Eastern Suburbs Rugby League ‘cannot financially recover’ amid debt crisis

A beloved Southern Downs junior rugby league club should be celebrating their 70th anniversary but instead they’re on the brink of collapse due to financial pressure. More here.

Eastern Suburbs team in 2023 (Photo: Facebook/ Eastern Suburbs Rugby League Warwick)

A beloved Southern Downs institution of junior sporting should be celebrating their 70th anniversary this year.

Instead however, the Eastern Suburbs Rugby League club is on the brink of collapse due to financial woes.

On Friday morning the club announced with “great sadness” the club’s future was in jeopardy.

“After meeting with (Southern Downs Regional) Council and discussing the likelihood of our club. It has been decided that without a benefactor the club will close permanently,” the club wrote on social media.

“Unfortunately the club is in too much debt and cannot financially recover to operate without a benefactor.

“Due to the absence of player registrations, we are not meeting player numbers required to participate as a club. This means unfortunately due to current liability and financial position of the club, that we cannot hold any 70th anniversary celebrations.”

Eastern Suburbs has a history stretching back 70 years (Photo: Facebook/ Eastern Suburbs Rugby League Warwick)

Eastern Suburbs has a long storied history in the Rose City and is known throughout the Downs for nurturing up and coming talent on the field as well as their fierce rivalry with local side Collegians.

All stock, merchandise, football equipment, dressing shed, new goalposts, communications box, photos and jerseys will be for sale at a later date, the club said on social media.

“We thank our committee and Hornets families for all of their efforts and attempts to save our beloved club,” the post read

In a heartbreaking day for local sport, rugby side the Water Rats lamented the club’s predicament saying “so sorry to hear about this. Never an easy decision”.

Southern Downs Regional councillor Russell Wantling, who holds the sports portfolio, said the news was “a shame”.

“It’s a shame to lose any club, but a club that’s been ingrained in the Warwick sporting community for 70 years is just heartbreaking,” Mr Wantling said.

“This is a huge loss for Warwick junior rugby league and in turn it's a lose for the wider BRL community.

“I personally think people need to realise the loss of one club can have wide reaching impacts, sport is such an important part of the fabric of this region.

“I think it is so important for youth, promoting physical health, teamwork and discipline, as well as life skills like communication and a sense of belonging, which is so important in day to day life.”

Originally published as Eastern Suburbs Rugby League ‘cannot financially recover’ amid debt crisis