Club Rugby commemorates ANZAC’s service

Photo credit: Sydenham Rugby/Jeremy Grice

With ANZAC Day falling on a Tuesday this year, clubs will be joining the rest of the country and Australia this week in commemorating the service and sacrifice of those that have served for both nations over the weekend just been, and on the 29th of April.

Clubs around Canterbury, such as Sydenham, Sumner and Suburbs at Sydenham Park, took a moment before their respective fixtures to remember those that have served.

Building on the strong connection and relationship that Sumner RFC have with the Sumner-Redcliffs RSA, the club’s Premier side once again wore a special ANZAC Day jersey, and representatives of both the club and the RSA provided a reading of the Ode of Rememberance, the Last Post and a moments silence before the 2:45pm kick off in the Bascik Transport Premier and Classics matches.

Elsewhere at Foster Park, Lincoln-Rolleston also honoured the occassion with their own ANZAC Day jersey.

In the colours of Rolleston, the jersey featured both New Zealand and Australian flags, a fern, a poppy and a silohuette of a soldier observing a moments silence before three crosses.

A strong relationship between the club and the Burnham Army camp minutes up the road inspired the jersey, as well as the service of several members of the club, including current Club President Nicky Ruki.

The jerseys were auctioned off on the night and the club raised over $4000, with a donation to be made to the local RSA as well.

Linwood will honour the sacrifice of times past and today through their own ANZAC Day jersey when they play at home against New Brighton this weekend.

Their jersey will incorporate a poppy alongside a Pasifika design, which also incorporates the club’s logo, as our community takes a moment to remember this week.