Looking for a Rugby Club in Canberra?
Finding a new rugby club can be daunting.
Maybe you've just moved to Canberra. Maybe you haven't played since school. Maybe you're looking for a more social club, or maybe you're chasing competitive rugby again after a few years away.
Whatever brings you here, you're welcome at Easts.
Since 1938, Easts Rugby Canberra has been part of the local rugby community. While our history stretches back generations, today we're focused on something just as exciting, rebuilding a club that people genuinely want to be part of.
We're creating a place where good rugby and good people go hand in hand. A club where every player matters, every volunteer is appreciated, and every new face helps shape what comes next.
If that sounds like the kind of club you've been looking for, we'd love to meet you.
More Than Just Another Rugby Club
Every rugby club promises great culture.
At Easts, we're building ours from the ground up.
That means creating a club where players actually enjoy coming to training. Where the conversations after the game are just as important as the eighty minutes before them. Where experienced players help newcomers, and where lifelong friendships are formed over shared wins, tough losses and a few stories at the pub afterwards.
We're proud of our history, but we're even more excited about our future.
Every player who joins Easts becomes part of rebuilding one of Canberra's oldest rugby clubs the right way.
Rugby for Everyone
You don't need to have played representative rugby.
You don't even need to have played rugby at all.
Every season we welcome:
- Complete beginners
- Players returning after years away from the game
- Experienced rugby players looking for a new challenge
- University students
- International players
- Defence personnel
- People relocating to Canberra
- Social players
- Competitive players
Some of our players are chasing finals. Others simply want to stay active and enjoy playing rugby with a great group of people.
There's room for both.
What Happens When You Turn Up?
Walking into a new club is never easy.
Everyone worries they'll be the only new person or that everyone else already knows each other.
The reality at Easts is much simpler.
Come down to Griffith Oval before training, introduce yourself, and we'll take care of the rest. You'll meet the coaches, get introduced to a few players, and be involved from the moment training starts.
Nobody expects you to know every drill or remember every name on your first night.
Just bring a good attitude and a willingness to have a crack.
Everything else comes with time.
Rugby That Challenges You
Easts currently fields two men's teams in the Canberra Suburban Cup, giving players the chance to enjoy competitive rugby while helping build something bigger.
Our ambition doesn't stop there.
We're working towards returning Easts to the John I Dent Cup and re-establishing the club among Canberra's premier rugby competitions.
That journey won't happen overnight, but that's exactly what makes it exciting.
Every training session, every new player and every season moves us one step closer.
If you'd rather be part of building something than simply joining something that's already established, you'll fit in well here.
Train at Griffith Oval
We train every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Griffith Oval.
Training is designed to improve every aspect of your game, whether you're playing your first season or your fifteenth.
You'll work on:
- Core rugby skills
- Attack and defence
- Fitness and conditioning
- Position-specific development
- Game awareness
- Team structures
Registered players also receive free access to our club gym, giving you everything you need to keep improving throughout the season.
Coaches Who Care About Your Development
Good coaching isn't about yelling louder.
It's about helping players improve.
Our coaching group brings decades of high-level rugby experience and is committed to developing every player, regardless of experience.
Whether you're learning how to tackle safely, improving your decision-making under pressure or refining the finer points of your position, you'll receive support every step of the way.
At Easts, development isn't reserved for the best players.
It's for everyone.
The Best Part Happens After the Game
Ask almost anyone at Easts what keeps them coming back, and they'll probably start talking about the people.
After most matches you'll find players, families, supporters and volunteers heading to our major sponsor, The Durham Castle Arms, to relive the best moments, debate the referee's decisions and enjoy a meal together.
Throughout the year we also hold social events, club functions, awards nights and our annual Byron Bay Sevens trip.
Because while rugby brings us together, it's the friendships that keep people around.
A Club for the Whole Community
Easts isn't just for players.
Families are welcome.
Partners are welcome.
Volunteers are welcome.
Supporters are welcome.
Strong rugby clubs are built by communities, not just teams, and we're incredibly proud of the people who give their time to make Easts what it is.
Whether you're playing every weekend or cheering from the sideline, you're part of the club.
Looking Beyond Club Rugby
Players looking to test themselves further have opportunities to pursue representative rugby through ACT and Monaro pathways.
For others, the goal is simply to become a better rugby player than they were last season.
Both goals are equally important.
Whatever success looks like to you, we'll help you work towards it.
Why Players Choose Easts
There are plenty of rugby clubs in Canberra.
We're not trying to be the biggest.
We're trying to be the club people recommend because of how it makes them feel.
The kind of club where teammates become lifelong mates.
Where new players are remembered by name.
Where volunteers are appreciated.
Where training is something you look forward to after work.
And where every person who walks through the gate helps shape the future of Easts Rugby Canberra.
If that sounds like the sort of club you've been searching for, we'd love to welcome you.
Frequently Asked Questions
I've never played rugby before. Can I still join?
Absolutely. Every season we welcome complete beginners. You'll be supported by coaches and teammates from your very first session.
I'm moving to Canberra. Is Easts a good club to join?
Definitely. We regularly welcome players relocating from interstate and overseas. Joining a rugby club is one of the best ways to meet people in a new city, and we'll make sure you feel part of the group from day one.
I'm coming back after a few years away from rugby.
Perfect. Many of our players have returned to the game after taking time away. Whether it's been three years or thirty, you'll fit right in.
When do you train?
Training is held every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Griffith Oval.
Do I need to register before coming to training?
Not at all. Come down, meet the coaches and players, and see if Easts feels like the right fit before committing.
Is there a gym?
Yes. All registered players receive free access to the club gym.
Come and See What Easts Is Building
Every rugby club has a history.
Ours began in 1938.
The exciting part is what comes next.
If you're looking for a rugby club in Canberra where you'll be welcomed, challenged, supported and become part of something bigger than yourself, we'd love to meet you.
Come down to Griffith Oval on a Tuesday or Thursday evening, introduce yourself, and experience Easts Rugby Canberra for yourself.
We think you'll quickly understand why so many people choose to stay.