Nickname(s) Rams Chairman Andrew McCullough Captain(s) Arian Dunster League Heartland Championship | Region Waikato Coach(es) Dan Alofa P.O.S Founded 1922 | |
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2015 7th (Lochore Cup Champions) Grounds Owen Delany Park, Te Kuiti | ||
Mitre10 heartland championship 10 09 16 thames valley v king country
The King Country Rugby Football Union is a constituent union in the New Zealand Rugby Union. It is located in the central North Island of New Zealand. It was formed in 1922 when the South Auckland Rugby Union was split into three (the other two Unions formed were Waikato and Thames Valley).
Contents
- Mitre10 heartland championship 10 09 16 thames valley v king country
- History
- Ranfurly Shield
- King Country in Super Rugby
- All Blacks
- Clubs
- References
The King Country team play from Owen Delany Park, Taupo, Rugby Park, Te Kuiti and Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui. King Country are like many other heartland unions have struggled since the start of professional era. In 1996, King Country were in the first division of the NPC and in just 6 years were in the third division.
History
The original King Country Rugby Union was formed in 1905 by the Manunui, Matapuna, Oio and Kakahi rugby clubs. In 1907, the newly formed Taumarunui rugby club replaced Oio.
The current King Country Rugby Football Union was formed in 1922, by the amalgamation of the first King Country Rugby Union (which was renamed as the Taumarunui Sub-union in 1922) along with the Ruapehu Sub-union in Ohakune (founded 1908), Maniapoto Sub-union in Te Kuiti (1907) and Ohura Valley Sub-union (1920). These were joined by Otorohanga Sub-union in 1927, Kaitieke in 1933 and Kawhia in 1926 with the Taupo Sub-union transferring from the Hawkes Bay Rugby Union in 1987. The Ruapehu Sub-union returned to its original parent union the Wanganui Rugby Union in 1970.
This was the second attempt to establish a Rugby Union in the middle of the North Island, as in 1920 the Rangatiki, Taihape, Ruapehu sub-unions (all affiliated to the Wanganui Rugby Union), and the King Country Union (affiliated to South Auckland) had applied for affiliation as the Main Trunk Union. However, this was declined after the Wanganui Rugby Union objected to the loss of their country players.
In those early years King Country representative games were held in Te Kuiti, Taumarunui and Raetahi or Ohakune. Otorohanga was first used for a representative game in 1939 with representative games also being hosted in Tokaanu (1966) and Turangi (1967).
King Country played in light blue and green until 1949 when it switched to maroon and gold hoops. In 1980, a maroon jersey with gold collar and cuffs was adopted. The current strip has been used since 1994.
King Country has made 18 challenges for the Ranfurly Shield over the years without success but having come close at times, going down to Taranaki in a hard fought game 11-15 in 1958. In 1969 they came even closer when good mates Colin Meads and Kel Tremain were the respective captains, King Country storming back from 6-19 at half time in a torrid second half before going down 16–19.
A well known and amusing challenge in 1988 against Auckland at Te Kuiti when “Boris the Boar” mysteriously got onto the field and camped in the Auckland 25 for much of the second half.
Ranfurly Shield
King Country have never held the Ranfurly Shield.
King Country in Super Rugby
King Country along with Waikato, Counties Manukau, Bay of Plenty, Thames Valley and Taranaki make up the Chiefs region.
All Blacks
There have had 8 players selected for the All Blacks whilst playing for King Country. The most famous King Country All Black is All Black of the century, Sir Colin Meads.
Additionally, former England captain and coach Martin Johnson played for King Country, during his early career. Further former Welsh hooker Garin Jenkins spent a spell playing for the province in his younger years.
Clubs
King Country Rugby Football Union is made up of 11 clubs.