Charles John Monro
Charles John Monro (sometimes, erroneously, Munro) (5 April 1851 – 9 April 1933) is credited with bringing Rugby union to New Zealand.
Biography
Monro was born on 5 April 1851 in Waimea West, near Nelson. He was the 4th son of New Zealand politician Sir David Monro and his wife Dinah.[1]
Monro attended Nelson College from 1863 to 1865.[2] He became familiar with the sport of rugby at Christ's College Finchley near London,[3] which he attended 1867-69, playing in its 2nd XV.[4]
He introduced the game under the 1868 rules of Rugby and with the new Gilbert oval ball to the Nelson Football club in 1870.[5] 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.[6][7]
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.[8]
In 1889, Monro purchased land in Fitzherbert, Palmerston North.[9]
References
- ↑ Wright-St Clair, Rex. "Monro, David 1813 - 1877". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
- ↑ Nelson College Old Boys' Register, 1856–2006, 6th edition
- ↑ "Christ's College Finchley". rugbymuseum.co.nz. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
- ↑ "Charles Monro". rugbymuseum.co.nz. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
- ↑ "New Zealand's First Rugby Club". theprow.org.nz. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ↑ "New Zealand's First Game of Rugby". theprow.org.nz. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ↑ "Celebrating the first game of Rugby in NZ". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
- ↑ "First Rugby game in North Island". rugbymuseum.co.nz. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
- ↑ http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/nelson-region/15/1/2