| Nickname(s) | Amber and Blacks |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1885 |
| Region | Taranaki |
| Ground(s) | Yarrow Stadium (Capacity: 25,000) |
| Coach(es) | Colin (Coops) Cooper |
| Captain(s) | Craig Clarke |
| League(s) | ITM Cup |
| 3rd (2011) | |
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. Taranaki plays in the annual ITM Cup in which it also competes for the Ranfurly shield. Taranaki are the current holders of the Ranfurly Shield due to their hard-fought 15-12 victory over Southland on 24th August, 2011. 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. In 2011 they placed 3rd in the ITM Cup, their best placing since the national championship began in 1976. 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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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, Taranaki RFU had produced 11 All Blacks, six of whom toured Great Britain in 1905. In 1956 they held the South African tourists to a 3-3 draw.
Across Taranaki rugby history 32 players have now played 100 or more matches for the Taranaki union.
The 32 players and the details are:
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Career Span | Matches |
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Career Span | Matches |
|
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 | ||
| Kieran 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 | Gordon 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 | Tony Penn | 1999 - 2009 | 103 |
The Major Sponsor for the Taranaki Rugby Team is from 2009 is local company TenderLink, replacing Genesis Energy. Port Taranaki has also signed on as an associate sponsor.
Amber and black hoops with white shorts. Jerseys are made by Canterbury.
Taranaki senior grade club rugby has a number of different divisions, with Senior A, Development (B), Senior 3rds and Under 20. The Senior A and Development competitions involve a seeded first round competition and a round-robin second round with both teams playing at the same venue. The Senior 3rd and U20 competitions are organised differently with the two grades each splitting late in the season. The top 5 teams in Senior 3rds compete for the Senior 3rd title, with the balance competing for the Senior 4ths title. The top 6 teams in U20 compete for their title with the balance competing in a subsidiary competition.
Club finals day sees all 6 titles decided at Yarrow Stadium, along with the U13 title. The clubs also organise junior teams for age groups from Under 6 to Under 13 competing in the Ferdie Rugby competitions.
A number of amalgamations have taken place in recent years and created merged clubs at Senior levels though some of these clubs have retained teams in lower grades under their own identities. Also New Plymouth Boys' High School and Francis Douglas Memorial College supply teams that compete in the U20 competition. FDMC's 1st XV and NPBHS' 2nd XV compete in this grade. NPBHS's 1st XV formerly competed in this grade as well but in recent years have chosen to focus on their college fixtures.
Current clubs and 2009 teams are (2008 teams listed - champions in Bold):
For historical purposes the merged clubs are:
Rugby at Secondary school level is organised by the TRFU via the Taranaki Secondary Schools Sports Association. The competition grades are Premier 1, Premier 2, Premier 3, U15 across 4 divisions (also open to players U16 and under 65 kg) and Girls The schools that participate in these grades are:
Central includes players from the Eltham and Kaponga areas that may no longer attend school but are eligible to play due to their age. It also includes players who travel through to either NPBHS, FDMC or Hawera HS for their schooling but wish to continue playing for the area. Coastal is an amalgamation of the two schools in the area and operates in the same manner.
Referee's play a major part in all rugby. The Taranaki Rugby Referee's Association (TRRA) is affiliated to the TRFU and provides referees for matches at all levels from high school, to the TRFU Senior A competition. The TRRA's major sponsor is Taranaki Farmers where they still hold a very tight relationship and have done for many years. The TRRA annually names a Top 5 panel based on performances at the conclusion of the senior club season.
Top 5 for 2011 (same as 2010)
These top 5 referees are involved in Assistant Referee and other appointments for Taranaki's home ITM matches, and Super 14 and Internationals matches where required. Kelly has refereed in this years ITM Cup and Heartland Competition, where as Morrison will referee in age group and B representative matches in the Central Zone.
2010 Taranaki Squad[1]:
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Forwards
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Forwards
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Backs
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Current All Blacks
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 |
| Hon R J MASTERS* WA O'SULLIVAN* |
JL SULLIVAN* FT BELLRINGER* |
PS BURKE IM ELIASON |
| *Deceased |
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:
|
|
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 | 22 Tests |
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.
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