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Te Kawau RFC is a rugby club in the Manawatu province. It is based in Rongotea which is roughly a 15-minute drive from Palmerston North. The Te Kawau rugby uniform consists of green and black hooped socks, black shorts and a green and black hooped jersey.
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Te Kawau is a Māori term meaning "cormorant". This is reflected in the club's logo which the supporters are two cormorants.
History
The current club was formed as a result of the locals believing that the area would be best suited to be run as one club, the new club attracting players from Hui Mai, Awahuri and Newbury as well as Rongotea.
The club has entered a team in the Manawatu Rugby Union senior 1 competition every year since 1953.
The clubs senior 1 success has fluctuated somewhat and reached a pinnacle in 1962 when with Viv Long as coach they won the senior 1 competition. From there its success was limited until 1997 when a very spirited senior 1 team coached by Geoff Webb and David Staite uplifted 'Hank' the Hankin Shield that started a run of success that included 57 undefeated senior 1 competition games in succession, a record that could be near impossible to over haul by any team in the future.
Recent Years
The Te Kawau Senior A side has been relatively successful over the past two years, reaching the finals in 2011 and the semi-finals in 2012.
Facilities
Apart from rugby Te Kawau also offers: netball, tennis, lawn bowls and badminton.
Notable players
Asaeli Tikoirotuma - Chiefs and Manawatu Turbos
Michael Fitzgerald - Chiefs and Manawatu Turbos
David Te Moana - Western Force Super 14 squad and Manawatu Turbos
Doug Tietjens - Highlanders 2012 squad and Manawatu Turbos