Updated May 2012: It's now approaching a decade and a half since the Wests Roosters lifted the Jubilee Cup, beating Tawa in the 1998 final at Athletic Park for their one and only major Premier title success.

They last contested the Jubilee Cup round five years ago - too long for their loyal fans.

Recent seasons have been a roller coaster for the Roosters, missing out on the ‘top eight' more times than not. The 2000 and 2003 Hardham Cup winners managed a credible fourth in the 2005 Swindale Shield, fell away in 2006 to almost be relegated from Premier rugby altogether in an extraordinary close Hardham Cup and then rebounded to make the Jubilee Cup round again in 2007 before dropping off the pace again in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

In these lean times, the Roosters have generally competed admirably throughout the first round, their recent finishes not entirely a fair reflection of the way they played. In 2008 they should have won more than the two games that they did, and it was a similar story in 2009 when they won just two Swindale Shield matches but their opponents knew they had been in a fight afterwards. Four of their eight losses in the 2009 Swindale Shield were by seven points or fewer - all to Jubilee Cup-bound sides.

In 2010 the Roosters won seven from seven in the round robin stages of the Hardham Cup only to be shocked by Avalon in the dying moments of their home semi-final.

There was a similar pattern in middle rounds of the 2012 first round, whereby in consecutive weeks they beat Norths, lost to Poneke after leading by a point with 15 minutes to play and lost to MSP after being ahead late and then at 19-19 before MSP won at the death. As a consequence they were in a fight to try make the top eight again.

The Western Suburbs RFC was first formed at the end of 1983 as a final amalgamation of traditional clubs Onslow, Athletic and Karori. They were first based at Nairnville Park in Khandallah before their subsequent move to their present ‘Cage' location, AKA Ian Galloway Park, in Northland. Athletic were formerly a powerhouse in Wellington club rugby at various intervals and as the second oldest club in Wellington, formed several years after the Wellington FC in 1878 with these two clubs being the basis of the Wellington Rugby Football Union which was formed a year later in 1879. Athletic won eight Jubilee Cups between 1936 and 1977. Perhaps Ahtletic's most famous player and author of their history Eric Tindill passed away in 2010, aged 99.

Renowned players who have played for Wests since 1984 include flanker Dirk Williams, prop Scott Crighton, centre Alama Ieremia, the Tiatia family, including No. 8 Filo and flanker/hooker Ace, Chief and Samoan international Stag Kane Thompson and former Heartland Player of the Year Scott Leighton. Recent Hurricanes players include Luke Mahoney and current Hurricanes and 62-Test veteran Rodney So'oialo. Openside flanker Scott Fuglistaller has captained the Vodafone Wellington Lions and Galu Taufale is another dynamic loose forward who subsequently moved to Poneke in 2012. In 2012 they picked up the services of former North Harbour and Samoan halfback Nalu Tuigamala. Ellis Meachen, who was the club's coaching coordinator until recently, is now the head coach of the Sri Lankan rugby team.

They currently field teams in several grades including Premier, Senior two,, Reserve, U21, U85kg restricted and Presidents grades.

To find out more visit their website: www.westsrugby.org.nz

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