Introducing
Burnside Rugby Football Club
Tom Taylor – Member of NZ U20 ‘sWinners of IRB World Championship
Burnside Achievements- 2009
Division 1
Top Four Metropolitan Competition
Colts Premier Top Four Metropolitan Competition
Colts U20
Winners of Metropolitan U20
P O Box 31 123
Ilam
Christchurch
Ph 358 8099
Fax 358 7475
brfc@xtra.co.nz
www.burnsiderugby.co.nz
Welcome
The Burnside Rugby Football Club is proud to provide you with this introduction newsletter,
specifically prepared for newcomers to the Canterbury area, and school leavers looking to
play rugby at a club level in 2010.
Situated in the northwest area of Christchurch, in very close proximity to the University of
Canterbury and other tertiary training institutions such as the Christchurch College of
Education, the Burnside RFC celebrated its 50th birthday in the year 2007.
Burnside RFC is a most innovative and progressive club, catering for all rugby players,
including aspiring All Blacks, genuine club rugby players, social players and of course our
women players. In the summer season, the Burnside RFC operates a most enjoyable and
successful Touch on the Park module, over 180 teams participate over two nights.
The Burnside RFC has set some firm strategic goals for 2010 and key amongst these is the
resolve to further develop its player base at Colts and Womens level. We believe that only by
achieving this, will we be able to maintain the momentum created by our very successful
Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 teams over recent seasons, and more recently our Colts
Premier and Colts u20 sides..
We look forward to meeting you and discussing your future with Burnside RFC.
Kind Regards,
Greg Clapp
President,
Burnside RFC
Head Coach
Steve Ellis - Our Head Coach is , Steve Ellis. Steve is one of the most successful club
coaches in Canterbury rugby and is a very proud “Burnsider “. Steve was co-coach of the
Burnside Div 1 Christchurch Club champions of 1991 -92 and more recently was Head
Coach when Burnside won the same title in 2006. In 2008 Steve Coached our Colts Premier
side to be Grand Finalists in their grade.
For 2010 Steve is determined that real emphasis will be placed on both individual and team
development, strengthening the Club culture passion, performance and pleasure amongst our
Div 1 , Div 2 and Colts sides.
The role of the Head Coach is to lead and manage the implementation of the Burnside RFC
open grade team coaching and player development programme. The Head Coach will work in
close liaison with the Rugby Manager and the Coaching Advisory Group. The principle role
will be that of governor of coaching strategy and implementation across the greater Div 1-2Colts squads
Burnside RFC
Team and Player Support & Development
The Burnside RFC engage the services of professional organizations and individuals to
provide support to our players and teams. The club is committed to the continued
development of these services, they include:
The Burnside RFC enjoys a very important and beneficial
relationship with Matt Everest and his team at Russley Physio.
Matt provides a full physiotherapy, injury rehabilitation and
professional advice service to club members.
The Burnside RFC has the support of the very highly regarded sports
conditioning and strength coach, Andrew MacLennan. Andrew is a
past Burnside senior Division 1 player. Andrew has been involved in
elite level sports performance for many years, including Crusaders,
Canterbury NPC and Lincoln University Sports Scholarship
programmes.
Andrew will again work with Burnside squads in 2008 and provide
expert advice on both an individual and squad basis.
For information you can visit www.getfastandstrong.co.nz
GSM is a leading international sports management and
marketing company. They have an experienced and skilled
team handling athlete representation, sponsorship, rights and
event management.
Burnside RFC has established a strategic relationship with
Warren Alcock and Lou Thompson of GSM. They visit us
regularly and act for a number of our elite players.
Burnside RFC has established a strong relationship with
Fitness Canterbury, a leading commercial gymnasium in
Wairakei Rd, just 2kms from Burnside Park. The Club has
negotiated a special rate for Burnside RFC players working
out at Fitness Canterbury and communicates regularly with
the personal trainers involved.
CLUB HISTORY
The Burnside Rugby Football Club was formed at a meeting of enthusiastic locals at
Fendalton Community Hal on 28th August 1957.
Soon after the Inaugural Annual General Meeting was held on 19th September 1957.
The club colours were to be red and white jerseys, black shorts and red and white hoop
socks. The club applied to the Canterbury Rugby Football Union for Fendalton Park to be
the home ground.
At its First Annual General Meeting on 11th March 1958 the CRFU made the offer, which
was accepted, of Burnside Park as the home ground for the club. The Burnside RFC
entered nine teams in CRFU competitions in 1958, with the top team being the 4th grade
side. A further offer of two grounds at Jellie Park was also later accepted.
By 1960 the clubs highest team was Second Grade and by the end of the season lights for
one ground at Jellie Park had been installed at a cost of one hundred and eleven pounds,
the CRFU met half the cost. Prior to that night training had been conducted under the
street lighting from Memorial Avenue.
A building fund was started in 1961 and by 1964 it was decided to consolidate activities
at Burnside Park and apply real energy to the clubrooms project. In June 166 the club
became an Incorporated Society and its constitution registered with Internal Affairs
Department.
1967 was a memorable year. Paul Mc Kay became the first Burnside player to achieve
representative honours in the senior open grade. He was also selected for New Zealand
Colts in the same year.
Work began on the clubrooms in February 1970 and the official opening of the building
was held on Saturday 3rd October 1971. That season 32 teams were entered by the Club,
twenty two of them in the school –age grades. Lighting facilities had been installed at
Burnside Park and on 2nd May 1973 Burnside RFC had achieved its first win in senior
grade competition, beating Sydenham, 21-10.
1975 saw the price of a jug increase to 50c, this at a time when thirty nine teams played
under the Burnside banner, making it the largest in the South Island.
The highlight of the 1977 season was the Senior Team being holders with Albion of the
DCL Shield. After only five seasons the Senior Competition this was a significant result
and club set its sights on the CSB Trophy.
New Club extensions were opened in 1982. Special thanks to Len Hanser, who since his
retirement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries had worked nearly full time at
the clubrooms. Len was made a Life Member in 1988 and in 2002 the Len Hanser Room
was named in his honour.
The 25th Jubilee celebrations were held over the weekend of 20-21st August 1982.
The 50th Jubilee Celebrations were held in 2007, Queens Birthday weekend, and in the 25
years from 1982 a number of outstanding Club milestones have been achieved. These
include:
Metropolitan Club Division One Champions - 1992-1993- 2006
Metropolitan Club Colts Champions – 1993, 1998, 2004
Metropolitan Club Telecom Plate Winners – 2002, 2004
All Blacks - Shayne Philpott
1988-90-91
Jon Preston
1991-92
Scott Robertson
1998-99
Leon Macdonald
2000-01-02-03-05-06-07-8
Caleb Ralph
2001-02-03
Brad Thorn
2003-09
Wyatt Crocket
2009
"Congratulations To Our 2009 All Blacks
Wyatt Crockett
Brad Thorn
CLUB FACILITIES AND FUNCTIONS
The Burnside RFC is extremely proud of its high quality facilities which include a
meeting room, Len Hanser Room, Spriggs Bar and Café and the upstairs Ivan Milner
Lounge.
The Club conducts weekly after match functions throughout the rugby season. All teams
are expected to attend at the time of the presentations. These include a Player of the Day
for each team, “Team of the Week” and individual recognitions as they occur.
Large screen and SKY facilities provide high quality coverage of Super 14, Tests
matches and other sports events.
Spriggs Bar & Café
Ivan Milner Lounge
Powa Hydraulic Scrum Machine
In 2002 the Burnside RFC invested in a Powa Hydraulic Scrum machine, similar to those
used throughout the professional rugby world. The machine is housed in the new
extension which also includes a St Johns/ Physio room and training equipment room.
The Burnside RFC remains committed to strong player development programmes with
many of the Div 1, Div 2 and Colts games being recorded on video. The immediate
intention is to upgrade this facility using the latest rugby analysis systems.
Burnside Claims Top Honours Across Grades in 2008-09
The Burnside RFC has been a regular recipient of the two prestigious awards for Club
rugby in the Christchurch Metropolitan Competitions.
F T Evans Shield
The F T Evans Shield is awarded to the Club that records the highest number of
championship points across all grades in the Christchurch Metropolitan competitions.
Burnside have won the Evans Shield in the previous years of 1974-75-76-77-1980-84-8587-88-89-91-91-94-97-98-99-2000-2002-2003-2005-2006-2007-2008.
Rodney Redpath Shield
The Rodney Redpath Shield is awarded to the Club recording the highest number of
Championship points in all Junior Advisory Grades – ie U18 and below. Burnside have
won the Redpath Shield in the previous years of 1966- 67-74-75-76-77-78-79-1980-8688-1996-97-98-99-2000-2001-02-03-08-2009.
Best In The West
Burnside Values
 enjoyable sporting and social activity
 serving the best interests of the greater northwest area of
Christchurch
 serving the best interests of the development of players and coaches
 a love of rugby and other sports activities
 cabbage tree - red and white
 adherence to fair play
 strong club loyalty
 pride in individual and club achievement
 recognition and commitment to the amateur values of the game at
club level
BURNSIDE RFC
2009 HONOURS BOARD
All Blacks
Cantabrians U20
Wyatt Crockett
Brad Thorn
Sam Bindon
Connor Patton
Mitchell Ellis
New Zealand u20
Canterbury Maori
Tom Taylor
Crusaders
Wyatt Crockett
Leon Mc Donald
Brad Thorn
Ross Filipo
Willie Brown
Peter Stanley
Richard Tishbourn
Christchurch Metro
Mike Newell
Willie Mc Goun
Canterbury A
Canterbury Metro U18
Wyatt Crockett
Peter Borlase
Andrew Olorenshaw
Ash Parker
Will Catherwood
Brad Thorn
Canterbury B
Brett Cameron
Henry Johnstone
Chris Lumsden
Edwin Elia
Jed Brown
Canterbury Metro Develop U18
Sam Campbell
Roy Davidson
Hamish Mc Cormick
Tom Lindsay
Rhys Mc Coy
Canterbury Colts
Christchurch Metro U20
Jason Morgan
Tom Taylor
Chris Young
Sam Hayes Stevenson
Fred Burke
Sam Beard
Mike Newman