History

Manawatu Rugby Union the evolution

Rugby was introduced into New Zealand by C.J. Munro who had been a pupil of Nelson College, and was sent to England to further his education where he became familiar with the game of rugby. On his return, Munro encouraged the footballers in Nelson to try to play rugby, which they did with much enthusiasm. Nelson College adopted the rules of rugby in 1870 and the first game was played against the Nelson Football Club on May 14, 1870. Soon after, Munro sailed to Wellington and picked a team of men and taught them the rules. The Wellington Club was formed in 1871, playing against the Armed Constabulary and the Nelson team.

Wanganui was the third town in New Zealand to play the rugby, established by A. Drew, who had been captain of the Nelson Club. From these early beginnings, the game spread, and clubs were formed the length and breadth of New Zealand over a five year period. The spread of the game soon captured the interests of pioneers in the Manawatu. Several Wanganui players, now living in the Rangitikei, encouraged the locals within the area to play rugby and during July, 1876 enthusiasts from Bulls and Sandon (now known as Sanson), joined together and formed the Rangitikei Club, at Bulls. Soon after this, a Marton team was formed. In 1878, the Feilding men who played for Marton during 1876-77 decided to form the Feilding Club. Shortly after, a club was formed in Palmerston North. In the years that followed, new local clubs were formed and in 1886 The Manawatu County Union was formed in Palmerston North on April 17 by Palmerston, Manchester (Feilding), and Foxton Clubs. In the next few years, numerous other clubs were established and the Union increased in size.

By 1900, rugby in Manawatu declined badly and the Feilding and Sandon clubs joined the Rangatikei Sub-Union and M.R.U. went into recess. Palmerston and Institute clubs were left out in the cold, and by 1902 the Union was revived and re-admitted to the NZRFU. From that point on, rugby in the district began to flourish, with Feilding Club finally being re-admitted to join MRU in 1905. The Showgrounds and Sports Ground were used for club games. By 1909, rifts began to form by sub-unions feeling neglected by the MRU. Troubled times continued over a six year period and the standard of rugby was reported as being poor. In 1912, the serious decline in the standard of local rugby forced administrators to take a hard look at the structure of the game in the district. A new district scheme was established and gradually more clubs were formed. Through the 1920s the game saw rapid growth and an increase in the number of grades.

In 1921, a combined Manawatu-Horowhenua team played the first Springbok team to tour New Zealand in front of a crowd of 14,000 spectators. A combined team played against the All Blacks in 1924 in front of a crowd of 16,000. These two Unions had had discussions over a number of years about merging, and it was not until 1926 that the two Unions amalgamated for representative rugby. The team became known as Manawhenua. Initially the team had a great deal of success, but later declined in strength. In 1933 Manawhenua was abolished.

During the period of the Second World War, 1940 to 1945, many clubs were depleted in numbers and inter-provincial rugby was curtailed. The showgrounds became a Military camp and a new sports ground on Fitzherbert Avenue was formed. Known as Rugby Park, the ground was renamed Ongley Park after the long standing Joe Ongley who had served Manawatu rugby for over thirty years and was also President of the NZRFU from 1938 and finally retired from MRU in 1947. During this war period Linton Army Camp and Ohakea Air Force base became the power of local rugby.
Of note in the first 100 years of Manawatu Rugby was the Representative team of 1959 who went through a season undefeated, winning 9 games and drawing 2 in provincial championships. In 1976, the team won the Ranfurly Shield, holding it through 1977 and finally losing it to North Auckland in 1978. In 1980 Manawatu won the national first division championship. In 1981 few would forget the troubled Springbok tour. Manawatu played against the Springboks in Palmerston North and with the match locked at 19-19 with 10 minutes to go, the visiting team came through and won the game 31-19.

In the period from 1957 to the mid 80s many great names are synonymous with Manawatu Rugby, and many with All Black status. Some of the great names of Manawatu Rugby in this era are Brian Finlay, Ron Horsley, Sam Strahan, Mike O'Callaghan and Kevin Nesdale, not to mention coach Jack Gleeson who went on to be an All Black selector and coach in 1970 and his brother, Owen took over as Manawatu selector-coach. Another name remembered by most as being one for the greatest coaches Manawatu had was Graham Hamer who started in 1975 and saw many players gain All Black status during his reign as coach. In 1971, Robert Burgess was selected as an All Black. The period from 1974 to 1983 every year had at least one player who was a current or former All Black. Names like Kent Lambert, Kevin Everleigh, Duncan Hales, John Calleson, Mike O'Callaghan, Ken Granger, Mark Donaldson, Gary Knight, Mark Shaw, Geoff Old and Frank Oliver, Perry Harris, John Loveday, Lachie Cameron, Craig Wickes, Doug Rollerston, and Bruce Hemara all come to mind.

From 1977 to 1979, Manawatu had the strongest sevens team in New Zealand, being unbeaten for twenty successive Inter provincial matches.
The Union celebrated 100 years of club competition in 1985 and the centennial in 1986. In 1995, playing for Manawatu, Christian Davis became and All Black and was later followed by Christian Cullen who played for the newly formed Central Vikings as Manawatu and Hawke's Bay Unions joined forces. This short lived marriage ended in financial disaster for Manawatu, but Cullen went on to play for Wellington and became one of New Zealand's greatest All Blacks. Following the split, Manawatu returning to become a second division national team that struggled to be competitive and set the province back for a number of years.

In 2005 the Manawatu Rugby Union worked with a number of significant businessmen and put together a case to be reintroduced in the restructured first division national competition, known as the Air New Zealand Cup. In 2006 the newly branded Manawatu Turbos took their place in the new division one competition. This heralded the introduction of Manawatu into professional rugby. Newly appointed coach, Dave Rennie, selected a team that was mostly made up of local players. It was a huge learning curve for the young inexperienced players that made up the team, but gradually they have developed into a competitive side that has produced some interesting results since its inception. The Manawatu Rugby Union has struggled to meet the income levels to afford the continued fielding of a competitive team and in 2008, feel into serious financial difficulties. In 2009, a local campaign was launched to ‘Save the Turbos' as NZRU considered reducing the 14 team competition down to ten teams to make it more affordable for the struggling Unions. Such was the success of the campaign and the high level of public feeling across New Zealand, the Manawatu Rugby Union was spared relegation, and the 14-team competition continues through until at least 2013.

2010 saw the Union suffer some serious injury blows prior to the ITM Cup (formerly the Air New Zealand Cup). Veteran no8 Brent Thompson was forced to retire from a neck injury while midfielder Johnny Leota won't be seen until 2011 because of a knee injury and he joined halfback Aaron Good on the sidelines for the season. Also in doubt for the Turbos in 2010 are captain Josh Bradnock and midfielder Francis Bryant.

Despite the injuries 2010 saw more Turbos players make the step up to Super 14. Aaron Cruden, Nick Crosswell and Andre Taylor were selected for the Hurricanes, while Aaron Smith was selected in the Blues wider training squad.
Taylor and Smith went onto be named in the New Zealand Maori side, while first five eighth Cruden became the first Manawatu All Black for 14 years.

In 2011 the Manawatu Rugby Union celebrates 125 years.