Eastwood Rugby Club

Last updated

Eastwood Rugby
1-EDWoods03.jpg
Full nameEastwood District Rugby Union Football Club
Nickname(s)The Woodies, Woods
Founded1947
Location North West Sydney
Ground(s) TG Millner Field, Marsfield, New South Wales
Director of Rugby Anthony Griffin
Coach(es)1st Grade: David Telfer
League(s) Sydney Rugby Union,
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Team kit
Official website
www.woods.rugby

Eastwood Rugby is the Premier Rugby Club covering North West Sydney and plays in the Sydney Premier Rugby competition.

Contents

The Eastwood District extends from the Parramatta River at Meadowbank to the Hawkesbury River at Wisemans Ferry. The Club currently plays at TG Millner Field. On 25 November 2020, the Club announced that it had secured approval for its new home ground at the Old Pony Club in Fred Caterson Reserve, Gilbert Rd Castle Hill [1]

Honours

Shute Shield Titles: 1999, 2002, 2003, 2011, 2014, 2015

Club history

Rugby has been played in the Northern Districts of Sydney since the latter part of the 19th century. In the 1890s a number of local sides existed, playing at a variety of venues, the main one being Brush Farm in Eastwood. Interestingly, a Rugby Union Club was also formed in Castle Hill around this time (in 1894) and they also played in Blue and White [2]

With the outbreak of the Great War, senior rugby was suspended with many of the players enlisting, a number paying the supreme sacrifice.[ citation needed ]

Following World War 1, the strength of Rugby in Eastwood and in Epping was centred around the respective Young Men's Institutes which fielded junior and senior sides in the Suburban Competition. At this time, Epping played at Epping Oval and Eastwood played at Eastwood Oval. Epping won the Kentwell Cup in 1926 and Eastwood won the Burke Cup in 1927.[ citation needed ]

Following further success in the 1930s, momentum was building to seek admission into the District Competition. The outbreak of the Second World War caused a deferral of this plan until 1946 when a successful application was made for inclusion in the District Competition from the beginning of the 1947 Season.[ citation needed ] This was following the amalgamation of the Eastwood and Epping Clubs. As a result, the Eastwood District Rugby Union Football Club was formed and it has played in the Sydney District Competition ever since. Initially the new club's home ground was the Top Oval in Eastwood. In 1963, EDRUFC moved its home ground to TG Millner at Marsfield.[ citation needed ]

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 historic win, the Club won the Shute Shield for the first time by defeating Sydney University in the Grand Final.

Since formation, the Club has produced numerous players who have played International rugby. Eastwood has a strong junior base which has won many NSW Junior Rugby Union State Championships.

Junior Clubs

Dural
Northern Barbarians
North Rocks
Redfield Rugby (minis only)
Ryde Rugby
Central Eastwood
Box Hill Boxers

Golden Oldies

The Charcoals (the "burnt out Woods") for players over 35 was formed in 1983 and have played ever since. They have made many overseas tours and are regular participants in tournaments all over the country.

Eastwood players who have at some time played some level of International rugby

NameInternational CountryInternational YearInternational TypeClub when SelectedNotes
Adrian McDonaldAUS1983Wallaby*Randwick
Alan SkinnerAUS1969WallabyEastwood
Andrew CairnsAUS1990Wallaby*Eastwood
Ben AlexanderAUS2008WallabyNorthern Suburbs (Syd)
Benn RobinsonAUS2006WallabyEastwood
Bill CavubatiFIJ1995International
Bill YoungAUS2000WallabyEastwood
Brett PapworthAUS1985WallabyEastwood
Charlie CaleAUS2024WallabyUni-Norths (Canberra)
Daniel ManuAUS1995WallabyEastwood
Darren JuneeAUS1989WallabyEastwood
Dick TaylorAUS1966Wallaby*Eastwood
Doug KellerAUSWallabyDrummoyne
Graeme BondAUSWallabyNorthern Suburbs (Syd)
Ian RobertsonAUS1975WallabyEastwood
Ian WilliamsAUS1987WallabyEastwood
Ian WilliamsJAP1993International
Jai AyoubCROInternationalEastwood
James McGregorAUS20237sEastwood
James StannardAUS7s
Jeff ReidCAN2003InternationalEastwood
Jeremy PaulAUS1998WallabyCanberra Vikings
John (Jack) ShuteAUS1922WallabyWestsThe first Wallaby from the Eastwood District. Living in Rutledge Street at the time but playing for the local district Club - Western Suburbs, Jack Shute was selected for NSW in games that since 1986 have been recognised as Test Matches.

Eastwood's First Life Member and President.

John BainAUS1953Wallaby*EastwoodJG Bain was the Club's first Wallaby
John BallestyAUS1968WallabyEastwood
Justin HarrisonAUS2001WallabyCanberra Vikings
Ken McCurrachAUS1973Wallaby*Eastwood
Lachie AndersonAUS20177sEastwood
Lachie AndersonAUS2023Australia AEastwood
Lachie TurnerAUS2008WallabyEastwood
Leroy HoustonAUSWallabyEastwood
Mark NawaqanitawaseAUS2022WallabyEastwood
Marty RoebuckAUS1991WallabyEastwood
Matt DunningAUS2003WallabyEastwood
Matt GonzalezAUS20227sEastwood
Matt HodgsonAUSWallabyEastern Suburbs (Syd)
Matt MostynIRE1999International
Matthew BurkeAUS1993WallabyEastwood
Michael IcelyAUS20227sEastwood
Michael KovacicSVNInternationalEastwood
Michael MathersAUS1980WallabyEastwood
Mitch LeesENGEngland AEastwood player who moved to the UK and was selected for England A.
Nathan SpoonerAUS1999WallabyEastwood/Brothers QLD
Nic DollyENG2021InternationalEastwood colt moved to the UK and was selected for England
Nic WhiteAUS2013WallabyQueanbeyan
Peter FitzsimonsAUS1989WallabyUniversity(Syd)
Peter MillerAUS19977sEastwood
Phil ClementsAUSWallabyParramatta
Richard HarryAUS1996WallabyUniversity(Syd)
Rod MooreAUS1999WallabyEastwood
Ross CullenAUS1966Wallaby*Eastern Districts (Brisbane)Eastwood 2nd Grade Hooker (behind Dick Taylor) moved to Brisbane and was selected for 1966 Wallaby tour
Sam CordinglyAUS2000WallabyEastwood
Scott FavaAUS2005WallabyEastwood
Scott GourleyAUS1988WallabyEastwood
Scott StaniforthAUS1999WallabyEastwood
Sean MooneyAUS19767sEastwood
Sione TahaafeTonga1987International
Steve TuynmanAUS1982WallabyEastwood
Stuart GregoryAUS1968WallabyUniversity (qld)
Tannous FerrisLBNInternationalEastwood
Tim AnsteeAUS20167sEastwood
Tim KelaherAUSWallabyRandwick
Tom PaulingAUS1936WallabyWestsAround 1930 TP Pauling played sub-districts for Eastwood in the Burke Cup. After being near to Wallaby selection the following year he had to wait until 1936 to make his debut when playing for Western Suburbs. He was coached at Eastwood by JL (Jack) Shute
Van HumphriesAUS2010Wallaby*Souths (Brisbane)

*uncapped

Current provincial representatives

Super Rugby

Life Members

JL Shute (deceased)JK McGregor (deceased)MC Chapman
Col. TG Millner (deceased)JS Millner (deceased)LJ Ferrari
HA Gunns (deceased)JT Ramm (deceased)GM Landon (deceased)
ALC Irving (deceased)DM Jackson (deceased)RJ Shield (deceased)
WM Levy (deceased)BR TaylorNJ Dickie
GE Mills (deceased)WFL PapworthB Budd
GTB Palmer (deceased)FJ Tyrell (deceased)
KF Smallwood (deceased)JC Cullen
JE Haynes (deceased)K Milne
JG Bain (deceased)RG Clare

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References

  1. "New Home Ground for the Woods". 24 November 2020.
  2. "Castle Hill". Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate. 28 April 1894. Retrieved 19 December 2023.