Shute Shield finals 2022: Super rugby Olympian Lachie Anderson making Eastwood return v Manly

This Super Rugby player and Olympian was so excited to get on the field after an extended lay-off he turned up for training two hours to prepare for the Shute Shield semi-finals.

He’s been busy representing Australian at an Olympics, playing Super Rugby with the Rebels and more recently rehabilitating from a debilitating groin injury.

Now Lachie Anderson is preparing to step back into clubland for the first time since the 2020 Shute Shield grand final and he can’t wait.

Coach Ben Batger has confirmed the return of the old Eastwood gun for their do-or-die matchup with the Manly Marlins at North Sydney Oval on Saturday.

“It will be six months to the day since I did my groin,” said Anderson, who played the opening game of the Super Rugby season for the Melbourne Rebels before being diagnosed with osteitis pubis and missing the remainder of the season.

“I’ve played one game all season, it was definitely not the way I thought my year was going pan out, but I had to learn to deal with it and I think I’ve come out better in the end..

Lachie Anderson playing against Japan at a Sydney 7s event.

“I can’t wait to get out there. I’m counting down the minutes. I got to training two hours earlier than I should have because I was so excited.’’

Anderson was part of the team which competed for Australia in the Rugby Sevens competition at the Tokyo Olympics last year but is now committed to the 15s game.

Sydney University v Eastwood, 100th Anniversary Memorial Match Rd 10 2022 Charter Hall Shute Shield Premiership at Sydney University Football Ground, Camperdown - Saturday 4 June 2022. The teams played for the inaugural Robert and Jack Shute Memorial Cup.

He has not played with Eastwood for almost two years but said around half the side are players he has run out with in the past.

The winner of Saturday’s semi-final will advance into the preliminary final.

The losers season is over.

Gordon are the current Shute Shield holders after their 2020 victory with the later part of the season called off last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

SHUTE SHIELD SEMI-FINALS SCHEDULE

SATURDAY: Manly Marlins v Eastwood at North Sydney Oval 3:10pm

SUNDAY: Randwick v Gordon at Coogee Oval, 3:05pm

From tears to dream-come-true NRLW debut

Swim fan now backing himself for Paris Olympics

Wrap: How the Shute Shield semi-finalists were decided.

FOLLOW AMANDA LULHAM HERE