"We Hate Them, They Hate Us", The Modern-Day Club Rugby Rivalry

By Angus Hayman

You won’t find it etched into century-old plaques or vintage trophies, but speak to anyone involved and they’ll tell you: Easts vs Sydney Uni matters. In a competition as storied as the Shute Shield, some rivalries are born from history, others from heat. This one? It's got both.

The modern rivalry between the Beasties and Students has aged like a fine wine, now being one of the most awaited fixtures on the calendar. It’s not always loud, it’s not always pretty, but it’s always personal.

This week, I crossed enemy lines to dive deeper into what makes this clash so passionate.

“There’s always a bit extra in it against the Easts boys,” said one Sydney Uni player this week. “They hate us, we hate them.” He said it with a smirk.

Saxon Fenwicke, Easts fullback and club heartthrob, didn’t mince words either:

“They think they invented rugby.” It’s not a direct insult, more of a well-worn barb thrown between old mates and familiar foes because that’s part of what makes this rivalry burn, the connections.

“There’s 100% a different energy,” Saxon added. “You know half the other team. You might live with them, have played with them at school, then you’re running out to go to war.”

For players on both sides, this fixture is more than just four points, it’s all you talk about with your mates for the next month. For Sydney Uni’s second-grade, second-rower, it’s a matter of toughness. “Every time you play Easts it’s about who wants it more… usually both sides are pretty evenly matched, so it comes down to the dog in you.”

And for the younger generation coming through, like the fresh-faced Colt at Sydney Uni who has never experienced this contest before, it’s about understanding the weight of tradition before they’ve even laced up the boots.

“You can see how much it means to the playing group, the coaches, and the club overall,” He said. “It’s not just another game… I’ve never even played Easts before, but I know that I have to hate them.”

Even as a newcomer, the young colt has already identified what makes the fixture feel different: “the crowd always shows up. It’s loud. It’s intense.”

So, what makes a rivalry real? Is it trophies? Proximity? Spite? Or just the shared memory of hard games, tough calls, and moments that linger long after full time? Maybe it’s all of it, the history, the hatred, the mate-against-mate matchups all wrapped into one brutal and brilliant weekend. The kind where every moment feels personal, and every result matters.

Both clubs walked away with four wins, splitting the chocolates in a dead-even contest that proved this rivalry isn’t just alive, it’s thriving.

This isn’t just another round.

It’s a rivalry in motion.

And the fence was the perfect place to watch it unfold.