MANLY SAVERS RUGBY UNION CLUB

Meldrum Cup Premiers 1983, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004

MANLY LIFE SAVING CLUB RUGBY UNION CLUB (SAVERS) celebrated its Centenary in 2009

A brief outline

Savers Rugby Union team began life as Manly Surf Rugby in winter 1909, though members of Manly Surf and Life Saving Club were playing in local teams well before that date.

The current earliest formal written proof of the date is the programme for the Reunion Ball which was held in 1919, after the First World War. The header on that programme reads Manly Surf Rugby A.D 1909. Following on from that are the 1910 team photo and especially the 1911 Savers photo which has some of the wildest looking men in suits in Saver’s history.

It’s well known that every able bodied man in Manly Life Saving Club volunteered for service in the First World War. Names on the Savers 1919 Reunion programme are also in the Manly Life Saving Club Roll of Honour, with J. Vernon’s name on the WW1 Memorial plaque in the foyer of Manly Life Saving Club as one who lost his life in the War.

While Savers team celebrated being back together at that post-War 1919 Reunion Ball, there are sad reminders of the sacrifices they made on our behalf.

History unfortunately repeated in 1939 with World War 2, when every one of the able bodied members of Manly Life Saving Club, including all Savers players, volunteered to serve their country. For a few it was their second War.

So Savers players have seen wars and Depressions, first aeroplanes to space shuttles, manual telephone exchanges to mobile phones and more. Through it all the team spirit and camaraderie shines. Many famous Manly surf life savers went from playing Savers to playing for NSW and Australia (in League and Soccer as well as Rugby Union). Others played for the highest rep honours and played Savers with their mates in their later years.