The South Canterbury Rugby Football Union (SCRFU) is a rugby province based in the central South Island city of Timaru, New Zealand. The South Canterbury team play at Fraser Park located in Timaru.

History Club rugby in South Canterbury predated the formation of South Canterbury RFU by at least two decades. The first recorded club rugby match in South Canterbury was played on 15 October 1867 between The Timaru and Temuka Clubs at Arowhenua. Eight years later, in 1875, the South Canterbury Football Club was formed, founded by Alfred St. George Hamersley the former captain of the England national rugby union team and resident of Timaru. Soon after on 24 May 1875 a match was played between North and South Canterbury at Ashburton that resulted in a draw. More clubs were formed, such as the Waimate Football Club on 24 May 1876, and Christchurch are recorded as playing Temuka in 1876. On 26 July 1879, a meeting was held in Timaru at the instigation again of Hamersley, at which delegates representing the clubs Christchurch, Christ's College, Temuka, North Canterbury (Rangiora), Eastern (Christchurch), South Canterbury (Timaru), Ashburton, and Southbridge agreed to form the Canterbury Rugby Football Union.

The South Canterbury Rugby Football Union (SCRFU) was formed in 1888 when it broke away from the Canterbury Rugby Football Union. A meeting of delegates from football clubs in South Canterbury was held at the office of "Messrs Hamersley and Wood, Timaru, to consider the advisability of forming a Rugby Football Union in the district."Otago Witness, 16 March 1888, Page 27 Once again, Hamersley was involved in a pivotal point in the history of rugby in the region and his role was commemorated in 2010 with the introduction of the Hamersley trophy, a 186 cm tall silver trophy, for the winners of the senior rugby competition (the Personnel Placements club rugby championship). This meeting was attended by delegates from the South Canterbury, Pirates, Temuka, Waimate, Geraldine, Winchester and Fairlie Creek clubs and as a result of the union the South Canterbury club agreed to change its name to the Timaru Club. Formal association with the Canterbury RFU was broken and it was established that the boundaries of the South Canterbury union were to be the Rangitata and Waitaki rivers, and the headquarters was Timaru. Soon after, a representative match was played on 24 July 1888 against the New Zealand Native Team on the Athletic Grounds, Timaru.

South Canterbury has produced a number of All Blacks and are one of the few unions to have played in all three Divisions of the NPC. South Canterbury has also had some notable victories over touring international sides including the 1961 French team. In 2011 the South Canterbury Heartland team played the 2011 Russian World Cup team who toured New Zealand before the 2011 Rugby World Cup at Fraser Park. Also 2011 saw two sell out Super 15 games played at Fraser Park in Timaru - the Crusaders vs the Bulls and Crusaders vs The Blues.

Representative Rugby

The South Canterbury Rugby team play from Fraser Park, Timaru and they play their rugby in the Heartland Championship. They also compete against Mid Canterbury and North Otago for the Hanan Shield.

2025 squad

The South Canterbury squad for 2025 Heartland Championship:

Forwards: Anthony Amato (Waimate), Ben Kerr (Celtic), Conor Anderson (Celtic), Finlay Joyce (Temuka), Fletcher Joyce (Temuka), Jack Pani (Temuka), James Russek (Mackenzie), Junior Faavae (Temuka), Keegan Gray (Pleasant Point), Malakai Uasi (Harlequins), Maloni Uhi (Harlequins), Paula Moli (Waimate), Shane Fikken (Temuka), Siu Kakala (Harlequins), Solomone Lavaka (Temuka), Tangi Sevelio (Harlequins), Tokoma'ata Fakatava (Waimate), Vaka Taelega (Temuka).

Backs: Angus Mitchell (Mackenzie), Caleb McNoe (Temuka), Clarence Moli (Waimate), Daniel Patterson (Waimate), Jimmy Robertson (Mackenzie), Kalavini Leatigaga (Temuka), Lisiate Folau (Harlequins), Miles Medlicott (Waimate), Morrison Vaisola (Temuka), Paula Fifita (Harlequins), Peala Matakaiongo (Celtic), Peni Kadralevu (Harlequins), Samiuela Ahokovi (Harlequins), Sioeli Filimoehala (Harlequins), Sireli Masi Jnr (Geraldine), William Wright (Celtic), Zac Saunders (Celtic).

Coach: Nigel Walsh

Championships

National Provincial Championship (NPC)

In the NPC South Canterbury won: the 2nd division South Island in 1976, 1977 and 1981 the 3rd division in 1986, 1991, 1998 and 2001

Heartland Championship placings

In the Heartland Championship South Canterbury have won:

the Meads Cup in 2021, 2022 and 2023 the Lochore Cup in 2013 and 2019.

Heartland Championship resultsYear Place Playoffs Semifinal Final 20068 3 0 5 28 102 −74 2 14 5th No — 20078 4 0 4 139 173 −34 3 19 2nd Lochore Cup Won 31–23 against West Coast Lost 35–38 to Poverty Bay 20088 3 1 4 181 167 +14 4 19 4th Lochore Cup Lost 30–43 to Poverty Bay — 20098 5 0 3 169 198 −29 2 22 4th Meads Cup Lost 17–19 to Mid Canterbury — 20106 4 0 2 121 119 +2 1 17 5th No — 20118 4 0 4 239 187 +52 6 22 6th Lochore Cup Won 30–27 against Thames Valley Lost 22–49 to Poverty Bay 20128 5 0 3 265 227 +38 4 21 6th Lochore Cup Won 48–20 against Mid Canterbury Lost 28–31 to Buller 20138 4 0 4 246 202 +44 7 23 5th Lochore Cup Won 14–18 against Thames Valley Won 17–10 against Buller 20148 4 0 4 202 165 +37 5 21 6th Lochore Cup Lost 12–16 to North Otago — 20158 7 0 1 346 162 +184 7 35 1st Meads Cup Won 25–21 against Wairarapa Bush Lost 11–28 against Wanganui 2016 8 7 0 1 324 162 +162 7 36 2nd Meads Cup Lost 6-16 against Buller — 20178 7 0 1 273 190 +83 8 36 1st Meads Cup Lost 24-29 to Wanganui — 20188 6 0 2 341 151 +190 8 32 2nd Meads Cup Won 58-21 against King Country Lost 12-17 against Thames Valley 20198 4 1 3 237 176 +61 7 25 7th Lochore Cup Won 56-24 against Buller Won 23-19 against West Coast 20218 8 0 0 365 124 +241 8 40 1st Meads Cup No semi-final played Won 35-16 against Thames Valley 20228 8 0 0 368 122 +246 7 39 1st Meads Cup Won 76-9 against King Country Won 47-36 against Whanganui 20238 8 0 0 341 180 +161 8 40 1st Meads Cup Won 34-17 against Ngati Porou East Coast Won 40-30 against Whanganui 20248 8 0 0 327 214 +113 8 40 1st Meads Cup Lost 16-17 to Mid Canterbury —20258503297239+584292nd Meads Cup Lost 31-61 to Thames Valley —

There was no Heartland Championship in the 2020 season due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Ranfurly Shield South Canterbury has held the Ranfurly Shield twice, in 1950 and 1974.

1950 Matches played:

South Canterbury 17 vs Wairarapa 14, Masterton, North Auckland 20 vs South Canterbury 9, Timaru,

Team members: Coach: Brushy Mitchell (centre, second row) Captain: Morrie Goddard (third from left) Vice Captain: Lachie Grant (third from right)

1974

In 1974 South Canterbury successfully challenged Marlborough who had unexpectedly taken the Shield off Canterbury the season before. South Canterbury defended the Shield against North Otago but then lost it to Wellington.

Matches played: South Canterbury 18 vs Marlborough 6, Blenheim on 17 August South Canterbury 9 vs North Otago 3, Timaru on 31 August Wellington 9 vs South Canterbury 3, Timaru on 3 September

Team members: Captain: Ken Milne

Hanan Shield The Hanan Shield is one of the most prestigious trophies in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1946, the Hanan Shield is based on a challenge system played between North Otago, South Canterbury and Mid Canterbury.

International Victories

South Canterbury has recorded wins versus international tourists:

17 - 14 against France in 1961 California 1972 Romania 1975 Japan 1979 Tonga 1983.

Sevens

South Canterbury hosted the 2010 and 2011 South Island Sevens Tournament at Fraser Park in Timaru, a provincial qualifier to the New Zealand National Rugby Sevens Tournament in Queenstown. South Canterbury has qualified and competed at a number of New Zealand National Rugby Sevens Tournament the last being in 2011.

Club Rugby

Current clubs South Canterbury Rugby Football Union is made up of nine clubs: Timaru Celtic RFC Geraldine RFC Harlequins RFC (Amalgamation of Zingari and Star in 1998) Mackenzie RFC Old Boys RFC Pareora RFC Pleasant Point RFC Temuka RFC Waimate RFC

Club rugby championship winners

Club Champions1888 Waihi1889 Waihi1890 Timaru1891 Waihi1892 Union1893 Union1894 Timaru/Union1895 Waihi1896 Star1897 Waihi1898 Colonial1899 Colonial1900 Waihi1901 Temuka1902 Temuka1903 Temuka 1904 Temuka1905 Star1906 Temuka1907 Temuka1908 Pirates1909 Pirates1910 Temuka1911 Celtic1912 Zingari1912 Celtic1914 Zingari1915 Temuka1916 No competition (WW1)1917 Geraldine1918 Star1919 Temuka1920 Temuka1921 Zingari1922 Old Boys1923 Zingari1924 Old Boys1925 Old Boys1926 Zingari1927 Old Boys1928 Old Boys1929 Star1930 Old Boys1931 Star1932 Star1933 Star1934 Star1935 Star1936 Star1937 Temuka1938 Temuka1939 Temuka1940 Temuka1941 Celtic1942 Army 'A'1943 No competition (WW2)1944 Makikihi1945 Temuka1946 Temuka1947 Old Boys1948 Celtic1949 Geraldine1950 Zingari1951 Zingari1952 Celtic1953 Celtic1954 Zingari1955 Celtic1956 Temuka1957 Celtic1958 Waimate1959 Geraldine1960 Waimate1961 Zingari1962 Old Boys1963 Old Boys1964 Temuka1965 Temuka1966 Temuka1967 Temuka1968 Temuka1969 Zingari1970 Zingari1971 Old Boys1972 Star1973 Zingari1974 Old Boys1975 Old Boys1976 Old Boys/Temuka1977 Temuka1978 Temuka1979 Old Boys/Temuka1980 Temuka1981 Temuka1982 Temuka1983 Old Boys1984 Temuka1985 Temuka1986 Temuka1987 Star1988 Star1989 Star1990 Waimate1991 Temuka1992 Temuka1993 Temuka1994 Waimate1995 Waimate1996 Temuka1997 Temuka1998 Harlequins1999 Temuka2000 Harlequins2001 Temuka2002 Harlequins2003 MacKenzie2004 Harlequins2005 Pleasant Point2006 Celtic2007 Harlequins2008 Harlequins2009 Celtic2010 Celtic2011 Celtic2012 Celtic2013 Celtic2014 Celtic2015 Celtic2016 Celtic2017 Celtic2018 Celtic2019 Temuka2020 Temuka2021 Temuka2022 Celtic2023 Temuka2024 Harlequins

Total championships by club

South Canterbury club rugby titles (1888 - 2024)ClubTotal TitlesOutrightSharedLast winning season: Temuka434122023Celtic20202022Old Boys15151983Star14141989Zingari12121973Harlequins772024Waihi661888Waimate551995Union3211894Geraldine331959Timaru2111894Colonial221899Pirates221909Army 'A'111942Makikihi111944MacKenzie112003Pleasant Point112005

High School Rugby Timaru Boys' High School and Roncalli College 1st XV play in the Crusaders Region Secondary Schools' Rugby Championship.

In 1995 Timaru BHS made the Top 4 of the National First XV Championship losing 22-27 to Kelston Boys' High School but winning the 3rd v 4th play off against Southland Boys' High School by 25-10. In 2017 Timaru BHS made the Crusaders final but lost to Christchurch Boys' High School by 10-18.

Notable players All Blacks There have been 22 players selected for the All Blacks whilst playing their club rugby in South Canterbury.

Name, All Black No. & Year: John Gardner, No.25, 1893 Charles Macintosh, No.39, 1893 David Stewart, No.54, 1894 Alf Budd, No.160, 1910 Tom Lynch, No.177, 1913 Gus Spillane, No.200, 1913 Eric Cockroft, No.203, 1913 Percy Storey, No.224, 1920 Ron Stewart, No.288, 1923 Gordon Lawson, No.320, 1925 Archie Strang, No.342, 1928 Tom Metcalfe, No.384, 1931 George Adkins, No.409, 1935 Tom Morrison, No.441, 1938 Charles Saxton, No.443, 1938 Morrie Goddard, No.467, 1946 Lachie Grant, No.471, 1947 Jack Goddard, No.499, 1949 Thomas Coughlan, No.592, 1958 Allan Stewart, No.638, 1963 Tom Lister, No.673, 1968 Lyn Jaffray, No.711, 1972

To view player profile, go to allblacks.com

Super Rugby

South Canterbury along with Canterbury, Tasman, Buller, Mid Canterbury and West Coast make up the Crusaders Super Rugby franchise.

South Canterbury players in Super Rugby: Graeme Dempster - 4 games for the Canterbury Crusaders (1996) Brendan Laney - after having representing South Canterbury (1991-94) Laney played for Otago (1995–2001), 44 games for the Otago Highlanders (1997–2001) and 20 games for Scotland

References