Council vs North Ryde RSL: The crucial meeting to decide Eastwood rugby’s future

A planning meeting on Monday shapes as a crucial moment in the history of one of the Shute Shield’s most successful clubs, as Eastwood looks to a brighter future. This is why.

Eastwood have played at TG Millner Field since 1963, but they could soon have a new home. Picture: AAP

The short-term future of one of the Shute Shield’s most successful clubs will be decided early next week with Eastwood’s bid to move from its long-time home of TG Millner Field tied up in the spat between City of Ryde Council and North Ryde RSL.

North Ryde RSL Community Club – the owners of TG Millner – have lodged a rezoning application which will be heard by the Sydney North Planning Panel on Monday, June 2.

If successful, the ground will be developed, meaning 2025 will be Eastwood’s last season at TG Millner.

Six-time Shute Shield winning Eastwood has played at the ground since 1963, but sold it to North Ryde RSL in 2017 with a delayed settlement.

If North Ryde RSL gets approval to develop the land, Eastwood can finalise its plans to relocate to brand new facilities near Kellyville and Castle Hill in Sydney’s booming north west

But North Ryde RSL and Ryde Council are at loggerheads over the future of the area.

Eastwood legend Scott Fava in action at TG Millner. Picture: Brett Costello

Development plans lodged by North Ryde RSL have been rejected twice in the past three years, as being at odds with Ryde Council’s Open Space Future Provision Strategy.

Ryde Mayor, Trenton Brown, is opposed to the plan to build 132 low rise dwellings on the site, and even said council would pursue the compulsory acquisition of TG Millner in order to “strike the right balance between housing uplift and crucial accompanying infrastructure.”

In a May 28 newsletter Cr Trenton said he was contacting state and federal stakeholders to signify “this community’s overwhelming desire to keep TG Millner as a place for our growing population to enjoy, particularly as state government rezoning at the nearby Macquarie Park Innovation District threatens an exponential increase in housing density over coming years.”

Eastwood doesn’t have a say over the outcome of Monday’s meeting, but it’s in the best interests of the club to relocate as soon as possible.

While leaving the club’s spiritual home is bittersweet, Eastwood general manager Robert Frost told Code Sports that the financial arrangements at TG Millner make it almost impossible to survive as it gets no income from food, beverage, canteen or BBQ sales.

That income all goes to North Ryde RSL.

Eastwood doesn’t make money from food and beverages on game days, a significant hamstring to survival. Picture: AAP

The relocation to a new training and playing base in The Hills has been on the agenda for years.

Eastwood is undergoing significant demographic changes, including a growing Chinese population, which has increased from 38 per cent of the population at the 2016 census, to 48 per cent in 2021.

Meanwhile, The Hills district, some 20km northwest of TG Millner, is experiencing a population boom of its own that is supported by new public transport infrastructure.

“Bittersweet is right,” Frost said. “But the truth is, the club made the decision some years ago.

“There’s emotion and memories, but we’re looking forward, not backward.

“The big change is the demographic change at Eastwood and the potential opportunities offered for the future created by the Metro out in the northwest.

“That’s it in a nutshell.

“There’s a booming population, which is going to double in the next 10 years, and that population is more likely to play rugby than the current population is.

“It’s a classic rugby demographic.”

Wallabies Matt Burke playing for Eastwood at TG Millner. Picture: Supplied

In simple terms, fish where the fish are.

“All the schools in the northwest play rugby and something like five of the top 10 biggest schools in the state are in the northwest,” Frost said.

“Most of the schools – public, private, government and Catholic – play rugby.

“Some of the biggest clubs, like Dural, which is one of our junior clubs, are out there too.

“The game is quite strong in the area.”

Eastwood isn’t the only organisation facing similar pressures, and its move to the North West comes shortly after the Parramatta Eels relocated to Kellyville.

“We’ve got a really good relationship with the Eels – they’ve been great to work with and are very supportive,“ Frost said.

“They’ve got the same kind of long-term picture.

“They understand the demographic changes, the opportunities with new families and the fact there’s room out there for new facilities.

“You just don’t get that anywhere else.

“They opened their new headquarters last week and it’s special. It’s gonna be there for 100 years.”

The ground is long overdue an upgrade. Picture: AAP

The relocation means a long-awaited facilities upgrade too.

TG Millner, while a staple of Sydney club rugby, has seen better days.

“The new site is roughly the same size as TG Millner, and it will have three fields,” Frost said. “It’ll have good player facilities, gym, recovery, medical and video.

“Importantly the new ground will offer the community in the northwest new sporting facilities to meet an exploding population, plus community facilities for social events and a small admin area.”

Most importantly for Frost though is the fact that Eastwood is having a great 2025 season, and is currently sitting fourth on the ladder after a 48-45 win over the Two Blues last weekend.

“Most important is the fact that we’re actually doing really well in the comp this year and we are focused on making sure our football is as successful as it is,” he said.

“We don’t want the emotion to overcome the fact that when all is said and done, we are here for what happens at three o’clock on a Saturday afternoon.”

Originally published as Council vs North Ryde RSL: The crucial meeting to decide Eastwood rugby’s future