The Whitson family sure love their rugby. And for three generations of the same family to be made life members was a wonderful achievement, Rodger said.
He received the honour in the weekend and was rather chuffed.
"I’m really pleased. It is pretty special to get the life membership and especially considering it is three generations now," he said.
Rodger (47) has been involved with the club for more than 30 years. He played "15 or so" games for the premier side but it was off the field where he made his biggest contributions.
An outside back or centre, he retired from playing when he was 30 and took up coaching at a time when the club was struggling to attract management.
He coached in the colts grades for a "few years" and then stepped up to coach the premier 2 side "in those days when we didn’t have a prem side".
"At one stage we didn’t even have a prem 2 side and I had the goal to try and help bring these young guys through."
He joined the committee "about a year after" Taieri dropped out of the premier grade in 2001 and was instrumental in helping the club eventually return to the top ranks in 2009.
He was club captain from 2008 to 2010 and this season he has been helping coach the senior grade team. Taieri Rugby Football Club has been and continues to be a great family passion.
"It has been [a big part of my life] over the years.
"It has been great watching what the premier side has done once we finally got back up there ... and remembering all the hard work which went into it during those days when we only had two or three teams."
Brendon O’Brien was made a life member the same night as Rodger and also played a big part in helping Taieri return to the premier grade.
Rodger’s grandfather, Sonny, was the first Whitson to be made a life member. He played during the years following World War 2 and started coaching in the 1950s. He was president when Taieri shared the title with University in 1955.
Rodger’s father, Ken, took up the cudgels next and the durable, hard-running No8 played 218 games for the senior side from 1965 to 1979. He coached the premier team and colts and was involved in helping organise the 125th anniversary celebrations at the club in 2008.
"Other than that I’ve just been a loyal supporter," Ken said.
"Rodger has done a lot more than I’ve ever done. If it wasn’t for him, and a couple of others, we wouldn’t have a club after it all went a bit pear-shaped."