EASTS RUGBY FOUNDATION
Easts Rugby has been a cornerstone of the local community since 1900, and our legacy continues to grow. After an unforgettable triumph in winning the Shute Shield in 2025, we are stronger than ever, both on and off the field. But our vision goes beyond just rugby. We are dedicated to creating a space where young people can transition into adulthood with a solid moral compass, a sense of belonging, and the skills to excel in all areas of life – from their careers to their social circles, and, of course, on the rugby field.
Running a district rugby club is no small feat – it requires hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. These funds come from a mix of sponsorships, game day receipts, player registrations, government grants, and most importantly, the generous donations from our supporters. Without this vital support, the club simply could not survive.
To ensure the continued success of Easts Rugby, we established The Easts Foundation to channel tax-deductible funding directly to the club, supporting both its day-to-day operations and its community-focused initiatives. The good news is that the federal government has increased its support for local sport by relaxing guidelines on what qualifies as deductible donations, which means we can now direct more funds into improving the club’s infrastructure and creating pathways for players of all ages – men, women, and juniors alike.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to the Easts Rugby supporters who have generously donated to the Foundation in recent years. Over the past three years, the Foundation has allocated over $500,000 to key projects, including building upgrades, equipment purchases, specialised coaching, team travel, and player welfare initiatives. These investments are helping players make better choices in both their education and careers, and benefiting all programs – men’s, women’s, and juniors.
In 2025, we will need to generate even more funding through the Foundation to support our mission to become the best community-focused district rugby club in Australia.
If you haven't already, we invite you to join with a Gold Membership, which gives you exclusive access to the Foundation Lounge at all home grade games or a Lifetime Membership.
Pick up your 2025 membership here.
Whether you’re supporting a family member, a friend, or just enjoying the camaraderie of a great day at Woollahra Oval, we encourage you to consider supporting The Easts Foundation. Your contribution will help us continue to strengthen local rugby and beyond.
We look forward to seeing you in 2025 – Go Beasties!
Meet The Board
Chairman: Hamish McCathie
Hamish has been in the Financial Markets for 30 years and is currently a Director of Sequoia Wealth Management. Sequoia Wealth Management is fully owned by the ASX listed company Sequoia Financial Group (SEQ.ASX). He has been involved at Easts Rugby Club since 1975 when he first played for The Bays, Hamish then played over 150 club games for Easts in the late 80’s and 90’s, being awarded the Matt Street award in 1991 and played in all senior grade teams. Hamish came back to Easts as President of the Juniors, coach of the 1st Colts and was Clubman of the Year in 2010. He was on the Easts Board from 2011 to 2016 as a Director and later in his tenure as Director of Rugby.
e. hamishmccathie@sequoia.com.au
m. 0410 575 474
Director: Dr. David Allen
As President Of Easts Rugby Club David represents the club on the Foundation Board. David was appointed President at the 2021 AGM. He started his rugby at Bays then came through the Wallaroos, Colts, and then Easts 1st Grade in 1999-2001. David then played professionally for Ulster in Ireland. In 2017 he returned to Sydney and coached the Easts Colts in 2017 and 2018. Professionally David worked for JP Morgan in London between 2002 and 2017, becoming Managing Director and Head of Research in 2009. He is currently the Head of Long/Short Strategies at Plato Investment Management in Sydney. He holds a PhD from Cambridge University in Quantitative Finance.
m. 0407 346 111
Director: Angus Esslemont
Angus is the second representative from the Easts board on the Easts Foundation board. He was a member of the 1st Grade Grand Finalists Team in 2007 and won a Colts 2nd XV premiership in 2002. Angus is currently the Head of Equites at Ord Minnett in Sydney after 5 years at Goldman Sachs. After being away from the club for several years, Angus has loved being back involved with Easts. He really enjoys the growing community engagement of the broader Club, and of course chasing some long overdue Rugby success. Angus is the VP of Sponsorship on the Easts board. Feel free to reach out to him directly to discuss any partnerships opportunities.
m. 0402 066 906
Director: Craig Smith
Craig is a father of five, with four of his children having played at Easts. He spent two years managing the Scots College Rugby Support Group Program. With 28 years of experience in the travel industry, Craig also chairs a Peer Advisory Group for SME business leaders. After a five-year tenure as Chairman of the Foundation, where he played a key role in numerous fundraising initiatives and led the highly successful Future Leaders Programme, Craig has stepped down from the chair position. Easts is fortunate that he continues to contribute his expertise as a member of the Foundation Board.
e. craigsmith@eastsrugby.com.au
m. 0414 913 044.
Director: Mat Collett
Mathew has been a board member of The Eastern Suburbs Rugby Club Foundation since 2019 and has been part of the Easts Rugby Club & community since 1974. Firstly, playing for Bays in the mid 1970’s, to then playing colts & grade in the late 1980’s, early 90’s. He has also been actively engaged in coaching Bays Rugby in the 2000’s. Professionally, Mathew has a unique blend of experience spanning over 35 years across banking, corporate advisory, business development, FMCG, and corporate governance. Mathew is also President of The Scots Old Boys Union (since 2019) and has always been very active in donating his time to Easts Rugby.
m. 0414 605 652
Director: Katie Jaques
Katie is an Eastern Suburbs local who has lived in the area her entire life and has long-standing ties to the East Rugby Club. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Marketing. Currently, she is the Media and Communications Manager at People First Fire, where she plays a key role in driving community engagement and strategic messaging. Katie’s connection to the East runs deep. Her brother-in-law, Troy Jaques, played 5 seasons starting in the Colts, and the family legacy has continued through her two sons. Zac Jaques came through the Easts junior system and has gone on to represent the club with pride in senior grades. Her younger son, Leo Jaques, also played his junior footy at Easts and is now stepping into his Colts journey, continuing the family tradition. Katie was also a valued Scots College Rugby Support Committee member for five years. She brings that same energy and commitment to Easts, passionately advocating for her boys and the broader club as a contributor.
m. 0429 540 000
Director: Karin Christie
Karin played rugby for 15 years, including two season at Easts, and although she is now retired from playing she is still involved with managing the Easts Women’s rugby team. Karin was a board member for The Rugby Club from 2011 to 2016, while it operated as a licenced club on Rugby Place (formerly Crane lace). The Rugby Club ceased trading in 2017, and at that time transitioned to The Rugby Club Foundation. Karin is a Senior Tax Manager for Charter Hall, where she has worked since 2008.
e. Karin.christie@eastsrugby.com.au
m. 0417 154242
Director: Emily Brial
Emily is a Director of The Gunlake Group (Concrete and Quarries), a leading supplier of construction materials to the Greater Sydney region, and Rollers Australia, a prominent fleet hire company providing rollers, water trucks, tractor brooms, tractor grids, and mobile site amenities across NSW and Queensland. Throughout her adult life, Emily has been involved with the Easts Rugby Club, alongside her husband, Michael, who played over 100 first-grade games, and their three sons, who began playing at the Club at a young age and continue to play in adulthood. Emily is also a Trustee of a private charitable foundation. Emily has dedicated many years to volunteering in community and school-based organisations and is committed to positively impacting her local community.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Mass Communications.
e. emily@rollersaustralia.com.au
m. 0416 030 405
Director: Jacob Celermajer
Jacob has been involved with Easts for his entire life, starting as a Junior with Bays and playing for the club for over 15 years, all the way through to Colts and Grade.. Professionally, Jacob is currently the portfolio manager of the Cordis Global Medical Technology Fund, after working at Deutsche Bank across their offices globally. Jacob joined the Foundation Board in 2025 to give back to the club and is playing a pivotal role in the Future Leaders Mentor Programme.
m. 0401 773 385
Director: Stuart Hudson
Stuart Hudson is currently a Private Wealth Advisor at Wilson Advisory. Prior to that Stuart was an adviser at CCZ Equities, Switzer Financial Group, and before that Director of Treasury at Societe Generale Australia Limited for 17 years. Stuart is a qualified financial adviser with a Master of Commerce (Financial Planning) from Western Sydney University. Stuart also holds a Diploma of Financial Services and is an accredited Self- Managed Superannuation Fund specialist from Kaplan.
Stuart forms part of the Easts Foundations Investment committee.
m. 0410 454141
Director: John Murray
John holds the title of Honorary Life Member of Easts Rugby Club. He was elected President of the Club at the 2014 AGM, following his tenure as Vice President of House since 2011. John served with great dedication until David Allen was appointed in 2020.
John's children have been involved with Easts over the last decade, leading him to play an active role in the Bays Junior Club. Not having played Rugby for Easts, John brings a fresh perspective and innovative ideas to the board. He is deeply involved in fundraising initiatives, governance of the Foundation, and plays a key role in enhancing the Easts game day experience.
e. john@eastsrugby.com.au
m. 0417 259 128
Company Secretary: Sean Rahilly
Sean has a background in corporate governance and investment banking. He is a Chartered Accountant and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. The Rahilly family has deep ties to Easts Rugby Club and has played a pivotal role in the club's development over the years. Sean’s expertise in the Easts Foundation Constitution and his thorough understanding of Easts Rugby Club make him an invaluable asset.
e. sean@eastsrugby.com.au
m. 0414 302 520
Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Foundation Limited ACN 139 378 966
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The Foundation was formed in 2010, to build a financial base on which the Eastern Suburbs District Rugby Union Football Club, could protect itself in the future from the many challenges which a combination of an amateur ethic and a professional playing structure could impose on it.
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The Foundation is structured with a separate governing Board and a Trust Deed, which directs the Board to apply funds in accordance with the Deed’s terms
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The Fund is also required to provide six monthly reports to the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) which monitors the Fund to ensure its expenditure complies with qualifying expenditure as agreed with the provisions of the ASF.