There was a time when the future of Easts Rugby Club looked anything but certain.
The oldest rugby club in Canberra. The famous red, white and blue. A club built on generations of players, volunteers and supporters who have called historic Griffith Oval home.
By 2020, it was a club fighting for survival.
Player numbers had dwindled, resources were stretched and one of Canberra rugby's proudest institutions faced an uncertain future.
Many clubs wouldn't have recovered. Easts did.
Rather than cling to the past, the club made the brave decision to chart a new course, joining the Canberra Suburban Cup in 2022 with one clear goal: build a sustainable club where rugby, family and community came first.
Three years later, that decision has transformed the club.
The men's side will contest another Canberra Suburban Cup Grand Final this weekend, the fifth consecutive appearance—while the women's program reached this year's semi-finals. New sponsors, volunteers and supporters have helped breathe fresh life into the club, creating a vibrant matchday atmosphere every Saturday at Griffith Oval.
But standing in Easts' way is a Hall Bushrangers side that has enjoyed an outstanding season of its own.
Hall finished second on the regular season ladder before booking its place in the Grand Final with a thrilling two-point victory over Batemans Bay last weekend. Their consistency throughout the year has made them worthy contenders, setting the stage for a fitting decider between two of the competition's strongest clubs.
For ACT & Southern NSW Rugby, the matchup reflects everything the Canberra Suburban Cup is built on - strong community clubs, passionate volunteers and players representing something bigger than the result.
The resurgence at Easts extends well beyond the scoreboard. Earlier this year, the club officially resolved its historic debt with ACT & Southern NSW Rugby Union, becoming debt-free for the first time since 2012. It marked a significant milestone for the leadership group that took over in 2022, who identified restoring the club's financial stability as a cornerstone of Easts' long-term future.
Club President Nick Haralambous said the club's resurgence had been built on people, not just premierships.
"There was a point where we had to make a difficult decision about what success looked like for Easts. It wasn't about the competition we played in — it was about making sure this club was here for the next generation.
"The Grand Final is a fantastic reward, but what makes me proud is seeing Griffith Oval full of people again. Families, juniors, old boys and volunteers — that's what this club has always been about.
"When we took over in 2022, one of our biggest priorities was putting the club back on a strong financial footing. Becoming debt-free this year was a milestone everyone involved should be incredibly proud of because it means Easts has a sustainable future."
Player, vice-president and assistant coach Nick Guigni said earning the chance to represent Easts in another Grand Final carried extra meaning.
"You know what this club has been through, and you know how much work has gone into getting it back to where it is today.
"The people are what make Easts special. Every Saturday there are volunteers running the canteen, washing jerseys, marking fields and making everyone feel welcome. People like Heather Burton are the heartbeat of this club. They don't do it for recognition—they do it because they love Easts, and that's why we've been able to rebuild something so special.
"When you pull on the Easts jersey, you're representing generations of people who built this club. Running out in another Grand Final is something we'll never take for granted."
Saturday's Canberra Suburban Cup Grand Final promises to be a showcase of community rugby, with Easts chasing another premiership against a Hall side whose outstanding campaign has earned its place on the competition's biggest stage.
The Canberra Suburban Cup Grand Final between Easts and Hall kicks off at Griffith Oval on Saturday, 8 August, at 2:30pm.
