Charles John Monro (sometimes, erroneously, Munro) is credited with bringing Rugby union to New Zealand. Charles was the 4th son of New Zealand politician Sir David Monro and his wife Dinah.[1]
Monro became familiar with the sport at Christ's College Finchley near London[2], which he attended 1867-69, playing in its 2nd XV [3].
He introduced the game under the 1868 rules of Rugby and with the new Gilbert oval ball to the Nelson Football club in 1870.[4] The first game was played between Nelson College "The Gown" and Monro's Club "The Town" at the Botanics ground at 2pm on 14 May 1870.[5] .[6]
Four months later Monro's commitment to establishing Rugby in New Zealand was such that he organised, selected, coached the Wellington team, played for Nelson and also refereed the first game on the North Island at Petone on 12 September 1870.[7]