Nickname(s) Ngati Porou East Coast Region Hurricanes Coach(es) Wayne Ensor Troy Para Founded 1922 Ground Whakarua Park | Location Ruatoria Chairman Campbell Dewes Captain(s) Sam Parkes League Heartland Championship | |
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The East Coast Rugby Football Union is a constituent union in the New Zealand Rugby Union. It is located on the East Coast of the North Island, based in Ruatoria. It is the smallest Union in New Zealand in the sense of player numbers and population base. Due to the high number of players from the Ngati Porou iwi, the team is nicknamed Ngati Porou East Coast.
Contents
- History
- Ranfurly Shield
- East Coast in Super Rugby
- Reputation
- All Blacks
- Clubs
- Championships
- 1999 NPC 3rd Division
- 2000 NPC 3rd Division
- 2012 Heartland Championship
- References
The Ngati Porou East Coast team home ground is Whakarua Park, Ruatoria. Ngati Porou East Coast were recently holders of the Meads Cup, defeating Wanganui 29-27 at Whakarua Park on 27 October 2012.
History
The East Coast Rugby Football Union was formed in 1922 when they split from the Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union.
Ranfurly Shield
East Coast has challenged for the Ranfurly Shield seven times losing heavily on each occasion.
East Coast in Super Rugby
East Coast along with Wellington, Wairarapa Bush, Wanganui, Poverty Bay, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu and Horowhenua-Kapiti make up the Hurricanes Super Rugby region.
Reputation
The team is renowned for its fight and determination to play hard, as was exhibited in 1999 and 2000 when it won the then Air New Zealand NPC Third Division. Much to the nation's surprise, the Ngati Porou East Coast team, upon their first promotion to the then Air New Zealand NPC Second Division, found itself in the final against Hawke's Bay (2001). However, East Coast were unsuccessful, eventually losing 27-30.
All Blacks
There have had 2 players selected for the All Blacks whilst playing their club rugby in the East Coast.
Clubs
East Coast Rugby Football Union is made up of 9 clubs:
Championships
East Coast won the NPC 3rd Division twice, first in 1999 defeating Poverty Bay 18-15 in the final at Ruatoria and secondly and more impressively, defeating North Otago in front of their home crowd at Oamaru in a come-from-behind 25-21 victory to record back to back NPC 3rd Division Championships.