Eden Rugby celebrated our 100 Years at Eden Park on Friday 3rd June 2022. The night was filled with many people from all walks of Eden, we thoroughly enjoyed the evening celebrating what has made Eden what it is today.

Everyone seemed to be happy with the outcome, great catch-ups with old friends and team-mates from playing days... some more recent, and many more from decades ago.

Many thanks to the centennial committee. With so many smiles , handshakes, conversations, positive comments and emails received , we must have organised our tasks to an acceptable level. Well done team.

A milestone of 100 years existence is a fantastic achievement by all club members who have gone before us and testament to the current members, players, administrators, coaches, managers, and all the volunteers who belong to Eden. A great team effort. You can all stand tall and be proud of a 100 years of Eden rugby.

Over 270 attended the centennial dinner on Friday 3rd June at Eden Park. I had the beautifully cooked beef-check, while Eric Rush enjoyed the nice, tender chicken with all the trimmings.

Prior to the dinner, the new Eden Haka was performed by an enthusiastic team of “ warriors “.

Eric followed dinner with not-only rugby stories, but also a story of another prowess of his sporting achievements. He held a New Zealand boxing title , but when you are in your forties the body doesn’t move as fast as it did twenty years previous. A boxing fund-raiser was being held in London and with a month’s training and losing 10 or so kilos, Eric was in the ring with a much younger English sportsman. First two rounds to the Pom, but Eric came home strongly to knock him out! We all loved your tales , Eric.

The Premier centennial playing jerseys were auctioned next. The ones with the low numbers fetched some fancy-prices.... rightly so!  The successful average-bid was over $700 and our autographed jersey went for $2500. This was signed by the All Blacks who have played 100 or more tests for New Zealand.

Everyone went home abuzz with rugby stories of their own ,or recounting Eric’s , and the 24 jersey-bidders were happy, but lighter in the back-pocket ! Thanks to our master of ceremonies, Paul van Etten and to Rob Blake, our auctioneer.

- Centennial Committee Chairman, Graeme Dryland

Please click here for photos from the night!