Eastwood Rugby Club
Encyclopedia
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 Northern Suburbs
and Hills District
of Sydney. Eastwood's first Wallaby
was J.G. Bain
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.
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.
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 formation, the Club has produced numerous players who have worn the “Green and Gold” of Australia. Recent Wallabies include Matt Dunning, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander and Lachie Turner.
Eastwood has a strong junior base which has won many NSW Junior Rugby Union State Championships over the last decade.
Eastwood Rugby Logo
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club playing in the Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
grade competition. The club is based at T G Millner Field, named in honour of its benefactor Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Tom Millner MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
VD
Volunteer Decoration
The Volunteer Officers' Decoration was created by Royal Warrant under command of Queen Victoria on 25 July 1892 to reward 'efficient and capable' officers of the Volunteer Force who had served for twenty years...
, and the club's players and supporters are primarily drawn from the Northern Suburbs
Northern Suburbs (Sydney)
The Northern Suburbs is a general term used to describe the metropolitan area on the northern bank of the Parramatta River in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia east of West Pennant Hills and west of the Lane Cove National Park, south of Hornsby...
and Hills District
Hills District (Sydney)
Hills District or The Hills is a general term for the north-western suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Hills District is also referred to as The Sydney Hills and The Hills Shire...
of Sydney. Eastwood's first Wallaby
Wallaby
A wallaby is any of about thirty species of macropod . It is an informal designation generally used for any macropod that is smaller than a kangaroo or wallaroo that has not been given some other name.-Overview:...
was J.G. Bain
Club information
- Nickname: The Woods,Woodies
- Premiership Titles: (4) 1999, 2002, 2003 & 2011
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.
Due to the foresight of early administrators, and the generosity of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Tom Millner MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
VD
Volunteer Decoration
The Volunteer Officers' Decoration was created by Royal Warrant under command of Queen Victoria on 25 July 1892 to reward 'efficient and capable' officers of the Volunteer Force who had served for twenty years...
, 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.
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 formation, the Club has produced numerous players who have worn the “Green and Gold” of Australia. Recent Wallabies include Matt Dunning, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander and Lachie Turner.
Eastwood has a strong junior base which has won many NSW Junior Rugby Union State Championships over the last decade.
Eastwood Rugby Logo
Junior Clubs
- Beecroft Rugby Union
- Dural Rugby Union
- Epping Rugby Union
- Hillview Rugby Union
- North Rocks Rugby Union
- Redfield Rugby Union
- Ryde Rugby Union
Australian representatives
- John BallestyJohn BallestyJohn Patrick Ballesty in Strathfield, New South Wales is an Australian former national representative rugby union player who also played first-grade rugby league with the Eastern Suburbs club.-Rugby union:...
- Michael Mathers
- Matthew BurkeMatt BurkeMatthew Burke is a retired Australian rugby union player. He grew up in Carlingford, New South Wales, and was schooled at St Gerard Majella Catholic Primary School, Carlingford and St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill...
- Scott StaniforthScott StaniforthScott Nicholas Gelling Staniforth is an Australian rugby union footballer.- Career :Returning to Australia after two years with London Irish, Scott Staniforth was the last player to sign with the Western Force and has played in every match bar one for the new team...
- Nathan Spooner
- Bill YoungBill Young (rugby player)Bill Young is an Australian former rugby union footballer. He played rugby for the Brumbies in the international Super 14 competition played for Australia over 40 times. Standing at 1.88m and weighing in at 115kg, Young is a loosehead prop...
- Jeremy PaulJeremy PaulJeremy Paul is a New Zealand-born Australia rugby union player. He played hooker and prop for the wallabies and the ACT Brumbies.At the end of 2005, Paul was awarded the John Eales Medal, receiving 194 votes from his teammates...
- Justin HarrisonJustin HarrisonJustin Harrison, born 20 April 1974 in Sydney, is a former Australian international rugby union player, who played lock forward as is currently forwards coach for Brumbies.-Career:...
- Matt DunningMatt DunningMatt Dunning is an Australian rugby union footballer. He was educated at Northholm Grammar School and represented New South Wales and Australian Schools, U19s and U21s. Dunning plays club rugby for Eastwood and has represented the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super 14 since 2001...
- Benn RobinsonBenn RobinsonBenn Robinson is an Australian rugby union footballer. He currently plays for the New South Wales Waratahs in the international Super Rugby competition.-Career:...
- Scott FavaScott FavaScott Fava is a retired Australian rugby union footballer.-Super 14:Scott Fava began his Super Rugby career with the Queensland Reds in 1999, playing for three seasons before moving on to the ACT Brumbies...
- Daniel Manu
- Marty RoebuckMarty RoebuckMarty Roebuck is a former Australian rugby union footballer who represented New South Wales and the Wallabies as a fullback....
- Rod Moore
- Scott GourleyScott GourleyScott Robert Gourley is an Australian former rugby league and rugby union player - An inspirational player who had absolutely dominated, a terrible day for Australian sport when this sportsman retired - a dual code international...
- Lachlan TurnerLachlan TurnerLachlan 'Lachie' David Turner is an Australian rugby union player contracted to the NSW Waratahs. He is seen as one of the fastest wingers in Australia and his ability to run from deep has seen him score some incredible solo tries...
- Ben AlexanderBen AlexanderBen Alexander was an Emmy-nominated American motion picture actor, who started out as a child actor in 1915.-Life and career:...
- Dick TaylorDick TaylorRichard Clifford 'Dick' Taylor is an English musician who was an early bass guitarist for The Rolling Stones. He left to become an art student at Sidcup Art College and while there formed The Pretty Things in September 1963...
- John BainJohn BainJohn Bain is a retired Scottish-U.S. soccer midfielder who currently coaches youth soccer in the U.S. Bain began his professional career in England before moving to the United States in 1978. Over his twenty year playing career, Bain played for numerous leagues and teams, both indoors and out...
- Ian RobertsonIan RobertsonIan Robertson may refer to:* Ian Robertson , former Australian rules footballer and currently a football commentator* Ian Robertson, Lord Robertson , Senator of the College of Justice in Scotland, 1966-88...
- Brett PapworthBrett PapworthBrett Papworth Brett Papworth Brett Papworth (born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, played first grade rugby league for the Eastern Suburbs Roosters in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. He had formerly been an Australian rugby union international...
- Alan SkinnerAlan SkinnerAlan Frank Skinner was an English cricketer who played for first class cricket for Derbyshire, Cambridge University and Northamptonshire between 1931 and 1949....
Current Super 14 players
- Scott StaniforthScott StaniforthScott Nicholas Gelling Staniforth is an Australian rugby union footballer.- Career :Returning to Australia after two years with London Irish, Scott Staniforth was the last player to sign with the Western Force and has played in every match bar one for the new team...
- Matt DunningMatt DunningMatt Dunning is an Australian rugby union footballer. He was educated at Northholm Grammar School and represented New South Wales and Australian Schools, U19s and U21s. Dunning plays club rugby for Eastwood and has represented the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super 14 since 2001...
- Benn RobinsonBenn RobinsonBenn Robinson is an Australian rugby union footballer. He currently plays for the New South Wales Waratahs in the international Super Rugby competition.-Career:...
- Lachlan TurnerLachlan TurnerLachlan 'Lachie' David Turner is an Australian rugby union player contracted to the NSW Waratahs. He is seen as one of the fastest wingers in Australia and his ability to run from deep has seen him score some incredible solo tries...
- Ben Hand
- Ben AlexanderBen AlexanderBen Alexander was an Emmy-nominated American motion picture actor, who started out as a child actor in 1915.-Life and career:...