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: 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:
Club name Team Colours Home base Notes Ashhurst-Pohangina Green and Gold Ashhurst Bulls Black Bulls Bunnythorpe Maroon, Gold and Black Bunnythorpe Bush Sports Red and Blue Pahiatua Junior level rugby only is played in Manawatu; Senior level has returned to Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union. College Old Boys (COB) White, Maroon, Gold & Black Palmerston North Dannevirke Black and Gold Dannevirke Dannevirke Sports Club was formerly affiliated with Hawke's Bay, however in 2007, it switched its affiliation to Manawatu. Feilding (Feilding Yellows) Yellow & Black Feilding Feilding Old Boys-Oroua RFC (FOB-O) Black, White, Red & Blue Feilding and KimboltonFeilding Old Boys-Oroua is an amalgamation of the Feilding Old Boys and Oroua Rugby Clubs Freyberg (Freys) Royal Blue & Gold Milson, Palmerston North Halcombe Black and Red Halcombe High School Old Boys-Marist (OBM) Black, White & Green hoops Palmerston North High School Old Boys-Marist was an amalgamation of the High School Old Boys (HSOB) and Marist Rugby Clubs Kia Toa Light Blue & Dark Blue Awapuni/Highbury, Palmerston North Linton Army Red & Black Linton Military Camp Varsity Sky Blue Massey University, Palmerston North Te Kawau Emerald Green & Black Rongotea
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 (Glen Gregory) 24-22 Feilding 2019 Feilding (Kelvin Tantrum & Nathan Williams) 16-14 Varsity 2020 Feilding (Nathan Williams) 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 2025 Varsity (Scott Lewis) 29-27 Kia Toa 2026 Kia Toa (Bethel Fau’olo) 59-27 Massey UniversityBurnes, Campbell. Rugby News magazine (August 2026). Charlotte Smulders Publisher, New Zealand.
Manawatu representative players
Acknowledgement to Clive Akers from the NZ Rugby Museum
Centurions - 100 matches for Manawatu