Eastwood Rugby Club

Eastwood Rugby Club is a rugby union club playing in the Sydney grade competition. The club is based at T G Millner Field, named in honour of its benefactor Colonel Tom Millner MC VD, and the club's players and supporters are primarily drawn from the North-west area of Sydney. Eastwood's first Wallaby was John Ballesty

Club information

:Club Name: Eastwood District Rugby Union Football Club:Nickname: The Woods:Founded: 1927 (admitted to First Division in 1947).:Home stadium: T G Millner Field, Marsfield, New South Wales:Head coach: Chris Hickey:Club Captain: :Uniform colors: Royal Blue & White:Premiership Titles: (3) 1999, 2001, 2002

Club history

Rugby Football has been played in Eastwood since the latter part of the 19th century and although the club did not achieve first division status in Sydney until 1947, the district has a long Rugby history.

Prior to the First World War, a number of local sides existed playing in a local competition. The Eastwood side at this time played on an unfenced paddock bordering a dry creek bed which was used to provide some privacy for players changing before and after the game.

With the outbreak of the Great War, senior Rugby was suspended with many of the players enlisting, a number paying the supreme sacrifice.

Following W.W.1, the strength of Rugby in Eastwood was centred around the Eastwood Young Men’s Institute which fielded junior sides and a senior side in the Burke Cup from 1927. This competition was next in importance to the Sydney Premiership Competition. Eastwood won the Burke Cup in this first year of competition.

Also in 1927 the Club moved to Eastwood Oval as its home ground where the Club remained until their move to T G Millner Field in 1963.

Following success in the Burke Cup in 1935 and the existence of other strong sub-senior clubs in the area a momentum was building to seek admission by Eastwood into the Sydney Senior Competition.

The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 caused a deferral of this plan until 1946 when a successful application was made for inclusion in the Sydney Senior Competition from the beginning of the 1947 Season.

As a result, the Eastwood District Ruby Union Football Club was formed and it has played in the Senior Sydney Competition ever since.

Due to the foresight of early administrators, and the generosity of Colonel Tom Millner MC VD, the Club seized the opportunity in 1950 to purchase seven and a half acres of land at Eastwood. This was the beginning of what is now known as the T G Millner Complex. [ [http://www.eastwoodrugby.com.au/default.asp?id=80219 T G Millner Complex] ]

The Club has won a number of minor grade and Colts competitions over the years but did not win the 1st grade major premiership trophy until 1999. In an historical win, the Club won the Shute Shield for the first time by defeating Sydney University in the Grand Final.

Since then, Eastwood has participated in five of the last six Grand Finals, winning the Tooheys New Cup (Premier Rugby Competition) in 2001 and 2002.

Since formation, the Club has produced numerous players who have worn the “Green and Gold” of Australia. Recent Wallabies include Matthew Burke, Scott Staniforth, Bill Young, and Matt Dunning.

Eastwood has a strong junior base which has won many NSW Junior Rugby Union State Championships over the last decade.

In addition, the Colts have performed strongly in the Sydney Colts Competitions in all grades for the past decade with Eastwood being the only Club to win the 1st Grade Colts competition three years in a row.

International representatives

* John Ballesty
* Michael Mathers
* Matthew Burke
* Scott Staniforth
* Bill Young
* Jeremy Paul
* Justin Harrison
* Matt Dunning
* Benn Robinson
* Scott Fava
* Daniel Manu
* Marty Roebuck
* Rod Moore
* Scott Gourley
* Lachlan Turner

Current Super 14 players

* Scott Staniforth
* Jeremy Paul
* Matt Dunning
* Benn Robinson
* Scott Fava
* Chris O'Young
* Jimmy Hilgendorf
* Josh Holmes
* Lachlan Turner
* Ben Hand
* Rowan Kellam
* Aaron Broughton-Rouse

External links

* [http://www.eastwoodrugby.com.au/ Eastwood Rugby]

References