1980s
The early 80’s was a great time for the Tuggeranong Vikings Club as it started to build numbers, camaraderie and the renowned club culture.
The club took a strategy of inviting some of the junior players to join the seniors training, introducing them to the great clubmen of the seniors, building a sense of loyalty and making the transition to grade at a young age much easier.
Back in those days if it was raining, training was rarely cancelled as the hardened members of the team often traded for beers in the back of someone’s van in the carpark of the Kambah No.1 playing fields. Long-life friendships were built in those days that typified the essence of grassroots rugby.
There are too many great club identities from those days to mention them all but included were the likes of John Ashby, John McGrath, Dick Cordy, Reg Apps, Tom Wilcox and many more. Without doubt the better rugby was played after the match in the single club room at Erindale than earlier on the field.
1985 – Our first ever grand final play-off
Although not in the top grade of the competition our 1st grade team in 1985 contested our first ever grand final in the ACTRU third grade completion.
A mix of ages and experience, the team had 18 year olds straight out of school (such as Dave Paull and Geoff Apps), together with experienced heads of the likes of Charlie Shore, Ian Thomson, Paul Ryan and Graham Stripp.
In the 1980’s the club had a great Kiwi connection and the team included three Kiwis, Wayne Mackey, David Francois and ‘Ash’ Williams who all added experience and starch to the team.Who else to play in our first grand final but our arch rivals Royals.
In the biggest game for the club in its history (at the time), the enthusiastic Vikings were no match for the Royals team going down 25 points to 3.
