THE FOUNDING OF NORTH SHORE RUGBY CLUB
FROM THE NHRU INAUGURAL 1985 MAGAZINE
North Shore was founded in 1873 and is the oldest Club in the Northern part of New Zealand. Some say the Club was formed as early as 1870 but 3 May 1873seems to be the accepted date.
A meeting was held in the Masonic Hotel in Devonport (still a favourite spot to Club Members) and a match was arranged with a neighbouring Auckland Club for 20 July. This game was 12 a-side and ended in 0-0.
READ MORE
HAND ON HEART
QBE INSURANCE, PRINCIPAL MAJOR SPONSOR FOR 12 YEARS
Your world is ours too. And at QBE we firmly believe that we have a responsibility to be a good corporate citizen in the communities and countries where we operate. But over and above this, we love nothing more than getting stuck in and helping you do what you love, because it’s probably something we’re passionate about too.
QBE has been operating in New Zealand for over 125 years. For more than a decade now, we’ve been the principal major sponsor of North Harbour Rugby in Auckland and we are pleased to be behind Harbour as it celebrates its 30 year jubilee. We felt that North Harbour Rugby aligned itself with QBE’s core principles within the community and that is why we have been Harbour Rugby’s Principal Major Sponsor for 12 years.
READ MORE
HISTORY OF SILVERDALE RUGBY CLUB
FROM THE INAGURAL 1985 YEAR BOOK
Formed in 1930 with one Junior team in the Kaipara Rugby Union. The Club struggled to field a full team for the first year but after that with new players arriving in the district improved to the extent that we won the Junior Championship three years running. Silverdale’s delegate to the Kaipara Rugby Union was Mt Alec Hunter who resided in Helensville.
The state of the roads made it almost impossible to attend meetings as the only metal road was through Riverhead on to the West Coast Road to Helensville. Transport was provided mainly through the generosity of Neville Brother. Frank Neville being a very keen player. Read More
READ MORE
A LONG WAY IN TWO SEASONS
FROM THE NORTH HARBOUR RUGBY 1985 YEARBOOK - EDITORIAL BY MAURICE DICK
North Harbour Rugby has emerged from being only an idea to within 90 seconds of first division status in just two seasons, at the same time that its teenage sides have established an unequalled standing with a string of successes at regional level.
Two All Blacks, Wayne (Buck) Shelford and Fran Botica have won their jerseys in those two seasons, while other players have established themselves at almost every level of rugby, proving two facts beyond dispute:
Forming another Union to establish North Harbour was good for rugby.
Players are what the game is about. Read More
READ MORE
STRONG POSITION FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS
FROM THE NHRU INAUGURAL 1985 MAGAZINE
From the small beginnings the Massey Rugby Football Club has risen to its present strong position in Auckland Rugby Circles.
Away back in 1954 the pupils pf the local primary school played seven-a-side matches on an inter-school basis and in 1955 an approach was made to parents by the Hobsonville Rugby Football Club that Massey field a 15 a side team on Saturday mornings on a regional competitive basis.
As no field was available in Massey at this time – the local Domain being in the process of development – all these games were to be played on Hobsonville War Memorial Park. This arrangement lasted one season.
READ MORE
THE LAUNCHING OF A RUGBY SUPPORTERS CLUB
NORTH HARBOUR RUGBY YEAR BOOK 1985
Establishment, growth and development of the North Harbour Rugby Supporters Club – from a first move just six weeks after the Union came into existence – has been a fabulous experience of great enjoyment and immense value to rugby.
This is how President Graeme Scott sees the work of a band of enthusiasts who are more visible at representative matches than any group except the North Harbour team.
Scott’s personal commitment to “getting it right at the start and doing something worthwhile for rugby” proved an infectious spirit. The ripples went far beyond the Supporters Club itself.
READ MORE
IT'S ALL GO FOR NORTH HARBOUR
AUCKLAND STAR 1984
Ron Don would be a poor weather forecaster. If the outspoken rugby supremo said look out for rain the next 24 hours it would be reasonable to expect sunshine and 20 degrees Celsius.
As Auckland Rugby Chairman in 1984, March 6 to be exact, Don offered these comments on the prospect of a North Harbour Rugby Union.
“The effect of the new Union will be to strangle the Auckland Union. By bringing in boundaries in the suburbs, the ARU just can’t expand”
The eve of that same March 6, the ARU annual meeting voted by 68-43 to allow the North Harbour enthusiasts to seek approval – finally received from a special meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union later in the year – to establish the 27th Union in the country.
Don predicted that after that historic vote that chaos would greet Shore administrators and claimed “the biggest reality they overlooked is where all the money will come from”
READ MORE
FRANCO STARS IN NORTH HARBOUR DEBUT
NSTA, APRIL 30 1985 - MAURICE DICK
Fabulous Frano! No better words describe North Harbour's first five eight, the quick hard working thoroughly competent star of the ANZAC Day clash with Counties at Pukekohe .
Frano Botica showed that he has everything – reliable hands, pace an eye for a break, imagination and a willingness to run with the ball, cover tirelessly, back up on attack and make the tackles.
All he lacked was a good boot, but that was only in running play because he elected all day to pass the ball. From penalties and conversions he demonstrated an equally reliable boot to pile on 10 points.
Twice North Harbour came from behind but Counties were in front again 29-22 at the final whistle. The North Harbour President’s XV had ample stars. Read More
READ MORE
SMALL BEGINNINGS FORGLENFIELD RUGBY CLUB
WRITTEN BY MAURICE DICK
1969 saw a small group of rugby enthusiasts get together in the developing suburb of Glenfield to organise rugby games for their boys. Little did they realise at the time what lay ahead of them! Boys rugby was quickly followed by grade and social teams together will all the organisation that goes with running a young Rugby Club.
By 1974 a number of the founding Members together with some newcomers, found themselves in the thrones of building a Clubroom on Kaipatiki Park ... and wondering where the money was going to come from!. But success favours the brave and a very presentable headquarters was forthcoming: that original building is now virtually debt free.
Over the years the Junior Boys section of the Club prospered mightily, while the more Senior grades had their playing ups and downs, without ever having anything but an enjoyable season. Read More
READ MORE
1986 CLUB FINAL SUITED EAST COAST BAYS IN OPPONENTS AND WEATHER
TAKEN FROM THE 1986 YEAR BOOK - CLICK TO READ
CLICK HERE TO READ