Eastwood Rugby Club

Australian rugby union club, based in Sydney

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Rugby team

Eastwood Rugby

Full name| Eastwood District Rugby Union Football Club
Nickname(s)| The Woodies, Woods
Founded| 1947
Location| North West Sydney
Ground(s)| TG Millner Field, Marsfield, New South Wales
Director of Rugby| John Manenti
Coach(es)| 1st Grade: David Telfer
League(s)| Sydney Rugby Union,
2023| 3rd

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[edit]

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

* Australian Club Champions: (2) 2015, 2016

## Club history[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Name | International Country | International Year | International Type | Club when Selected | Notes

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Adrian McDonald | AUS | 1983 | Wallaby* | Randwick |
Alan Skinner | AUS | 1969 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Andrew Cairns | AUS | 1990 | Wallaby* | Eastwood |
Ben Alexander | AUS | 2008 | Wallaby | Northern Suburbs (Syd) |
Benn Robinson | AUS | 2006 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Bill Cavubati | FIJ | 1995 | International |  |
Bill Young | AUS | 2000 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Brett Papworth | AUS | 1985 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Daniel Manu | AUS | 1995 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Darren Junee | AUS | 1989 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Dick Taylor | AUS | 1966 | Wallaby* | Eastwood |
Doug Keller | AUS |  | Wallaby | Drummoyne |
Graeme Bond | AUS |  | Wallaby | Northern Suburbs (Syd) |
Ian Robertson | AUS | 1975 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Ian Williams | AUS | 1987 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Ian Williams | JAP | 1993 | International |  |
Jai Ayoub | CRO |  | International | Eastwood |
James McGregor | AUS | 2023 | 7s | Eastwood |
James Stannard | AUS |  | 7s |  |
Jeff Reid | CAN | 2003 | International | Eastwood |
Jeremy Paul | AUS | 1998 | Wallaby | Canberra Vikings |
John (Jack) Shute | AUS | 1922 | Wallaby | Wests | The 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 Bain | AUS | 1953 | Wallaby* | Eastwood | JG Bain was the Club's first Wallaby
John Ballesty | AUS | 1968 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Justin Harrison | AUS | 2001 | Wallaby | Canberra Vikings |
Ken McCurrach | AUS | 1973 | Wallaby* | Eastwood |
Lachie Anderson | AUS | 2017 | 7s | Eastwood |
Lachie Anderson | AUS | 2023 | Australia A | Eastwood |
Lachie Turner | AUS | 2008 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Leroy Houston | AUS |  | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Mark Nawaqanitawase | AUS | 2022 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Marty Roebuck | AUS | 1991 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Matt Dunning | AUS | 2003 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Matt Gonzalez | AUS | 2022 | 7s | Eastwood |
Matt Hodgson | AUS |  | Wallaby | Eastern Suburbs (Syd) |
Matt Mostyn | IRE | 1999 | International |  |
Matthew Burke | AUS | 1993 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Michael Icely | AUS | 2022 | 7s | Eastwood |
Michael Kovacic | SVN |  | International | Eastwood |
Michael Mathers | AUS | 1980 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Mitch Lees | ENG |  | England A |  | Eastwood player who moved to the UK and was selected for England A.
Nathan Spooner | AUS | 1999 | Wallaby | Eastwood/Brothers QLD |
Nic Dolly | ENG | 2021 | International |  | Eastwood colt moved to the UK and was selected for England
Nic White | AUS | 2013 | Wallaby | Queanbeyan |
Peter Fitzsimons | AUS | 1989 | Wallaby | University(Syd) |
Peter Miller | AUS | 1997 | 7s | Eastwood |
Phil Clements | AUS |  | Wallaby | Parramatta |
Richard Harry | AUS | 1996 | Wallaby | University(Syd) |
Rod Moore | AUS | 1999 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Sam Cordingly | AUS | 2000 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Scott Fava | AUS | 2005 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Scott Gourley | AUS | 1988 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Scott Staniforth | AUS | 1999 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Sean Mooney | AUS | 1976 | 7s | Eastwood |
Sione Tahaafe | Tonga | 1987 | International |  |
Steve Tuynman | AUS | 1982 | Wallaby | Eastwood |
Stuart Gregory | AUS | 1968 | Wallaby | University (qld) |
Tannous Ferris | LBN |  | International | Eastwood |
Tim Anstee | AUS | 2016 | 7s | Eastwood |
Tim Kelaher | AUS |  | Wallaby | Randwick |
Tom Pauling | AUS | 1936 | Wallaby | Wests | 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
Van Humphries | AUS | 2010 | Wallaby* | Souths (Brisbane) |

*uncapped

## Current provincial representatives[edit]

Super Rugby

* Tim Anstee
* Lachie Anderson
* Tane Edmed
* Mark Nawaqanitawase
* Charlie Cale

## Life Members[edit]

JL Shute (deceased) | JK McGregor (deceased) | MC Chapman

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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 Taylor | NJ Dickie
GE Mills (deceased) | WFL Papworth | B Budd
GTB Palmer (deceased) | FJ Tyrell (deceased) |
KF Smallwood (deceased) | JC Cullen |
JE Haynes (deceased) | K Milne |
JG Bain (deceased) | RG Clare |

## References[edit]

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.

## External links[edit]

* Eastwood Rugby

* v
* t
* e

New South Wales Rugby Union

Member of Rugby Australia

Super Rugby team|

New South Wales Waratahs

Super W team|

Waratahs Women

NRC teams|

* NSW Country
* Sydney

Shute Shield|

* Eastern Suburbs
* Eastwood
* Gordon
* Hunter Wildfires
* Manly
* Northern Suburbs
* Parramatta
* Randwick
* Southern Districts
* Sydney University
* Warringah
* West Harbour

Regional bodies|

* New South Wales Suburban Rugby Union
* New South Wales Country Rugby Union

* v
* t
* e

Shute Shield

* Eastern Suburbs
* Eastwood
* Gordon
* Hunter
* Manly
* Northern Suburbs
* Parramatta
* Randwick
* Southern Districts
* Sydney University
* Warringah
* West Harbour

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