Manawatu Rugby Union

The Manawatu Rugby Football Union (MRU) serves as the governing body of the sport of rugby union in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand.

Founded in 1886, Manawatu is one of New Zealand's oldest rugby unions. In 1892, the MRU, amongst other unions, played a pivotal role in establishing the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU). During 1997–1998, Manawatu entered into an amalgamation with, as the "Central Vikings", wearing orange and blue attire.

The union is based in the city of Palmerston North though its catchment area includes players and clubs from nearby towns in the province, including Ashhurst, Feilding, Rongotea, Linton, Bulls, Pahiatua, Woodville and Dannevirke. It has over 5,000 players, making it the tenth largest union in New Zealand in terms of player numbers. In 2011, the union celebrated its 125th jubilee.

Manawatu have traditionally played in a distinctive green and white tramline jersey, which is thought to have been established in 1909. In 1996, a jersey including red was worn, and colours worn have varied since the union was formed.

The union's home ground is Central Energy Trust Arena.

History
The Manawatu rugby union was formed on 17 April 1886 at Palmerston North, with the founding clubs being: Palmerston, Feilding and Foxton. It was initially named the Manawatu County Union but was renamed in 1888. The sport had been introduced to the area by a few players from Wanganui, who had moved into the region. Following the unions establishment many other clubs were formed as the sport became more popular.

Early years

The first recorded match in the Manawatu took place on 13 July 1878. A Feilding side faced a "Rangitikei Combined Clubs XV" which was played at Feilding.

The first Ranfurly Shield game Manawatu appeared in was in 1914. This was played against Taranaki at Pukekura Park. The match was lost 11–3 with William Carroll scoring a sole try. Their next challenge came ten years later, in 1924, where they would lose 31–5 to Hawke's Bay. Manawatu also provided J.F. Manning to referee a match in 1905 between Auckland and Wellington.

1970s and early 1980s: First division era and Ranfurly shield reign

The period from 1976 to 1983 saw Manawatu as one of the leading New Zealand rugby provinces. In this period Manawatu consistently beat teams such as Otago, Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury. Manawatu held the Ranfurly Shield from 1976 to 1978 and this was followed by victory in the 1980 First Division Championship. Manawatu were also runner-up in 1976 and 1981. A large sign reading "Go! Go! Manawatu!" was lifted above Palmerston North Showgrounds Oval by crane.

Manawatu beat Auckland 12–10 at Eden Park in 1976 to win the Log 'o Wood, as the Ranfurly Shield is sometimes referred to, for the first time. Doug Rollerson's dropped goal secured the famous victory for Manawatu. This led to a homecoming parade through the city streets.

With prop Kent Lambert sent-off, Manawatu were reduced to 14-men in their defence of the Ranfurly Shield against the Counties side in 1977. However, Manawatu rallied to record a victory 15–10. A last minute try prevented the Counties side from taking the Shield back to Pukekohe for the first time.

There was some controversy in 1977 when the Auckland rugby union had a request for a shield challenge that season denied by Manawatu who argued that Auckland had had 'too much influence in shield rugby for too long'.

In the final Ranfurly Shield challenge of the 1978 season Manawatu were leading North Auckland (now named Northland) 10–9 with time up on the clock. However, the referee, Bill Adlam, from Wanganui, played 5–6 minutes of 'injury' time before awarding the visitors a penalty, due to an offside, close to the posts. A penalty kick was successful and the shield was won by North Auckland. The referee then required a police escort off Showgrounds Oval (as it was known) while Manawatu fans showed their disgust and disappointment. Adlam claimed after the match that the game clock at the venue had not allocated for a couple of "lengthy" injury breaks, and so he rightly let the game go on. This was also backed up by a photographer who accurately timed the game.

Manawatu scored a 20–10 win over Australia in 1978.

In 1979 Auckland had won back the Ranfurly shield and denied Manawatu a challenge in 1980.

In 1980, during its championship winning season, Manawatu had eight All Blacks within the team. They were: Mark Donaldson, Mark Shaw, Geoff Old, Frank Oliver, Gary Knight, Doug Rollerson, Lachie Cameron and Craig Wickes.

One of Manawatu's most memorable matches was the 1981 encounter against South Africa. Manawatu led 9–4 at halftime and with minutes to go the score was 19–19. The clash between the national champions and the 'test' strength Springboks was headed for a climax worthy of such an event. In the final analysis, Naas Botha was the difference between the two sides. In the final minutes he scored a long range penalty, a dropped goal and a sideline conversion to lead the 'Boks home to a flattering 31–19 victory. The Manawatu verses Springbok game was the first to witness the Police riot squads patrolling the streets as a pre-emptive measure, as opposed to them just turning up once trouble started. The day was generally incident free.

In 1983 the Canterbury Ranfurly Shield team put Manawatu last on their list of challengers for that season.

In 1985, Manawatu celebrated a centenary for its club competition and in 1986, the union's centenary.

Late 1980s to mid 2000s - second division

In 1988, the union was relegated to the second division for the first time. Manawatu, based in the second division, was reduced to a 'feeder' role, losing players to other unions.

Lee Stensness starred in a 58–24 win over Ireland in 1992.

In 1996 Manawatu and Hawke's Bay merged their teams to form the Central Vikings Rugby Union. It was an attempt to elevate both unions back to the first division. Players such as Mark Allen, Christian Cullen, Mark Ranby, Stephen Bachop and Roger Randle featured in the team. The 1997 season saw them finish second overall with 6 wins and 2 losses. This saw the team into the semi-finals. In the semi-final, the Vikings would go on to beat Bay of Plenty and came up against Northland in the final. Northland won the final 63–10. Northland were thus promoted to the first division. However, had the Vikings won, they would not have been eligible to be promoted.

1998 saw a repeat of form for the Vikings who went unbeaten in the season. They subsequently won the final against Bay of Plenty and were promoted to first division. However, due to financial issues, the merger split back to Manawatu and Hawke's Bay as separate unions. Manawatu returned in 1999 to the second division.

Manawatu began the new millennium firmly fixed in the second-tier competition.

In 2005, Manawatu were heavily defeated 6–109 by the touring British and Irish Lions at Palmerston North.

2006 onwards - return to the first division

In 2005, Manawatu were invited along with four other unions, reduced to three after an amalgamation of Nelson Bays and Marlborough into Tasman, to play in the first division of a restructured National Provincial Championship, initially called (for sponsorship purposes) the Air New Zealand Cup. It was the first time since 1988 Manawatu had fielded a team in the top grade and unlike the 1980s it was now a professional rugby competition.

In 2009, Central Energy Trust Arena was the venue for a Highlanders home game against the Bulls from South Africa.

Fly-half Aaron Cruden was selected for the All Blacks in 2010. He was the first All Black chosen whilst playing for the union since Christian Cullen in 1996.

Manawatu hosted two matches during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

In 2011, a resurgent Manawatu Turbos side defeated the Wellington Lions 31–25 in Wellington. It was Manawatu's first competition win over Wellington in the capital, after 124 years of trying. Also in 2011, Manawatu scored 54 points against Waikato team at Arena Manawatu. The Turbos led 35–17 at halftime, eventually winning 54–20. This kept the Turbos unbeaten at home for the season.

In 2012, Manawatu scored its first victory away to North Harbor. The win at home against Hawke's Bay made Manawatu one of the few Championship teams to beat a Premiership team.

In 2012, Aaron Smith was selected in the All Blacks after fine performances with Manawatu and the Highlanders. Smith joining Aaron Cruden meant for the first time since 1986, two All Blacks came from Manawatu.

In 2021 Manawatu appointed Andrea Jackson as Chief Executive Officer. Manawatu were the first top-flight union to appoint a woman in that role.

Club Rugby
The Manawatu rugby union includes the following clubs:

Hankins Shield Senior A Club competition winners

 * 1987 Varsity (coached by Murray Kendrick)
 * 1988 Varsity (Murray Kendrick)
 * 1989 HSOB (Ian Colquhoun)
 * 1990 College OB (Bill Clarke)
 * 1991 College OB (Bill Clarke)
 * 1992 Marist (Frank Oliver)
 * 1993 Kia Toa (Warren Hayne)
 * 1994 Feilding OB (Roger Walker)
 * 1995 Marist (John Fisher)
 * 1996 Oroua (Wayne Harding)
 * 1997 Te Kawau (Geoff Webb)
 * 1998 Marist (Mark Gleeson)
 * 1999 Te Kawau (Geoff Webb)
 * 2000 Te Kawau (Peter Kemp) 20-17 Marist
 * 2001 HSOB (Lewis Williams) 21-19 COB
 * 2002 Te Kawau (Stu Trembath) 16-11 Marist
 * 2003 Te Kawau (Stu Trembath) 23-16 Marist
 * 2004 Varsity (Steve Morris) 26-8 HSOB
 * 2005 College OB (Graeme Tanner) 27-16 Feilding Old Boys
 * 2006 College OB (Dean Andrew) 13-0 Varsity
 * 2007 College OB (John Cruden) 33-18 Feilding
 * 2008 Kia Toa (Tasi Tahuna) 11-6 Te Kawa
 * 2009 Kia Toa (Anthony Rehutai) 29-23 Varsity
 * 2010 Varsity (Geoff Thompson) 11-10 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua
 * 2011 Varsity (Geoff Thompson) 29-27 Te Kawa
 * 2012 College OB (Aaron Good) 34-20 Varsity
 * 2013 Kia Toa 37-15 Varsity
 * 2014 College Old Boys 21-10 Kia Toa
 * 2015 College Old Boys 32-21 Kia Toa
 * 2016 Varsity 18-17 Kia Toa
 * 2017 Old Boys Marist 28-27 Kia Toa
 * 2018 Feilding Old Boys-Oroua 24-22 Feilding
 * 2019 Feilding 16-14 Varsity
 * 2020 Feilding 27-24 Varsity
 * 2021 Feilding 22-18 Varsity
 * 2022 College Old Boys (Kingi Matenga) 24-5 Old Boys Marist
 * 2023 Varsity (Scott Lewis & Blair van Stipriaan) 34-33 College Old Boys
 * 2024 Kia Toa (Michael Tagicakibau) 40-30 College Old Boys

Manawatu All Blacks
In New Zealand, to be selected to the All Blacks is the pinnacle of rugby achievement. In its history, Manawatu have produced many players who have been selected for the national team.

♦ = indicates a club amalgamated with another

♥ = indicates a club no longer in the Manawatu Rugby Union

♣ = a club no longer extant

Manawatu players in Super Rugby
Manawatu is in the Hurricanes catchment area, along with Wanganui, Hawke's Bay, Poverty Bay, East Coast, Horowhenua Kapiti, Wairarapa-Bush and Wellington. However players from Manawatu may be selected and signed by any of the Super Rugby franchises.

Manawatu players who have played for Super Rugby teams are:

Other distinguished players

 * Kurt Baker – moved to Taranaki; played Super Rugby for Highlanders.
 * Josh Bradnock – Foundation Turbo – Captain, 60+ Games, Hurricanes player who would have played many Super games if career was not lost to multiple tendon injuries.
 * John Brady - Played 15 matches for Auckland 1960–65. Trialled for the Wallabies in 1966, but was not selected due to nationality issues.
 * Hugh Blair – 1970s winger, Ranfurly Shield hero and crowd favourite, from the Varsity Club of Massey University. Instantly recognisable with his long blond hair, headband and beard. Went on to lecture at Auckland University.
 * Francisco Bosch (rugby union) – (2006–08) Foundation Turbo. Represented Argentina for tests vs Chile, Japan, Samoa and South Africa in 2004–05. Also a former Sevens player for Argentina.
 * Jim Carroll – The son of Manawatu All Black Alphonsus Carroll, he was an outstanding first-five eighth during Manawatu's Ranfurly Shield reign from 1976 to 1978. Scored the winning try from a charge-down in the 15–10 win over Counties in 1977. This shield defence was perhaps Manawatu's most memorable.
 * Denis Clare – hooker during the Ranfurly Shield and National Championship winning era.
 * Alan Innes – from the early Hamer years.
 * Andrew McMaster – Represented the NZ Combined Services. An exciting winger who transferred to Manawatu's Ohakea Air Force Base in 1984. Prior to this he starred for Canterbury during their memorable Ranfurly Shield era (1982–85).
 * Terry Sole – Loose forward during the early, and most successful, Hamer years.
 * Alex Tatana – Midfielder – Hamer years, early to mid-1980s.
 * Ian Wood – Midfielder who came close to All Black selection in 1985–86. Considered unlucky not to have been selected for cancelled 1985 tour of South Africa and subsequent replacement tour to Argentina.

Coaches

 * Jack Gleeson: (1965-69) - Coach of the New Zealand national under-21 rugby union team from 1975 to 1976 and the All Blacks from 1977 to 1978.
 * Owen Gleeson (1970-74)
 * Graham Hamer: (1975-86) - Coached the Ranfurly Shield and National Championship winning teams of the 1970s and 1980s.
 * Kevin Eveleigh (1987): All Black Flanker 1974–77.
 * Gary Walker (1988).
 * Garth Thelin, assisted by Donnie McCaskie (1989). Under Thelin the team only lost one 2nd division championship match (against Southland who were promoted) but he was replaced after this one season.
 * Mark Donaldson: (1990-92) - Former All Black half-back.
 * Ian Snook: (1993-94)
 * Frank Oliver: (1995–97) - Later coached the Central Vikings, Hurricanes and Blues.
 * Ken Maharey and Andrew McMaster (Assistant): (2001-03)
 * Peter Kemp: (2004)
 * Charlie McAlister: (2005)
 * Dave Rennie (2006–11): Foundation Manawatu Turbos coach. Left at the end of 2011 season to become 2012 coach of Chiefs. The Chiefs subsequently won back-to-back Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013. Coached Australia.
 * Jason O'Halloran (2011–2015): Assistant and successor of Dave Rennie. Coach of the ITM Cup Championship winning team of 2014 leading to promotion to the ITM Cup Premiership in 2015.
 * Jeremy Cotter (2016–2018): Assistant to Jason O'Halloran before being promoted to the Head Coach role. Brother of Scotland coach, Vern Cotter.
 * Peter Russell (2019 - 2022): Formerly coach of Marist St Pats (Wellington), Wairarapa Bush, Hawkes Bay, Newcastle Falcons and Japanese club NEC Green Rockets.
 * Mike Rogers (2023-): Formerly assistant coach of Bay of Plenty, the Chiefs Manawa and Waikato Farah Palmer Cup teams and the New England Free Jacks.

Support
Fans of Manawatu rugby are known throughout the rugby community in New Zealand for their habit of wearing plastic garden buckets cut to shape over their heads during matches. As such, fans of the provincial side have picked up the self-named nickname of "Bucketheads".

Theme Songs
Manawatu had two theme songs during their 'glory' years, which were played on radio '2ZA' in the days leading up to the big games on Saturday. They were:


 * A Ranfurly Shield theme song 1976–78 (sung to the melody of the American civil war song When Johnny Comes Marching Home): "We're Manawatu, we've got the shield huh rah, huh rah!..."
 * A later song (early 1980s) was used prior to NPC and Ranfurly Shield challenges: "We'll pass the ball and run it, green and white! And let them feel the power of country might!..."
 * A much earlier song, On The Ball, was sung at Manawatu games during its foundation years and beyond. According to Manawatu rugby historian, Clive Akers, it was composed in Palmerston North by team captain Ted Secker and was 'made famous by the 1888 Native team that toured Britain'. Akers said further 'it would rate as Manawatu's greatest contribution to the rugby world'. Its chorus went: "On the Ball! On the Ball! On the Ball! Thro' scrummage, three-quarters and all, sticking together we keep on the leather, and shout as we go, On the Ball!"

Women's Rugby: Manawatu Cyclones
Manawatu Cyclones is the women's representative team. The Cyclones wear the same green and white tramline jersey design as the men's team.

Women's Provincial Championship
In 2005, the team was promoted from the Second Division. In 2006, however, Manawatu did not win a game in the competition, which saw the team play against the likes of Auckland, Wellington and Otago. Manawatu drew with Hawke's Bay.

In 2012, the Women's Provincial Championship format was a full round robin of six teams playing six rounds (each team with one bye round). The Cyclones began with a bye. Wins for the Cyclones were over Waikato, Wellington and Hawke's Bay. Unfortunately large losses to Otago and eventual finalists Auckland and Canterbury and missing crucial bonus points, meant the Cyclones did not make the post-season.

Notable Cyclones:

Current
 * Carys Dallinger
 * Marilyn Live
 * Rachael Rakatau
 * Janna Vaughan
 * Kaipo Olsen-Baker
 * Selica Winiata
 * Sarah Goss

Past
 * Farah Palmer
 * Rebecca Mahoney

NZ Rugby Museum
Palmerston North is the home of the New Zealand Rugby Museum and also the Sport & Rugby Institute at the Turitea Campus, Massey University.