2026 Seniors Presentation Night: a celebration 20 years in the making

A packed house of Jindabyne Rugby Union Club players, volunteers, life members, sponsors and supporters came together at the Banjo Paterson Inn on Saturday night, 26 September, to celebrate the 2026 season at our annual Seniors Presentation Night. It was a night of big applause, a few tall stories and plenty of pride, as we honoured the players and people who made this year one to remember.

The headline playing honours went to Henry Earl and Tilhaney Grainger, who were named Best & Fairest for the Banjo Paterson Inn Bushpigs and the Wildbrumby Schnapps Miss Piggies respectively. Both capped outstanding seasons with more than one trophy to take home.

A Season to Celebrate

This year held special meaning for the club. 2026 marked the 20th anniversary season of the Miss Piggies, and the women’s side celebrated it in the best way possible: backing up last year’s breakthrough premiership with a second title, edging Cooma 31–29 in a Grand Final thriller on 8 August.

The Bushpigs also made it to the big dance after a 31–15 semi-final win over Cooma. In a twist of fate, they went down to old rivals Bungendore by that very same scoreline, 31–15, in the Grand Final. It wasn’t the result the boys were after, but reaching the decider again adds another chapter to a club history that already includes 13 premierships, and the hunger for number 14 is already there.

With both sides playing on the final day of the season, it was fitting that the whole club came together to close out the year.

Banjo Paterson Inn Bushpigs Award Winners

Henry Earl had a night to remember, collecting both the Best & Fairest and the Players’ Player award. Winning the vote of your own teammates is one of the most meaningful honours in rugby, and taking it alongside the Best & Fairest says everything about the consistency and commitment Henry brought to the Bushpigs this season.

Billy Small was named Best Forward after a hard-working year in the pack, while Jackson Stewart took out Best Back. Hunter Pearce was recognised as Rookie of the Year, and Toby Flanagan received the Coaches Award for his contribution on and off the field.

And in a Bushpigs tradition no one wants to win but everyone wants to hear about, Harry Burbury was crowned Grub of the Year. We’ll leave the details to those who were there.

Wildbrumby Schnapps Miss Piggies Award Winners

In a premiership-winning season, Tilhaney Grainger stood out. She was named both Best & Fairest and Best Forward, a fitting reward for a player who led from the front throughout the club’s 20th anniversary year.

Saskia Dutch earned the respect of her teammates to win the Players’ Player award, and Eden Klemm was named Best Back. Aggie Killen took home Rookie of the Year, and Montana Hawkins received the Coaches Award.

Chloe Dunn rounded out the night as the Miss Piggies’ Grub of the Year, proving the women’s side can match the Bushpigs in more ways than one.

Player Milestones

Presentation Night is also a chance to recognise the players whose loyalty keeps the club strong, season after season. This year we honoured a group of 50-game players, including several who reached the milestone in earlier seasons and have kept on adding to their tally since.

A special mention to Billy Small and Montana Hawkins, who celebrated milestones on the same night they collected individual awards.

Millie Mugridge’s 50th carried extra meaning on the night. Millie is part of the Mugridge family, whose connection to the club goes right back to our founding days through the late Mick “Duck” Mugridge, and it was special to see that legacy continue on the field.

We also acknowledged three Bushpigs for their outstanding service since 2019 – the year from our which our digital records extend – with Issac Maw playing 113 games in that time, Ian Vagg 83 and Lucas Rixon 80.

Farewell to Issac Maw

Presentation Night was also a chance to farewell one of the club’s greats. Issac “Bangers” Maw has retired at the end of the 2026 season after a whopping 19 seasons with the Bushpigs, having first pulled on the jersey in 2008. His 113 games since 2019 alone speak to his durability and commitment, but they are only part of a much longer story. For almost two decades, Issac has been a constant in the Bushpigs jersey and a mentor to the many players who came through the club alongside him.

Thank you, Bangers, for everything you have given the Bushpigs. You will always have a place at J.J. Connors Oval.

Bushpigs

Miss Piggies

Daniel Josifovski Named Senior Clubperson of the Year

The final award of the night is one of the most cherished in the club. Daniel Josifovski was named Senior Clubperson of the Year, receiving the Mick “Duck” Mugridge Memorial Award.

It is the third time Daniel has received the honour. He first won it in 2012 and was named joint winner last year alongside Saskia Dutch, who added the Miss Piggies Players’ Player award to her collection this year. Winning back-to-back, and three times in all, speaks to a commitment to the club that has lasted well over a decade.

The award honours the memory of Mick “Duck” Mugridge, a Life Member who was one of the club’s founding members and our founding Secretary. It recognises the people who give their time and energy to keep the club running, often behind the scenes and without being asked. Congratulations, Daniel, and thank you for everything you do for the Bushpigs and Miss Piggies.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

None of this happens without the businesses that back our club, and we are grateful to every one of them.

A special thank you to our Club Principal Partner, the Banjo Paterson Inn, for hosting Presentation Night and for their continued support of the club in so many ways, on and off the field.

Our Bushpigs were proudly supported this season by their team Major Sponsors: Banjo Paterson Inn, Elevate Physiotherapy, Jindabyne Auto Repairs, Get Fenced, Fairidge, Rock Breaking Solutions and Jindabyne Real Estate.

We also extend a special thanks to Jindabyne Real Estate in their role as the club’s Premier Partner – Community. As well as backing the Bushpigs, Jindabyne Real Estate is the major front-of-jersey sponsor for all of our junior teams, helping the next generation of Bushpigs and Miss Piggies take the field.

Our premiership-winning Miss Piggies were backed by their team Major Sponsors: Wildbrumby Schnapps, Lean 2 Constructions, Mitre 10 Jindabyne, Moonbah Mini Excavator Hire, The Friendly Grocer and Snowy Mountains Laundry & Linen Hire.

We also thank all of our community partners, whose support keeps rugby strong in Jindabyne. We encourage our members and supporters to back the businesses that back us.

Finally, thank you to our volunteers, coaches, supporters and families who stood beside us at J.J. Connors Oval all season.

Congratulations to every award winner and milestone player, and to everyone who pulled on the jersey in 2026. Enjoy the off-season, and we’ll see you back at Park Road next year.

Up the Pigs!

Photo Gallery

Thank you to Steve Cuff from Snowy Mountains Magazine for capturing all the award winners.