The Eastbourne Rugby Club holds a unique and revered place in Wellington’s rugby landscape. Tucked away on the eastern shores of the Wellington Harbour, it is fiercely independent, deeply community-focused, and stands as a historic survivor of local grassroots rugby.
1921: Foundation by an All Black Legend
The club was officially founded in 1921, largely thanks to the efforts of Edward “Teddy” Roberts.
Roberts was a legendary All Black halfback and captain who happened to be living in Eastbourne at the time.
His star power and rugby knowledge gave the fledgling club immediate credibility, and they quickly entered the Wellington Rugby Football Union (WRFU) competitions.
In their earliest days, they found success quickly, securing trophies like the WRFU Senior B Championship by 1927.
1924: Hosting the “Invincibles”
One of the proudest chapters in the club’s history occurred in 1924. Before the legendary All Blacks team departed for their historic tour of Great Britain and France—where they went completely undefeated and earned the moniker “The Invincibles”—they used Eastbourne’s facilities and local grounds to train and prepare.
The Ultimate Survivor
The interwar period (1919–1939) saw a massive boom in Wellington rugby, with 22 new clubs joining the WRFU senior competitions. Over the decades, changing demographics and economics forced almost all of those clubs to fold or merge to survive.
Eastbourne RFC is the only club founded in that entire interwar era that still survives today as a completely standalone club.
Modern Setup: HW Shortt Park
Today, Eastbourne functions as a tight-knit “whānau-friendly” sports hub based at H.W. Shortt Recreation Ground.
The Sports Club: The rugby club shares excellent, scenic clubrooms overlooking the Wellington Harbour with the Eastbourne Cricket Club (established 1919) and the local RSA.
The Modern Game: Because Eastbourne is a small coastal community of only a few thousand residents, it is the smallest senior club in Wellington. Instead of fielding a Premier heavy-tackle team, they have found massive success and a fierce identity in the Under 85kg grade (often competing tightly for the JC Bowl), alongside a thriving junior nursery system that introduces local kids to the game.
