Burnie Rugby Union Club
Encyclopedia
Burnie Rugby Union Club is a Rugby Union
club in Tasmania
. Established in 1961, Ribernated in the late 1980s and Reformed in 1997, the club is a member of the Tasmanian Rugby Union
, affiliated with the Australian Rugby Union
and plays in the Tasmanian Statewide League men's First Division.
The club's home ground is at McKenna Park Sporting Complex in the Burnie, Tasmania
. Known as The Emus, the club colours are blue and red. The club currently fields a team in Men's First Division.
Past Player, Golden Oldie stalwart and also a Kiwi, Fergie Baird, assisted in locating some lost funds that had been stuck in a sock for future Club use. Crusty kindly paid for the clubs first insurance bill and the mighty Emus were off and running (very quickly).
The Northern Competition at that time comprised Burnie, Devonport, two Launceston teams, Georgetown, and the West Coast Miners- or the Green Machine as they were known (last two now defunct). The Emus played out of the Acton Rugby and Softball ground which they shared in and developed. In 2003 the club moved to the Montello Sporting Grounds, the home of the Burnie United Soccer Club. After good tenure of 6 years the club parted ways with Montello and moved to the McKenna Park Regional Sporting Complex in early 2009.
Burnie has played in three Northern Grand Finals since 1997, winning one in 2003 defeating Launceston at Montello Sporting Ground in a memorable 14 -10. Big Willie Johnson scored the winning try under the posts with Josh Baldwin converting to secure the victory on the day. Burnie narrowly lost previously in two grand finals to the Devonport Bulls.
Burnie, in 2008 after its first season of the Statewide Second Division won the championship with a more than convincing victory over Glenorchy.
In 2009 the Mighty Emus participated in the revised Statewide First Division Competition. Burnie is back in the Statewide First Division after a 20 year absence.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. Established in 1961, Ribernated in the late 1980s and Reformed in 1997, the club is a member of the Tasmanian Rugby Union
Tasmanian Rugby Union
The Tasmanian Rugby Union Est. 1933 is responsible for rugby union in the Australian state of Tasmania, and is part of the Australian Rugby Union....
, affiliated with the Australian Rugby Union
Australian Rugby Union
The Australian Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Australia. It was founded in 1949 and is a member of the International Rugby Board the sport's governing body. It consists of eight member unions, representing each state and territory...
and plays in the Tasmanian Statewide League men's First Division.
The club's home ground is at McKenna Park Sporting Complex in the Burnie, Tasmania
Burnie, Tasmania
- Sport :Australian rules football is popular in Burnie. The city's team is the Burnie Dockers Football Club in the Tasmanian State League.Rugby union is also played in Burnie. The local club is the Burnie Rugby Union Club. They are the current Tasmanian Rugby Union Statewide Division Two Premiers...
. Known as The Emus, the club colours are blue and red. The club currently fields a team in Men's First Division.
History - post Reformation
The current club as it is now was reformed in 1997 after a 7 year absence from all forms of competition. With the encouragement of Ron Willet, a rather large prop forward and Northern Tasmanian President from Launceston, meetings commenced with Ken Allan & Shane Bentley at Burnie’s Beach hotel. Ex Burnie president and club legend Brett "Crusty" Kershaw came on board as player and treasurer. Kiwi, Peter Letcher, was wisely recruited as coach for the side. Warren and Robbie Taylor came on board as manager and secretary respectively.Past Player, Golden Oldie stalwart and also a Kiwi, Fergie Baird, assisted in locating some lost funds that had been stuck in a sock for future Club use. Crusty kindly paid for the clubs first insurance bill and the mighty Emus were off and running (very quickly).
The Northern Competition at that time comprised Burnie, Devonport, two Launceston teams, Georgetown, and the West Coast Miners- or the Green Machine as they were known (last two now defunct). The Emus played out of the Acton Rugby and Softball ground which they shared in and developed. In 2003 the club moved to the Montello Sporting Grounds, the home of the Burnie United Soccer Club. After good tenure of 6 years the club parted ways with Montello and moved to the McKenna Park Regional Sporting Complex in early 2009.
Burnie has played in three Northern Grand Finals since 1997, winning one in 2003 defeating Launceston at Montello Sporting Ground in a memorable 14 -10. Big Willie Johnson scored the winning try under the posts with Josh Baldwin converting to secure the victory on the day. Burnie narrowly lost previously in two grand finals to the Devonport Bulls.
Burnie, in 2008 after its first season of the Statewide Second Division won the championship with a more than convincing victory over Glenorchy.
In 2009 the Mighty Emus participated in the revised Statewide First Division Competition. Burnie is back in the Statewide First Division after a 20 year absence.
Office Bearers
The current president is former Burnie great Mark Lamont, coach Ashley "Ziff" Arnold in First Vice-President and Second Vice-President is a former president and long time supporter, Ken Allan . Sheryl Britton is named as treasurer and Xavier Walker is Secretary. Crusty Kershaw is still involved at the club as Social Club President, spiritual leader and also the club's Oldies delegate.Premierships
Senior Team- Northern Championship: 1964,2003
- Statewide Second Division: 2008
- Statewide First Division: 1979,1986