Seahorses to celebrate 50 years in Far North Coast rugby union

Ballina Rugby Club will celebrate its 50-year anniversary at a gala event. Photo: Vicki Kerry.

BALLINA Rugby Union Club will celebrate five decades of history and success in the Far North Coast competition when more than 200 people gather for its 50-year anniversary gala dinner.

It will be held at the Ballina RSL Club on Saturday 25 July.

The formal gala will bring together current and former players, club members, families and supporters to celebrate the Ballina Seahorses’ journey since the club’s first season in 1976.

The evening will feature live entertainment, guest speakers and stories from the club’s archives, while a pop-up museum will showcase vintage jerseys, memorabilia and historic photographs.

Event organiser Lauren Magnus said one of the most anticipated moments of the evening would be the naming of the club’s 50-year all-stars team.

“A lot of work has gone into planning the event,” she said. “We had lots of people helping track down memorabilia and that sort of thing.”

The Seahorses have enjoyed significant success over the past 50 years, including a dominant period between 1992 and 2007 when the first-grade team won 10 premierships.

Former NSW Waratahs coach Chris Hickey had two stints with the club, while long-serving club stalwart Karl Lupton played, coached and refereed at representative level and remains involved with the Seahorses.

The club’s first-grade team ended an 18-year premiership drought last season, adding another chapter to the club’s history.

Its current success has continued this season, with all three grades sitting on top of their respective ladders as they look to finish the season strongly.

“Things are going well. All three grades are on top of the ladder and looking to finish the season well,” Magnus said.

The current team has eight players who were selected in a preliminary 25-year anniversary team, covering the period from 2001 to 2026.

Brett Johnston, Sam Pearce, Andrew Burke, Anthony Lolohea, Stan Lolohea, Brad Brown, Sam Giltrap and Harry Bungate were all named and in the mix for the final 50-year team.