Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Club Canberra
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The Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Club Canberra, or RUFC, was founded in 1938 and is the A.C.T's oldest Rugby Union Football Club.
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[edit] History
'Easties' as they are affectionately known by their club members, has a rich and proud history. The club is responsible for producing some of Australia's most talented and respected rugby players. Easts are one of A.C.T rugby's foundation clubs, and were an integral part of the developmental process that has seen Canberra become known world wide as one of the most influential and respected rugby playing cities. Easts were once affiliated with the RMC Duntroon Rugby Club. RMC provided Easts with a plethora of rugby talent, and this dramatically increased the capacity of Easts to turn out competitive sides on a weekly basis. In the mid 80's the RMC rugby fraternity split from the Easts to establish itself as an independent entity. RMC now compete in the A.C.T Division 1 competition. The loss of so many talented defence force recruits was a big blow to Easts, and it took the club many years to rebuild.
[edit] Home Ground
For the majority of their history, Easts have called Griffith Oval their home. Griffith Oval is bordered by a diverse range of deciduous and evergreen trees. After attending an Easts V’s Royals match in 2005, Canberra Times columnist Alison Cooke wrote:
"Surely there is no more beautiful place on earth to watch a game of rugby. If as they say, rugby is the game they play in Heaven, Griffith Oval most certainly has to be the celestial stadium. As I stood in the coruscating sunlight and watched those rugged, yet handsome Easts boys run around, I was overcome by a deep sense of appreciation for this magnificent place. Egypt has the Pyramids, North America the Grand Canyon, but let it be known throughout the World that Australia has Griffith Oval!"
In Recent years there has been a growing trend amongst A.C.T rugby clubs to charge spectators an entrance fee of $5 to $10 dollars on game day during the Premier Division season[citation needed]. Easts has been reluctant to introduce such a fee. The club's administrators are adamant that Griffith Oval should be allowed to be accessed free of charge. Club Captain Jeremy Osborne declared in his speech on Grading Night 2007, that "Griffith Oval is a public asset. It is our duty to preserve this scared piece of earth, and to ensure that a price is never charged to the humble souls who wish to indulge in its magic."
[edit] Participation
Easts currently participate in the ACTRU Premier Division based in Canberra. Easts have not secured a premiership title since 1938. Easts also have a womens team in the Canberra competition. The Easts Glass Ceiling Smashers have won 4 premierships in the past 7 years, and the team has amongst its ranks numerous ACT and Australian representatives.
[edit] Notable Members
Ex -Wallabies captain George Gregan, Australia's highest paid rugby player Matt Giteau, Wallabies Prop Guy Shepardson and A.C.T rugby's Adam Doyle, are all former members.
