Taranaki Rugby, previously the Taranaki Rugby Football Union, is the governing body for

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

Taranaki Taranaki is a region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano of Mount Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont. The main centre is the city of New Plymouth. The New Plymouth Dist ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

; Taranaki is a region of New Zealand that covers areas in the districts of

New Plymouth New Plymouth ( mi, Ngāmotu) is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, Devon from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. ...

and

South Taranaki South Taranaki is a territorial authority on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island that contains the towns of Hāwera (the seat of the district), Manaia, Ōpunake, Patea, Eltham, and Waverley. The District has a land area of 3,575.46&nbs ...

. Established in 1889, they represent the Mitre 10 Cup side, Taranaki Bulls, and

Farah Palmer Cup The Farah Palmer Cup (formerly known as Women's Provincial Championship until 2016), is the highest level domestic women's rugby union competition in New Zealand and is named after the former Black Ferns captain, Farah Palmer. This contest is hel ...

side, Taranaki Whio. It is also affiliated with the Chiefs

Super Rugby Super Rugby is a men's professional rugby union club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. It previously included teams from Argentina, Japan, and South Africa. Building on various Southern Hem ...

franchise. Their home playing colours are amber and black and they play their home games at TET Stadium & Events Centre in Inglewood.

History

Early years

Taranaki was officially established in 1889 after a team chosen from the surrounding clubs in existence played as Egmont in 1885. They began with a brown coloured jersey before adopting the amber and black hoops in 1892. During the amateur period, the team won the

Ranfurly Shield The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Shield is based on a challenge system. The holding union must defend the shield in challeng ...

on four occasions. It had also won seven-second division titles in the National Provincial Championship, more than any other team. Further notable moments were in 1959, when a record 35,000 spectators attended Rugby Park in

to see the province play the British Lions. Two years later 36,000 people were on hand to watch

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

defeat the side 11-9. Their first Ranfurly Shield victory came in 1913 when

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

was defeated 14-11. Six successful defences followed before a 12-6 loss to

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

in September 1914. In 1957 shield holders Wellington was defeated in a friendly match early in the year and a rematch was scheduled for later in the season.

Otago Otago (, ; mi, Ōtākou ) is a region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local government reg ...

defeated Wellington, and Otago accepted a special challenge by Taranaki. The match was played on 28 September 1957, the last Saturday of the season, after

King Country The King Country (Māori: ''Te Rohe Pōtae'' or ''Rohe Pōtae o Maniapoto'') is a region of the western North Island of New Zealand. It extends approximately from the Kawhia Harbour and the town of Otorohanga in the north to the upper reaches of ...

gave up its scheduled fixture with Taranaki. Taranaki won against Otago for them to, later on, go a 13-match tenure. In 1963 Taranaki regained the Ranfurly Shield once again off Wellington with a win at Athletic Park. Their third tenure would be its most successful one. The first challenge came from

Wanganui Whanganui (; ), also spelled Wanganui, is a city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest navigable waterway. Whangan ...

who were making their second challenge of the season, having lost earlier to Auckland. Wanganui later would suffer a further defeat in 1964. Taranaki lost to Auckland in their last defence in 1965 and would not reclaim the shield again until 1996 when they edged Auckland 42-39. North Harbour lost narrowly in a tight contest before Taranaki was beaten by 20 points against Waikato.

Professional era

In August 2011 Taranaki defeated Southland 15-12 in

Invercargill Invercargill ( , mi, Waihōpai is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. The city lies in the heart of the wide expanse of t ...

to begin a fifth tenure of the shield. This ended in October 2012 when Waikato won the last challenge of the season. In 2013 Taranaki RFU assembled a women's professional team although it was later disbanded the following year. They claimed the national title for the first time in their history with a win over

Tasman Tasman most often refers to Abel Tasman (1603–1659), Dutch explorer. Tasman may also refer to: Animals and plants * Tasman booby * Tasman flax-lily * Tasman parakeet (disambiguation) * Tasman starling * Tasman whale People * Tasman (name), ...

in the

2014 ITM Cup Fourteen or 14 may refer to: * 14 (number), the natural number following 13 and preceding 15 * one of the years 14 BC, AD 14, 1914, 2014 Music * 14th (band), a British electronic music duo * ''14'' (David Garrett album), 2013 *''14'', an unrele ...

Referees

Taranaki has a proud history of producing top level referees. Brian Duffy was the region's first test match referee and controlled six internationals, including one test between the British and Irish Lions and

All Blacks The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987 ...

in 1977. Paul Williams followed with his test debut coming in 2017. Cam Stone and Will Johnston are in the National Panel and take charge of domestic competition matches. Richard Kelly featured in the panel for 12 years, including a successful sevens career, where he was the world's most capped sevens referee when he retired in March 2021. He controlled 280 matches over 52 tournaments, including the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018, 2018 World Rugby 7s World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics, in which he refereed one semi-final. Other Taranaki referees have been involved in the national scene in the past, these are; Dee Luckin, Darryl Heibner,

Chris Pollock Chris Pollock is a former rugby union referee who represented the New Zealand Rugby Union. In 2008, he was part of the IRB's touch judge panel. He made his international referee debut in 2005, when he refereed Niue vs Tahiti, while his first IR ...

, Brian MacDonald, Paul Macfie, Stuart Beissell, Ross Whitmore,

Paul Honiss Paul Gerard Honiss (born 18 June 1963) is a retired rugby union referee from Hamilton, New Zealand. Honiss held the record of the most test matches refereed (46) when he retired as an international rugby union referee in July 2008. That record ha ...

, Russell Hodge and Murray Dombroski.

Affiliated clubs

There are 29 registered clubs incorporated and secondary schools affiliated with the Taranaki RFU, most of which have teams at both senior and junior levels. The Taranaki Rugby Referees' Association is also an affiliated member of the Taranaki RFU. The organisation provides match officials for senior club rugby down to junior grades. They also provide sideline support personnel to home National Provincial Championship,

and test matches. *Bell Block Rugby Sports & Community Club *Central Rugby and Sports Club *Clifton Rugby and Sports Club *Coastal Rugby Football Club *Eltham Rugby Football Club *

Francis Douglas Memorial College Francis Douglas Memorial College is an all-boys state integrated Catholic school with boarding facilities located in Westown, New Plymouth, New Zealand. The college was founded in 1959 under the leadership of the De La Salle Brothers, a relig ...

* Hawera High School * Inglewood High School *Inglewood United Rugby Football Club *Kaitake Rugby Football Club *Kaponga Rugby Football Club *

New Plymouth Boys' High School New Plymouth Boys' High School is a single-sex boys' state secondary school in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. The school currently caters for approximately 1300 students, including 210 boarders, on its site. The school often collaborate ...

New Plymouth Girls' High School New Plymouth Girls' High School is a girls' state secondary school in Strandon, New Plymouth, New Zealand. The school separated from New Plymouth High School in 1914, leaving New Plymouth Boys' High School on the old site. It is currently one of ...

*New Plymouth High School Old Boys' Rugby Football and Sports Club *Okaiawa Rugby Football Club *Okato Rugby Football Club *

Opunake High School Opunake High School is a state secondary school for years 9 to 13 boys and girls in Ōpunake, New Zealand. It has a roll of 319 as of November 2015, the school crest features the Cape Egmont Lighthouse, open book and the torch of the spirit, an ...

*Patea Rugby & Sports Club *Rahotu Community And Sports Club *

Sacred Heart Girls' College Sacred Heart Girls' College (SHGC) is an independent Roman Catholic secondary school for girls from years 7 to 12 located in the Melbourne south-eastern suburb of Oakleigh, in Victoria, Australia. It was opened in 1957 by the Sisters of Our ...

*Southern Rugby Football Club *

Spotswood College Spotswood College is a co-educational state secondary school in Spotswood, New Plymouth, New Zealand. It was founded in 1960 and celebrated its 50th Jubilee in 2010. It was formerly New Zealand's largest school. It is New Plymouth's only co-e ...

*Spotswood United Rugby Football & Sports Club *Stratford Eltham Rugby & Sports Club * Stratford High School * Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls *Toko Rugby Football Club *Tukapa Rugby and Sports Club *

Waitara High School , type = State Co-ed Secondary (Year 9–13) , established = 1947 , MOE = 170 , principal = Daryl Warburton , decile = 3G , motto_translation = K ...

Players

Taranaki Bulls

Taranaki RFU has several teams under its control, one of note is the Taranaki Bulls who compete in New Zealand's national

competition the Mitre 10 Cup. Their top professional team, the Bulls is coached by Willie Rickards and co-captained by lock Mitchell Brown and midfielder

Teihorangi Walden Teihorangi Thomas Walden (born 25 May 1993) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a midfield back for in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the in the international Super Rugby competition. Early career Walden is o ...

. Their traditional colors are amber and black hoops with white shorts, with Canterbury of New Zealand being the main manufacturer. They are also sponsored by proud Taranaki firm Yarrows the Bakers.

Taranaki Whio

Taranaki Whio is the women's representative side that was reintroduced in 2018 to compete in the

. The 2020 squad for the Farah Palmer Cup is coached by former Taranaki men's representative Brendan Haami. The squad consists of 29 players, they are; Leah Barnard, Gayle Broughton, Sharee Brown, Tiana Davison, Freedom Edmonds, Chelsea Fowler, Tachelle Gardiner, Natale Haupapa, Iritana Hohaia, Kaya-Rose Kahui, Donia King, Alicia Manuirirangi, Kelsyn McCook, Victoria McCullough, Hannah McLean, Danielle Muggeridge, Paige Neilson, Jaymi Ngaia, Kate Parkinson, Chloe Sampson, Brooke Sim, Lyn Smith, Jalana Smith, Kate Thomson, Catriona Tulloch, Aliene Wallis, Sharniqua Weston-Jacobson, Nicole Whittle, Sarah Winter.

Notable players

Taranaki has produced 83 men's

internationals to date. Below is a

list of New Zealand national rugby union players , 1207 players have been All Blacks. The "first" All Black was James Allan, which was decided by alphabetical order, while the most recent All Black is Mark Telea — #1207. List See also * List of international rugby union families ...

along with their number and year of debut in brackets. *

Alfred Bayly Alfred Bayly (20 May 1866 – 14 December 1907) was a New Zealand rugby union player and administrator, and cricketer. Early life and family Born in Waitara on 20 May 1866, Bayly was the son of Thomas Bayly and Ann Bayly (née Rundle). ...

(35 - 1893) * Alan Good (42 - 1893) * James Lambie (27 - 1893) *Walter Bayly (48 - 1894) *

Hugh Good Hugh Good may refer to: * Hugh Good (rugby union) (1871–1941), New Zealand rugby union player and athlete * Hugh Good (footballer) ( 1901–1958), Scottish footballer {{hndis, Good, Hugh ...

(50 - 1894) *Daniel Hughes (51 - 1894) * Lewis Allen (56 - 1896) * Donald Watson (65 - 1896) *

Arthur Humphries Arthur Larwill Humphries (15 February 1874 – 13 April 1953) was a New Zealand rugby union player. Primarily a halfback, Humphries represented at a provincial level between 1893 and 1903, playing 40 matches for the province. He was a member ...

(73 - 1897) *Bill Wells (75 - 1897) * Hugh Mills (80 - 1897) *Bernard O'Dowda (88 - 1901) * Billy Glenn (111 - 1904) *

Frank Glasgow Francis Turnbull Glasgow (17 August 1880 – 20 February 1939) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A loose forward, Glasgow represented Wellington, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay and Southland at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand ...

(117 - 1905) *

Jimmy Hunter James Hunter (6 March 1879 – 4 December 1962) was a rugby union footballer who played for New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks. accessdate=2007-11-14 He played mainly at second five-eighth, although he could play any position in the bac ...

(118 - 1905) * Simon Mynott (120 - 1905) * Jimmie O'Sullivan (122 - 1905) * Harold Abbott (130 - 1905) * Jack Colman (142 - 1907) *

Donald Cameron Donald Cameron may refer to: Scottish Clan Cameron * Donald Cameron of Lochiel (c. 1695 or 1700–1748), 19th Chief, and his descendants: ** Donald Cameron, 22nd Lochiel (1769–1832), 22nd Chief ** Donald Cameron of Lochiel (1835–1905), Scott ...

(150 - 1908) *

Jack Stohr Leonard "Jack" Stohr (13 November 1889 – 25 July 1973) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A three-quarter, Stohr represented at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 1910 and 1913. He pl ...

(165 - 1910) * Henry Dewar (175 - 1913) *

Mick Cain Mick Cain (born August 4, 1978, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor. He is most notable for his roles on American daytime soap operas. He played the part of C. J. Garrison on the CBS soap opera '' The Bold and the Beautiful'' from 1998 t ...

(187 - 1913) * Charles Brown (192 - 1913) *Reginald Taylor (202 - 1913) *

George Loveridge George Loveridge (15 October 1890 – 28 November 1970) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A Rugby union positions#Wing, wing three-quarter, Loveridge represented at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the ...

(206 - 1913) * Edward Roberts (207 - 1913) *

Alfred West Alfred Hubert West (6 May 1893 – 7 January 1934) was a New Zealand international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Hawera and was capped twice for New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the sout ...

(225 - 1920) *

Richard Fogarty Richard Fogarty (12 December 1891 – 9 September 1980) was New Zealand rugby union player. He was a member of the All Blacks in 1914, playing in the loose forward and hooker positions. Early life Born in the Central Otago gold-mining sett ...

(230 - 1921) *

Charles Kingstone Charles Napoleon "Nipper" Kingstone (2 July 1895 – 6 May 1960) was a New Zealand sportsman who played international rugby union for New Zealand national rugby union team, New Zealand. He was also a first-class cricketer. Kingstone served as a ...

(231 - 1921) * Harold Masters (254 - 1922) * Percy Hickey (264 - 1922) *

Handley Brown Handley Welbourn Brown (29 August 1904 – 5 December 1973) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A centre three-quarter, Brown represented Taranaki at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks ...

(290 - 1924) * Gus Hart (293 - 1924) *Davy Johnston (318 - 1925) * Jack Walter (312 - 1925) *Edward Ward (335 - 1928) * Alfred Kivell (375 - 1929) *Ray Clarke (390 - 1932) * Arthur Collins (391 - 1932) * Jack Sullivan (428 - 1936) *

Roy Roper Roy Alfred Roper (11 August 1923 – 14 September 2023) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A Rugby union positions#Three-quarters, three-quarter, Roper represented Taranaki Rugby Football Union, Taranaki at a provincial level, and was a memb ...

(515 - 1949) *George Beatty (517 - 1950) * Maurice Cockerill (522 - 1951) * Peter Burke (534 - 1951) *

Noel Bowden Noel James Gordon Bowden (19 March 1926 – 9 October 2009) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A full-back, Bowden represented , , and at a provincial level. He played one match for the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, a test agai ...

(544 - 1952) * Ross Brown (572 - 1955) * Roger Urbahn (598 - 1959) * Kevin Briscoe (599 - 1959) * John McCullough (603 - 1959) *

Terry O'Sullivan Terry O'Sullivan (July 7, 1915 – September 14, 2006) was an American actor, best known for his role on the soap opera ''Search for Tomorrow'' as Arthur Tate (1952–1955, 1956–1966). Career In the Arthur Tate role, he received the ''T ...

(612 - 1960) *Roger Boon (616 - 1960) * Neil Wolfe (620 - 1961) *

John Major Sir John Major (born 29 March 1943) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990 to 1997, and as Member of Parliament ...

(643 - 1963) * Brian Muller (656 - 1967) *Murray Wills (661 - 1967) * Alan Smith (667 - 1967) * Bill Currey (671 - 1968) *

Ian Eliason Ian Matheson Eliason (6 June 1945 – 24 February 2019) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A lock, Eliason represented Taranaki at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1972 to 1973. He p ...

(706 - 1972) *

Alistair Scown Alistair Ian Scown (born 21 October 1948) was a New Zealand rugby union player. He has five caps as an All Black. All his test appearances were in 1972. Scown is known for being a player involved in what has been described as "the greatest try of ...

(710 - 1972) * Ash Gardiner (728 - 1974) *

Graham Mourie Graham Neil Kenneth Mourie (born 8 September 1952) is a former New Zealand All Black flanker and coach of the Hurricanes. He was one of the great All Black captains in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was first selected for the All Blacks in ...

(757 - 1976) * John McEldowney (768 - 1976) *

Dave Loveridge David Steven Loveridge (born 22 April 1952) is an All Black of the late 1970s and early 1980s, known in his time as the greatest halfback in the world. Life and career Loveridge was born in 1952, in Stratford, New Zealand, to Horace and Margar ...

(791 - 1978) * Murray Watts (793 - 1979) *

Kieran Crowley Kieran James Crowley (born 31 August 1961) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player, who is the head coach of Italy. He has also coached the New Zealand Under-19s in the 2007 World Championships as well as coaching provincial side T ...

(848 - 1983) *

Bryce Robins Bryce B. Robins (born 19 September 1980) is a New Zealand-born Japanese rugby union player who plays as a centre for the Munakata Sanix Blues in the Top League and Japan. He played for the Hurricanes in 2002 and 2003. On 22 April 2007, Robins m ...

(863 - 1985) * Bull Allen (933 - 1993) * Gordon Slater (968 - 1997) * Andrew Hore (1019 - 2002) *

Chris Masoe Chris Masoe (born 15 May 1979 in Savaii, Western Samoa) is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer, who last played for Racing Metro 92 in the Top 14 and a current professional boxer. He is the brother of boxer Maselino Masoe. He was born ...

(1059 - 2005) *

Jason Eaton Jason John Eaton (born 21 August 1982) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He played as a lock. Early life Although born in Palmerston North, Eaton grew up on a farm near the small community of Colyton. He attended Feilding Intermedi ...

(1063 - 2005) *

Scott Waldrom Scott Waldrom (born 25 July 1980) is a New Zealand former rugby union player. When Waldroms playing career finished in 2012 due to injury he was playing for the Waikato Chiefs in Super Rugby and Taranaki in the ITM Cup. He played in the opensi ...

(1085 - 2008) *

Jarrad Hoeata Jarrad Hoeata (born 12 December 1983) is a professional rugby union player who plays for New Zealand side Taranaki. He made his debut for the All Blacks during the 2011 Tri Nations tournament. Early life Hoeata was born on 12 December 1983 in T ...

(1109 - 2011) *

Beauden Barrett Beauden John Barrett (born 27 May 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays as a Fly-half (rugby union), First five-eighth (fly-half) and Fullback (rugby union), fullback for Taranaki Rugby Football Union, Taranaki in the Mitre 10 Cu ...

(1115 - 2012) *

Charlie Ngatai Charlie Ngatai (born 17 August 1990) is a New Zealand-born professional rugby union footballer who plays as a Midfield Back, although he can also cover other backline positions. Ngatai is currently playing for Leinster in Ireland, having previo ...

(1141 - 2015) * Waisake Naholo (1142 - 2015) *

James Broadhurst James Broadhurst (born 1 December 1987) is a former New Zealand rugby union lock who played provincial rugby for Taranaki, Super Rugby for the Hurricanes, and for the All Blacks. He was also a national representative at the under-19 and under-21 ...

(1144 - 2015) *

Seta Tamanivalu Setareki Tamanivalu (born 23 July 1992) is a Fijian rugby union player and former All Black. He currently plays in the centre (and occasionally wing) position for Toshiba Brave Lupus. Early life Tamanivalu was born and raised in Fiji. He atte ...

(1148 - 2016) * Scott Barrett (1155 - 2016) *

Jordie Barrett Jordan Matthew Barrett (born 17 February 1997) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a Centre (rugby union), utility back internationally for New Zealand's All Blacks, and for the Wellington Hurricanes, Hurricanes in the Sup ...

(1159 - 2017) *

Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi Hohepa Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi () (born 31 March 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a half-back for in the Mitre 10 Cup and the Crusaders in Super Rugby. In 2018 Tahuriorangi was selected to play for the All Blacks ...

(1174 - 2018) *

Angus Ta'avao Angus may refer to: Media * ''Angus'' (film), a 1995 film * ''Angus Og'' (comics), in the ''Daily Record'' Places Australia * Angus, New South Wales Canada * Angus, Ontario, a community in Essa, Ontario * East Angus, Quebec Scotland * Angu ...

(1175 - 2018) *

Tupou Vaa'i Tupou Paea'i Okalani Vaa'i (born 27 January 2000) is a New Zealand professional rugby union footballer who plays as a lock for the Taranaki Bulls in the Mitre 10 Cup and for the Chiefs in Super Rugby. Career Early career Vaa'i was born in Ne ...

(1188 - 2020) *

Pita Gus Sowakula Pita Gus Nacagilevu Sowakula (; born 26 October 1994) is a Fijian professional rugby union footballer who plays as a flanker for New Zealand franchise Chiefs. In his youth career, he played basketball and was selected in the 2012 FIBA Oceani ...

(1201 - 2022)

Personnel and statistics

Seasonal record

List of centurions

List of top try-scorers

List of top point-scorers

References

External links

Official Site

Taranaki Referee Associations websiteTaranaki rugby
(NZHistory.net.nz) {{Rugby union in New Zealand New Zealand rugby union teams