Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union

Poverty Bay
Club information
Full name Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union
Colours Scarlet and White
Founded 1890
Website Official website
Current details
Ground(s)
Coach Mana Otai
Captain Jesse Fleming
Competition Heartland Championship

The Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union within the Gisborne district, in the area surrounding Poverty Bay on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The men's representative team play from Rugby Park, Gisborne, and currently compete in the Heartland Championship.

History

The Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union was established in 1890 by four clubs in the Gisborne area - Gisborne, Turanganui, Poverty Bay and Warerenga-a-Hika, with the union's inaugural first-class match being held against Hawke's Bay the same year. Since then, the union has played against every other existent union in New Zealand as well as an array of overseas touring sides, including but not limited to Australia, England, South Africa and Japan, against whom Poverty Bay drew in 1974. In 1981, Rugby Park was the scene of clashes between pro-tour supporters and anti-tour protesters prior to a match against the touring South African side. Poverty Bay ultimately lost the game by 6 - 24.

Heartland Championship

Poverty Bay won the Third Division of the National Provincial Championship (NPC), in 1987 and 2005, and finished as runners-up in the same division in 1994, 1995 and 1999. Since 2006, Poverty Bay have competed in the Heartland Championship, a competition organised by the New Zealand Rugby Union for New Zealand's amateur unions. Since the introduction of the format in 2006, the team have had great success, winning the Lochore Cup on four occasions - 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2011.

Heartland Championship placings

Poverty Bay's placings in the Heartland Championship are listed below:

Heartland Championship results[1][2][3][4]
Year Pld W D L PFPAPD BP Pts Place Playoffs
Qual Semifinal Final
2006 8 5 0 3 243 194 +49 4 24 7th Lochore Cup Won 36–10 against Buller Won 46–34 against King Country
2007 8 5 0 3 193 162 +31 4 24 7th Lochore CupWon 65–3 against Thames Valley Won 38–35 against South Canterbury
2008 8 5 0 3 196 131 +65 3 23 7th Lochore Cup Won 43–30 against South Canterbury Won 26–5 against Horowhenua-Kapiti
2009 8 6 0 2 154 181 −27 2 26 3rd Meads Cup Lost 13–48 to Wanganui —
2010 8 6 0 2 282 164 +118 4 28 3rd Meads Cup Lost 24–31 to Wanganui —
2011 8 3 1 4 184 226 +40 5 19 8th Lochore Cup Won 32–30 against Buller Won 49–22 against South Canterbury
2012 8 3 0 5 212 247 −35 5 17 8th Lochore Cup Lost 22–42 to Buller —
2013 8 1 0 7 141 240 −99 2 6 12th No —
2014 8 5 1 2 231 168 +63 6 28 2nd Meads Cup Lost 22–29 to Mid Canterbury —
2015 8 1 0 7 227 333 −106 6 10 11th No —

Ranfurly Shield

Poverty Bay have never held the Ranfurly Shield, although they have challenged for the Shield on 16 occasions. In 1980, Poverty Bay came close to defeating Auckland, losing a hard fought encounter 12 - 19.

Poverty Bay in Super Rugby

Poverty Bay along with Wellington, Wairarapa Bush, Wanganui, East Coast, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu and Horowhenua-Kapiti fall within the Hurricanes catchment. Hosea Gear is the most notable player from the Poverty Bay region to have played for the side.

All Blacks

There have been six players selected for the All Blacks whilst playing for Poverty Bay. Most notable amongst these players are Ian Kirkpatrick and Richard "Tiny" White. Other players include John Collins, Brian Fitzpatrick, Lawrie Knight and Mike Parkinson. There have also been players such as Rico Gear, Hosea Gear and Charlie Ngatai who became All Blacks having started their careers with Poverty Bay.

References

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