CLUB HISTORY

125 Years of Easts Rugby

 

Founded in 1900 at Paddington Town Hall, the Eastern Suburbs District Rugby Union Football Club (Easts Rugby) is Australia’s oldest district rugby club, with a proud history of developing talent and achieving success on and off the field. Legendary rugby league figure Dally Messenger began his career at Easts before switching codes, highlighting the club’s long-standing influence on the game.

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From early pioneers like A.J. “Tiger” Kelly, our first NSW representative, and J.W. Maund, the club’s first Wallaby, through to legends such as Dally Messenger, Wakka Walker, and Tim Gavin, Easts has consistently shaped the game’s history.

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Over more than a century, Easts has produced over 75 Wallabies and remains a proven pathway to the highest levels of the sport. Today, the club is proudly represented at the elite level by 1 Wallaby, 6 Wallaroos, 5 NSW Waratahs, and an outstanding 10 NSW Waratahs Women’s players, reflecting the strength and balance of both its men’s and women’s programs.

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On the field, Easts continues to build on its legacy with recent success including the 2024 Shute Shield premiership, its first since 1969, the 2024 Colts (U20s) premiership, the 2023 Women’s premiership, and a strong 2025 campaign that saw the Women’s XV win the Pool B competition, with both 1st Grade and Colts once again reaching their respective Grand Finals.

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Today, the club is driven by a passionate community of players, coaches, volunteers, and supporters, all committed to building on more than 120 years of tradition. With a thriving women’s program, continued representative success, and strong performances across all grades, Easts Rugby is not just honouring its past, it is shaping the future of the game.

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EASTS WALLABIES &

 

WALLAROOS

International Representatives Over the Years.