wagga Wagga, a history. Wagga Wagga: Bobby Graham Publishers. p. 259. ISBN 1-875247-12-2.

[2] "Eric Weissel Oval". Austadiums. Retrieved 3 May 2008.

[ABC-3] "Riverina weekend in sport, September 22 and 23". ABC Riverina. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 November 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2008.

[NSW-4] Maguire, Daryl (23 February 2005). "Wagga Wagga Electorate Sporting Facilities". Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 2 July 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2008.

[5] "New oval owners consider community use". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 June 2005. Retrieved 3 May 2008.

[DA-6] Holliday, Rebekah (17 December 2008). "WEISSEL'S LAST STAND". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 17 December 2008.

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