“They Made Me Feel Right at Home”: Celebrating Easts’ Bond with the Bush

Easts Rugby
Jun 16
3 min read

By Angus Hayman

This upcoming weekend’s clash against Norths is more than just a battle on the field, it’s the

celebration of the enduring relationship between Easts and the country communities that have shaped so many of its players. For young stars like Sid Harvey and Meg Webster, that bond is ever present. They didn’t just find a club when they arrived in Sydney, they found a new life and a new place to call home.

The connection between Easts and the country is one built on mutual respect and shared

values. It’s a two-way street where the club offers opportunity, stability, and belonging, while

country players bring heart, humility, and not to mention some of the best talent in the competition.

No one embodies that more than Sid Harvey. Hailing from the northern NSW town of

Narrabri, Sid joined Easts straight out of school in 2023. It didn’t take long for him to make

an impact, playing a key role in the Colts’ premiership-winning side last year before going on

to represent Australia in both the Sevens and the U20s Championship.

Yet despite the bright lights of rep honours, it’s the simple moments at Easts that have left the biggest mark.

“From the very first training I felt so comfortable,” Sid said. “I was just surrounded by good

people who loved their footy”. Sid was thrown into the deep end as he remembered “The first

night I had in the clubhouse I ended up belting out Seven Nation Army with Bez freestyling”.

For Sid and his equally skilled sister Martha, who also plays for the club, Easts has become a kind of family away from family. “There are a few boys at the club who understand what it’s

like moving away from home to play footy and they’ve just made it so easy for us to settle in and thrive,” he said.

“Personally, they are my brothers, all the colts’ boys from last year made me feel right at home.”

That sense of belonging became even more powerful when Sid made his first-grade debut.

“That was a bit of a whirlwind day,” he recalled. “During the week, I wasn’t sure where I’d play, and by Friday there was still some uncertainty”.

“I was Lucky enough to get on for five minutes at the end with my Dad, sister, and cousin all

there to watch. I will never forget running out in front of the boys on the hill. Seeing Dad get a bit emotional after was special”. He finished by stating: “you always love making your parents proud.”

For Meg Webster, a back rower for the women’s side, this relationship with the club is just

getting started. Born and raised in Dubbo, she joined Easts at the start of this year and instantly found a community.

“The atmosphere and how welcoming everyone was as soon as I got there was unlike

anything I’d experience before. It genuinely felt like I’d known everyone forever,” Meg said. “That’s been so special.”

Like many country players, Meg knows what it means to move away from home to chase a

dream. For her, Easts provided more than just a jersey, it gave her purpose and people.

“Just moving away from home for a sport is a great way to meet like-minded people and form lifelong friendships,” she said.

“It’s great discipline too”, she added. “to train, keep fit, and show up for both training and games. It’s had such a positive effect on me.”

What Meg and Sid highlight so clearly is that Easts doesn’t just recruit country players, it

embraces them. And in return, these players bring a quiet toughness and loyalty that enriches the club’s culture.

The approaching Country Day, is not just about the special entertainment or the themed

outifts. It’s a chance to honour the towns, families, and paddocks that produced the players

who now give so much to the tricolours. It’s about recognising the courage it takes to leave

home and a nice reminder about where the best rugby talent comes from.

As Easts prepares to take on Norths this weekend, the hill will be packed, the voices will be

loud, and somewhere in the crowd, there’ll be a few proud country parents watching their kids play the game they love, in a club that feels like a new home.

And that’s exactly what Country Day is all about.

Country Day Tickets can be purchased here.