History

Manawatu Rugby ? the evolution

In June 2005 the Manawatu Rugby Union were invited back into the fold of the highest provincial rugby competition in this country, the Air New Zealand Cup.  Despite hugely disappointing on field results from Manawatu against the touring Lion?s and our Div Two competitors that year, our plans gave the NZRU a promise they couldn?t ignore .   Many here today will perhaps have trouble recalling that in 2006 the newly branded Manawatu Turbos took their place in the new competition with the ?hope? that they would be able to compete.  The Union, the NZRU, fans and indeed the New Zealand public were accepting at the time of any on field outcome as long as it was competitive.

Today this Union, the NZRU, fans and the New Zealand public expect results that three years ago were nothing short of a pie in the sky dream.  To return a win loss ratio below last years is now unacceptable.  The culture of the team has been refined under the oversight of Coach Dave Rennie but more importantly the Union has in the main recruited and developed from within.  So what changed from 2005? 

This region, not just rugby, recognised that if this community wanted to be represented on the NZ sporting landscape then the way we ran our business of sport had to change.  Those changes, lead by the 8.5 million upgrade of the FMG Stadium, have continued to this day and will be well evident as the NZRU carries out its review of the total NZ Rugby landscape and decides what form rugby will take in 2009 and beyond.

So what will the NZRU find when they review the Manawatu Rugby Union?s performance that may differentiate us from those union?s at risk.  Leading the charge is a financial model that has returned consistent surpluses since 2005.  In the Governance and Management side of the game Manawatu has upgraded and improved virtually every part of its Constitution with all members of its board now independently appointed.  The MRU Policies include a strong focus on Risk Management and operational oversight in areas such as Cash Flow and Communications.  Our Community Rugby staff have trained and qualified more coaches than any union in the country and the support for our clubs is now greater and more open than even imagined in 2005.  The MRU Website compares with any union in the country and TurboTV brings in around 13,000 hits a week from throughout NZ and the world.  The MRU Academy ? headed up by former All Black Jason O?Halloran, is now identifying and supporting our elite players at any level and as a direct result virtually all of our elite players and school leavers are choosing to stay in the Manawatu, including all three players in this years Under 20 World Championship victory. 

Manawatu Rugby has done the hard yards and proven that it can foot it at the highest level of provincial rugby.  Our progress has been one of the good news stories for both our fans and the NZRU in 2008.    We have done the hard work at all levels of the game and look forward to knowing our Union?s future this September, if not earlier.

The Evolution of the Turbos - Tania McKenzie

On Thursday the 2^nd of June 2005 the New Zealand Rugby Union issued a press release detailing the new format for the premier division of the NPC: the Air New Zealand Cup. Fourteen regional rugby unions had been invited to participate, including four new additions to the competition: Tasman, Hawke's Bay, Counties-Manukau, and? Manawatu.

The NZRU decision signalled a new beginning for Manawatu rugby, and the chance to once again compete on a semi-professional level. Formed in 1886 the Manawatu Rugby Union is the 10^th largest in the country, having produced thirty-six All Blacks including Sam Strahan, Kent Lambert, Doug Rollerson, and Christian Cullen. Being able to call on a large talent base from Massey University, Linton Camp, and the sprawling greater Manawatu region gave the MRU a healthy level of talent to draw on. The 1970?s, and early 80?s in particular were the Union?s ?glory days?, with three Ranfurly Shield victories, a premier division win, and approximately eight local All Blacks. But an increasing lack of player availability took its toll and in 1988 the NZRU demoted Manawatu to the second division. A bid to re-join the premier division, made after the combined Manawatu-Hawke's Bay Vikings team won the competition in 1998, was turned down by the NZRU. Manawatu developed excellent player academies but was unable to retain talent as young players moved to other unions and a shot at playing in the top division. But in late December 2004 came a lifeline: the NZRU announced changes to the NPC competition which would allow provincial unions a chance to re-apply to compete in the premier division.

MRU President and ex-All Black Sam Strahan says it was the chance the MRU Board had been waiting for. The Manawatu Union made an application, and just over a year ago the results were announced: after 18 years in amateur division two, Manawatu was taking the step back up into the semi-professional premier division. Sam Strahan says community support for the Union?s ambitions was overwhelming.

?We had support from the Palmerston North City Council, Horizons, and Destination Manawatu? and we?ve had wonderful support from the businesses who underwrote the bid financially: it could never have taken place if they hadn?t supported us.?

Applicants were judged on a series of criteria, such as stadium facilities, player and team resources, governance and administration. Unions were scrutinized to determine if they would be able to sustain themselves and be competitive, with ?new? teams like Manawatu being given a three-year term to do so. Assistant Turbos coach Bruce Hemara ? who also played in the last fully Manawatu premier division side, in 1988 ? says getting the team up to premier division speed is going to be an ongoing process. Bruce says the players are talented and hardworking but he notes that there is a gap in the standard of rugby and resources available to teams between the two divisions. Sam Strahan agrees.

?It is a massive step up: I hope most people realise it won?t happen overnight. We can hope to be competitive with most teams, we just have to be realistic, that is the thing.?

But Sam says the Turbos coaching team, especially head coach Dave Rennie, is equal to the challenge.

?I?ve got confidence. If anyone can turn them into a cohesive unit, he will: He?s got a great (coaching) team with him.?

Manawatu is in pool A of the Air New Zealand Cup, and will play a first round of games against Auckland, Wellington, North Harbour, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Tasman. Following that the top three teams from each pool progress to the top six while the other eight teams play a repechage.