Growing up in Merrylands and Guildford, Mr Tweedale was 17 when he played first grade Rugby for Parramatta, now the Western Sydney Two Blues and after serving in the navy during World War II, he was selected for the Wallabies team in 1946 to play against the All Blacks in Australia’s first international Test post-war.
The Two Blues are backing the campaign, with general manager Craig Morgan saying the 99-year-old is “a former player, a former captain and a former president of the club” and his contribution to rugby “is significant”.
“He’s a bit of a living legend so it would be very fitting,” he said.
“He still comes down here on occasions and when we can get him down to games or presentations nights and things like that, he still leads the club song with gusto.”
At tomorrow night’s final council meeting for the year, Councillor Greg Cummings will call for the new stadium to be named after Mr Tweedale who will celebrate his 100th birthday around the time when work on the new stadium is due to be completed next year.
“I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Eric on a number of occasions, mainly at Two Blues presentation nights,” Cr Cummings said.
“He has many a good story.
“Obviously he has been a lifelong supporter of Parramatta, now Two Blues, and he was instrumental in getting junior rugby union off the ground in the late 60s and across the western suburbs.
“I think it’s a worthy recognition of a man who has contributed to that sport in particular, but also to sport in general.”
