Eastwood Rugby
Full nameEastwood District Rugby Union Football Club
Nickname(s)The Woodies, Woods
Founded1947
LocationNorth West Sydney
Ground(s)TG Millner Field, Marsfield, New South Wales
Director of RugbyJohn Manenti
Coach(es)1st Grade: David Telfer
League(s)Sydney Rugby Union,
20233rd
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.

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.

Following W.W.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.

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. 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.

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 https://www.woods.rugby/juniors

Dural www.dural.rugby
Northern Barbarians https://www.northernbarbariansrugby.com.au/
North Rocks https://northrocksjuniorrugby.com/
Redfield Rugby minis only
Ryde Rugby https://www.ryderugby.com.au/
Central Eastwood https://centraleastwoodrugbyclub.com.au/
Box Hill Boxers https://www.facebook.com/boxhillboxers

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[3] https://www.facebook.com/charcoals/

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

Name Country Year Type Notes
Ben Alexander AUS 2008 Wallaby
Lachie Anderson AUS 2017

2023

 7s

Australia A
Jai Ayoub CRO International
John Bain AUS 1953 International
John Ballesty AUS 1968 Wallaby
Matthew Burke AUS 1993 Wallaby
Andrew Cairns AUS 1990 International
Nic Dolly ENG 2021 International
Matt Dunning AUS 2003 Wallaby
Scott Fava AUS 2005 Wallaby
Tannous Ferris LBN International
Matt Gonzalez AUS 2022 7s
Michael Icely AUS 2022 7s
Scott Gourley AUS 1988 Wallaby
Justin Harrison AUS 2001 Wallaby
Michael Kovacic SVN International
Daniel Manu AUS 1995 Wallaby
Michael Mathers AUS 1980 Wallaby
Peter Miller AUS 1997 7s
Ken McCurrach AUS 1973 International
James McGregor AUS 2023 7s
Sean Mooney AUS 1976 7s
Rod Moore AUS 1999 Wallaby
Matt Mostyn IRE 1999 International
Mark Nawaqanitawase AUS 2022 Wallaby
Brett Papworth AUS 1985 Wallaby
Jeremy Paul AUS 1998 Wallaby
Tom Pauling AUS 1936 Wallaby Around 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
Ian Robertson AUS 1975 Wallaby
Benn Robinson AUS 2006 Wallaby
Marty Roebuck AUS 1991 Wallaby
John Lawson(Jack) Shute AUS 1922 Eastwood's First Life Member and President. Playing for Western Suburbs Jack Shute was selected for NSW in games that since 1986 have been recognised as Test Matches
Alan Skinner AUS 1969 Wallaby
Nathan Spooner AUS 1999 Wallaby
Scott Staniforth AUS 1999 Wallaby
Sione Tahaafe Tonga 1987 International
Dick Taylor AUS 1966 International
Lachie Turner AUS 2008 Wallaby
Steve Tuynman AUS 1982 Wallaby
Nic White AUS 2013 Wallaby
Ian Williams AUS 1987 Wallaby
Bill Young AUS 2000 Wallaby
Tim Anstee AUS 2016 7s

Current provincial representatives

Super Rugby

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.
  3. ↑ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
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