The Eastbourne Rugby Football Club, which is holding its Old Timers' Day this weekend, has always formed a key part of the local community since its formation that grew out of a keg of Speights beer one Autumn morning in 1921. The Eastbourne RFC is one of three parties to the Eastbourne Sports and Services Club, which comprises the rugby club, cricket club and the RSA, and thus forms a strong part of the local community.

This is evidenced by the healthy junior club that fields teams in every grade from U6s to U13s and junior representative players are regularly picked from the club's ranks. Current Hurricanes lock and 2004 IRB U19 Player of the Year Jeremy Thrush played for the junior club. This can be reflected in the club's second U85 kg team that plays in the 85 kg Division 2 grade largely being made up of former junior players returning to play for the club at the senior level. In 2011 the club is fielding two 85 kg sides, after also fielding a well performed Senior 3 team in recent seasons.

The club's home ground of HW Shortt Park counts as one of the more attractive grounds to play and watch rugby on, with one of the club's traditions still widely practiced being a dip in the nearby Wellington Harbour after matches.

The Eastbourne RFC club was in part founded in 1921 by the All Black halfback and captain for two tests that year against South Africa Teddy Roberts who was living in Eastbourne at that time, and he brought the All Blacks there for a visit in September that year ahead of their second test with the Springboks at Athletic Park (which was drawn nil all). Another early highlight for the club and the community was the 1924 All Blacks training and using the facilities before they departed for Britain and France in what became the ‘Invincibles' tour.

Over the years the club continuously fielded teams in the various WRFU competitions, enjoying a strong identity and success in various senior grades. Another tradition still adhered to today is the club's unique chant of ‘Easta-bourna', that derived from the vocal sideline support of a long time fan named Antonio Dellabarca, a member of the local Italian community.

Another feature is the long list of local residents of note who have been in involved with the club, such as former Wellington Rugby Football boss and representative coach Clarrie Gibbons joining in 1928, while more recently, former NZRU President David Rutherford has served as Chairman.