Shute Shield finals Eastwood v Sydney Uni: Charles Granger to play in Hong Kong after season

He’s spent years travelling up and down the highway from the Central Coast for his rugby. Now he will need to board a plane for his next big adventure in the game.

Amanda Lulham

@amandalulham

less than 2 min read

August 24, 2022 - 2:26PM

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It’s hard to estimate just how many kilometres this rugby player has spent in his car driving between the Central Coast and Sydney to train and play at Eastwood.

He just knows it’s a lot - and worth it.

Charles Granger’s dedication to the cause will see him lineup for the Eastwood rugby club in this weekend’s preliminary final against Sydney University while preparing for a move to Hong Kong at season end to play and work.

“I played in the Juniors with the Terrigal Trojans and in 2015 me and about five of us all played in the Colts program at Eastwood together from the Central Coast and it’s gone on from there,” Granger said.

“To be honest it was Eastwood because it was the closest Sydney club to Terrigal and had the best name.

Eastwood player Charles Granger from the Central Coast.

“I think two years ago Eastwood had eight guys from the Central Coast playing. Now there’s just me and Willie Leoso from the Central Coast there.”

Granger is the second Central Coast player in recent times to secure a contract overseas with Lachie Shelley leaving for the UK to play with Leicester Tigers a fortnight ago.

Eastwood made the grand final of the last Shute Shield decided back in 2020.

The Tigers signed Gosford’s Shelley, a Waratahs Academy player and Junior Wallabies squad member, for the 2022/23 season.

“Sometimes it can be a tough pathway for someone from the coast,“ said Granger who studied construction management at the University of Newcastle and is now working for a company at Sevens Hills.

“But I’m going to the Hong Kong football club to play from October to May.

“It’s just a huge experience a big opportunity for both my career and rugby.”