Syd Eru

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 defeat of Auckland. He was then invited to be part of an Auckland Invitational XIII side that drew 16-all with the Balmain Tigers.

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

His career was frequently marred by injury, Eru played 59 games over five seasons for the Warriors. 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.

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.

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

Eru made his New Zealand Kiwis 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. 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.