Syd Eru

Sydney Wiremu "Syd" Eru (born 26 July 1971) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played the 1990s. A Kiwi representative hooker, he played club football for the Auckland Warriors.

Syd Eru
Personal information
Full nameSydney Wiremu Eru[1]
Born (1971-07-26) 26 July 1971
Rotorua, New Zealand
Playing information
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight90 kg (14 st 2 lb)
PositionHooker
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
19?? (WRL) Upper Hutt Tigers
1995–99 Auckland Warriors 59 15 0 0 60
Total 59 15 0 0 60
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1990–93 Wellington 10
1992–93 New Zealand Māori
1995–98 New Zealand 18 4 0 0 16
Source: [2]

Background

Eru was born in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Playing career

Eru played for the Upper Hutt Tigers in the Wellington Rugby League and Rockingham and Perth in Australia. In 1993 he was part of Upper Hutt's premiership winning team and played for Wellington in their 27–22 victory over Auckland.[3] He was then invited to be part of an Auckland Invitational XIII side that drew 16-all with the Balmain Tigers.[4]

He was signed by the Auckland Warriors for their debut season in the Australian Rugby League competition in 1995 as the backup hooker.[5] However, by the end of the season he had replaced Duane Mann, the New Zealand national rugby league team captain, as both the Auckland Warriors and the New Zealand hooker. He was subsequently rewarded with an improved contract.[6] In 1998 he was targeted by a Welsh rugby league franchise, but the club - and the offer - did not eventuate.[7]

His career was frequently marred by injury, Eru played 59 games over five seasons for the Warriors.[8][9][10][11] Eru remained with the Warriors until the end of the 1999 season, retiring to Western Australia. His retirement was forced due to a serious wrist-injury.[12]

Representative career

Eru first came to national attention in 1990 when he played for the Junior Kiwis and made his debut for Wellington. In 1991 he played for the Kiwi Colts side who defeated France 28–8.[3]

Eru represented the New Zealand Māori in 1992 and 1993, debuting at the 1992 Pacific Cup.[13] He was a Kiwi trailist in 1993, but missed selection for the 1993 tour of Great Britain and France.[3]

Eru made his New Zealand national rugby league team debut in 1995 and was selected to represent New Zealand at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. At the tournament Eru tested positive for ephedrine.[14] He played in twenty tests for New Zealand between 1995 and 1998, including stand out performances in victories over Great Britain in 1996 and Australia in 1997.[15][16]

References
  1. Eru, Sydney Wiremu 1995 - 98 - Kiwi #661 Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
  2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. Team of the Century - Week 7 Wellington Rugby League
  4. Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.298.
  5. Syd Eru rugbyleague.co.nz
  6. Eru seeks pay review Sunday Star-Times, 15 December 1996
  7. Welsh to target Eru and Swann Sunday Star-Times, 28 June 1998
  8. Dashing Eru looking for happy ending Sunday Star-Times, 4 October 1998
  9. Eru eager to show some direction in first match AAP Sports News, 29 April 1999
  10. Injured Eru to miss test against Australia The Press, 20 April 1998
  11. Hoppe, Eru must prove fitness to stay in Kiwis Sunday Star-Times, 13 September 1998
  12. End of an Eru for Warriors; Hooker gets the bad news on his wrist injury Sunday Star-Times, 30 May 1999
  13. John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. p. 278. ISBN 9781869693312.
  14. Lebanese rugby league team in storm over funny substances 24 October 2000
  15. Eru on big high after triumph Sunday Star-Times, 28 September 1997
  16. Monie hands it to Eru after stalwart showing Sunday Star-Times, 27 October 1996
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