Syd Eru
Encyclopedia
Sydney Wiremu "Syd" Eru (born 26 July 1971 in Rotorua
, New Zealand
) is a New Zealand
former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1990s. A Kiwi representative hooker, he played club football for the Auckland Warriors.
and Rockingham and Perth in Australia. In 1993 he was invited to be part of an Auckland Invitational XIII side that drew 16-all with the Balmain Tigers
.
He was signed by the Auckland Warriors for their debut season in the Australian Rugby League
competition in 1995 as the backup hooker. However, by the end of the season he had replaced Duane Mann
, the New Zealand Kiwis captain, as both the Auckland Warriors and the New Zealand hooker. He was subsequently rewarded with an improved contract. In 1998 he was targeted by a Welsh rugby league franchise, but the club - and the offer - did not eventuate.
His career was frequently marred by injury, Eru played 59 games over five seasons for the Warriors. Eru remained with the Warriors until the end of the 1999 season, retiring to Western Australia
. His retirement was forced due to a serious wrist-injury.
in 1992 and 1993, debuting at the 1992 Pacific Cup
.
Eru made his New Zealand Kiwis debut in 1995 and was selected to represented New Zealand at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup
. At the tournament Eru tested positive for ephedrine
. He played in twenty tests for New Zealand between 1995 and 1998, including stand out performances in victories over Great Britain in 1996 and Australia in 1997.
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
former professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1990s. A Kiwi representative hooker, he played club football for the Auckland Warriors.
Playing career
Eru played for the Upper Hutt Tigers in the Wellington Rugby LeagueWellington Rugby League
Wellington Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Greater Wellington region. It is responsible for the local competition of the same name, as well as its representative team, the Wellington rugby league team.- Local Senior Competition :The...
and Rockingham and Perth in Australia. In 1993 he was invited to be part of an Auckland Invitational XIII side that drew 16-all with the Balmain Tigers
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
.
He was signed by the Auckland Warriors for their debut season in the Australian Rugby League
Australian Rugby League
The Australian Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Australia. It is made up of state bodies, including the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League...
competition in 1995 as the backup hooker. However, by the end of the season he had replaced Duane Mann
Duane Mann
Duane Darrin Mann is a rugby league coach and former professional footballer who represented and captained both the New Zealand Kiwis and Tonga. He currently coaches the Bay Roskill Vikings in the Auckland Rugby League competition.-Personal life:...
, the New Zealand Kiwis captain, as both the Auckland Warriors and the New Zealand hooker. He was subsequently rewarded with an improved contract. In 1998 he was targeted by a Welsh rugby league franchise, but the club - and the offer - did not eventuate.
His career was frequently marred by injury, Eru played 59 games over five seasons for the Warriors. Eru remained with the Warriors until the end of the 1999 season, retiring to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. His retirement was forced due to a serious wrist-injury.
Representative career
A Wellington representative, Eru represented the New Zealand MāoriNew Zealand Maori rugby league team
-See also:* New Zealand national rugby league team* New Zealand Māori rugby union team* New Zealand Māori cricket team-External links:* Google Books...
in 1992 and 1993, debuting at the 1992 Pacific Cup
1992 Pacific Cup (rugby league)
-Section 2:An opening ceremony was held at Carlaw Park before the New Zealand Māori v Australian Aboriginies match.-Finals:-Semi Finals:-Third place playoff:-Final:...
.
Eru made his New Zealand Kiwis debut in 1995 and was selected to represented New Zealand at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup
1995 Rugby League World Cup
The 1995 Rugby League World Cup was held during October in the United Kingdom. It was the eleventh staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was marketed as the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport...
. At the tournament Eru tested positive for ephedrine
Ephedrine
Ephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine commonly used as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, concentration aid, decongestant, and to treat hypotension associated with anaesthesia....
. He played in twenty tests for New Zealand between 1995 and 1998, including stand out performances in victories over Great Britain in 1996 and Australia in 1997.