Taranaki Rugby Football Union
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| Taranaki Rugby Football Union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | Amber and Blacks, The Naki | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1885 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Region | Hurricanes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground(s) | Yarrow Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | 25,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman |  Mark Robinson |
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| Coach | Adrian Kennedy |
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| Captain | Tony Penn |
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| League | Air New Zealand Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Finished 8th overall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Taranaki Rugby Football Union (TRFU) is the governing body of Rugby in the New Zealand province of Taranaki. The main stadium is Yarrow Stadium which is in the main centre of New Plymouth. Since 2006 Taranaki has played in the annual Air New Zealand Cup in which it also competes for the Ranfurly shield, its last challenge being the unsuccessful attempt against North Harbour in Albany on Aug 4th 2007. Before 2006 the team competed in the National Provincial Championship (NPC), with its best finishes coming in 1998 and 2000 when they came fourth over all, both times being knocked out in the semifinals. Taranaki has won the NPC second division more than any other Union in New Zealand, a record that the club will keep now the NPC is defunct. Taranaki also plays for the Ryan Wheeler memorial trophy, a trophy played for annually with the Waikato Rugby Union.
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[edit] History
The justification for marking the year 1885 as the Formation of the Taranaki Rugby Union is based not on the fact that the Union itself was created then, but because 1885 marked the first occasion on which Taranaki placed a touring team in the field, the Union was not actually established until 1889.
On 31 May 1898 the Hawera club convened a meeting at Hawera, of delegates from the Hawera, Waimate (Manaia), New Plymouth, Okaiawa, and Eltham clubs. This meeting agreed to form the Taranaki union. During the year Stratford and Midhirst clubs united as Manganui club, Tikorangi and Waitara clubs combined as Clifton club, and Inglewood and New Plymouth Star clubs were (among others) founded and became part of the union. By the turn of the century, 11 All Blacks were produced six of whom toured Great Britain in 1905. In 1956 they held the South African tourists to a 3-3 draw.
[edit] Match Centurions
Across Taranaki rugby history 31 players have now played 100 or more matches for the Taranaki union with the latest being Paul Tito who reached the milestone in the last match of the 2006 season.
The 31 players and the details are:
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Career Span | Matches |
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Career Span | Matches |
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Career Span | Matches | ||
| Mark Allen | 1988 – 96 | 110 | I.C.A. Flavell | 1956 – 1965 | 105 | R.J. Fraser | 1973 – 1982 | 107 | ||
| K.F. Barrett | 1986 – 99 | 167 | A.J. Gardiner | 1966 – 1975 | 102 | K.P. Hurley | 1959 – 1971 | 120 | ||
| Ross Brown | 1953 – 1968 | 144 | Dave Loveridge | 1974 – 1986 | 135 | I.H. MacDonald | 1956 – 1966 | 121 | ||
| W.G. Bunn | 1979 – 1989 | 109 | S.R. McDonald | 1991 – 1998, 2000 | 116 | J.T. McEldowney | 1967, 1969 - 1980 | 125 | ||
| P.S. Burke | 1948 – 1959 | 117 | P. Martin | 1967, 1970 – 1979 | 125 | Graham Mourie | 1975 – 1982 | 104 | ||
| C.G. Cooper | 1979 – 1987 | 100 | D.J. Murfitt | 1984 – 1985 1987 – 1993 | 106 | F.K. O’Carroll | 1973 – 1983 | 128 | ||
| K.J. Crowley | 1980 – 1994 | 200 | T.P.A. O’Sullivan | 1955 – 1959 1961 – 1966 | 104 | B.G. Robins | 1980 – 1992 | 147 | ||
| I.M. Eliason | 1964 – 1981 | 223 | A.W. Slater | 1989 – 2001 | 180 | Gordan Slater | 1991 – 1995 1997 – 2005 | 176 | ||
| R.I. Elmes | 1980 – 1982 1984 - 1989 | 103 | L.J. Thomson | 1983 – 1985 1987 – 1991 | 104 | J.M. Thwaites | 1969 – 1981 | 120 | ||
| K.W. Eynon | 1991 – 1995 1999 – 2000 | 103 | Paul Tito | 1998 - 2006 | 100 | M.G.Watts | 1978 – 1985 | 123 | ||
| M.C.Wills | 1962 – 1972 | 131 |
- The primary source for this table is the official Taranaki web-site. It is worth noting that the basis of these figures is matches recognised by the Taranaki Union and not its parent body the NZ union. Two players have significant differences between the NZ union recognised figures and the Taranaki figures. Firstly, Ian Eliason's NZRFU recognised figure is 222 which gives him a share of the NZ record of most matches for a union while the Taranki figure includes a non-first class match which takes the figure to 223 which would give him the record outright. Kieran Crowley played in that same non-first class match and thus the NZRFU recognise just 199 of his matches as being first class.
[edit] Major Sponsor
The Major Sponsor for the Taranaki Rugby Team is Genesis Energy. Genesis Energy is a major power company in New Zealand. They have been the Major Sponsor since 2003. Genesis Energy Website
[edit] Jersey
Amber and black hoops. The TRFU changed jersey manufacturers for Canterbury New Zealand to ISC (International Sports Clothing). With the change of the manufacturer came small, but noticeable changes to the jersey. Black side panels were added to the ISC version of the jersey also the collar was reduced to a 't-shirt' look.'
[edit] Honours
- Ranfurly Shield August 24, 1996 (1 defence)
- 1995 National Provincial Championship Second Division Champions
- 1992 National Provincial Championship Second Division Champions
- 1985 National Provincial Championship Second Division Champions
- 1984 National Provincial Championship Second Division Champions
- 1983 National Provincial Championship Second Division Champions
- 1982 National Provincial Championship Second Division Champions
- 1976 National Provincial Championship Second Division Champions
- Ranfurly Shield September 7, 1963 (15 defences)
- Ranfurly Shield September 28, 1957 (13 defences)
- Ranfurly Shield 1913 (6 defences)
[edit] Club Rugby
Taranaki Club rugby has a number of different divisions. There is the Senior Division, with Senior A, B, Senior Thirds and Under Twenty. There is also Ferdie Rugby Which is for children under 13 years old.
Clubs include:
- Bellblock RFC
- Border RFC
- Clifton RFC
- Coastal RFC
- Eltham/Kaponga RFC
- Inglewood RFC
- New Plymouth Old Boys RFC (Current Senior A Champs)
- Okaiawa RFC
- Spotswood United RFC
- Southern RFC
- Stratford RFC
- Tukapa RFC
- Whangamomona RFC
Taranaki Secondary schools grade includes all the high schools in the district. The schools are then split into the different grades, Premier 1, 3/4, Under 15, Division 1, 2 and 3 and Girls. Schools that participate in the above grades are:
- New Plymouth Boys High school
- Francis Douglas Memorial College
- Stratford High School
- Inglewood High School
- Hawera High School
- Spotswood College
- Waitara High School
- Coastal/Opunake
- Sacred Heart
- New Plymouth Girls High School
In Taranaki, like all other unions, the referees play a big part in club rugby and are governed by the Taranaki Referee Associations. More than 20 referees take to the field to referee and touch judge morning grade and/or senior grade rugby. As of 2007 the Taranaki Referee Associations Rankings are:
TOP REFEREES IN TARANAKI
1. Darryl Heibner '
2. Dee Luckin
3. Hamish Tong '
4. Chris Morrison )
5. Craig Wisnewski 6. Danny Dalliston
It is also a shame to see a few top 5 referees leave the association to do other things. But it is also good to move others up the ranks.
UP COMING REFEREES
Richard Kelly '
William Johnston '
The TRRA needs more referees. If you would like to be a referee in Taranaki there is more information on www.taranakirra.com
[edit] Notable players (current and former players)
- Paul Tito
- Mark Allen
- Census Johnston
- Kieran Crowley
- Tony Penn
- Jared Hoeata
- Gordan Slater
- Micheal Bent
- Chris Masoe
- Jason Avery
[edit] Taranaki All Blacks
Current All Blacks
- Jason Eaton
- Andrew Hore
Former All Blacks
| H L Abbott- 1905-06 L Allen - 1896-97 1901 |
A J Gardiner -1974 F T Glasgow -1905-06 |
G N K Mourie- 1976-77-78-79-80-81-82 B L Muller -1967-68-69-70-71 |
[edit] Life Members
| Hon R J MASTERS* WA O'SULLIVAN* |
JL SULLIVAN* FT BELLRINGER* |
PS BURKE IM ELIASON |
| *Deceased |
[edit] All Black captains
Reuben Thorne is the fourth old boy from New Plymouth Boys' High School to captain the All Blacks in a test match. Just one school, Southland Boys High School has produced more - with six.
New Plymouth’s four have been:
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Year | Tests |
| A R (Ponty) Reid | 1957 | 2 Tests |
| D J (John) Graham | 1964 | 3 Tests |
| G N K (Graham) Mourie | 1977-82 | 19 Tests |
| R D (Reuben) Thorne | 2001 | 5 Tests |
[edit] The Dean Cup
The Dean Cup is believed to be the oldest competition trophy still being played for in the sport of Rugby Union. Played for between three rural Taranaki clubs, Strathmore, Whangamomona and Toko, it was Originally presented by Mrs Athalinda Dean in 1906 for a cricket match, however due to poor playing conditions this was canceled and a rugby match began the tradition in 1907.
In 2003 when Whangamomona challenged Strathmore for the cup and the game was played at Yarrow Stadium on April 19 as a curtain raiser to the Hurricanes Vs Highlanders Super 12 match. Strathmore were victorious, on this occasion, holding on to defended the cup and winning 17-16 in front of a capacity crowd. This is the first time that the Dean Cup has been played for outside of the Eastern Districts.
[edit] External links
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