The Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union within the Gisborne district, in the area surrounding Poverty Bay on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The men's representative team play from Rugby Park, Gisborne, and currently compete in the Heartland Championship.

History The Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union was established in 1890 by four clubs in the Gisborne area — Gisborne, Turanganui, Poverty Bay and Waerenga-a-Hika — with the union's inaugural first-class match being held against Hawke's Bay the same year. Since then, the union has played against every other existent union in New Zealand as well as an array of overseas touring sides, including but not limited to Australia, England, South Africa and Japan, against whom Poverty Bay drew in 1974. In 1981, Rugby Park was the scene of clashes between pro-tour supporters and anti-tour protesters prior to a match against the touring South African side. Poverty Bay ultimately lost the game by 6 - 24.

Club rugby

Club championship

Lee Brothers Shield

The Lee Brothers Shield was named in honour of Stan, Fred, Norm, Harry and Dave Lee. Stan Lee designed the shield and it was crafted from heart rimu, mounted on sterling silver by the late George Geddes. First presented in 1947 to Old Boys who won on a points system before Grand Finals were introduced. In 1969 the first Grand Final was played, with Ngatapa winning the shield.

2026 YMP 17 - 16 High School Old Boys 2025 YMP 21 - 7 Tapuae 2024 Tapuae 13 - 5 YMP 2023 YMP 15 - 0 Waikohu

Provincial representative rugby

National Provincial Championship

Poverty Bay won the National Provincial Championship (NPC) Third division, in: 1987 coached by Grant Allen and captained by former Canterbury representative Tony Thorpe, the team was unbeaten in all 9 games they played that season including a 26-16 victory over Hawkes Bay. Fullback Richard Owen scored 104 points in NPC matches (122 in total for the season) and Andrew Hansen scored 7 tries. 2004 coached by Kiwi Searancke and captained by Mark Jefferson, a former first class cricketer.

They also finished runners-up in the same division in 1994, 1995 and 1999.

Heartland Championship

Since 2006, Poverty Bay have competed in the Heartland Championship, a competition organised by the New Zealand Rugby Union for New Zealand's amateur unions. Since the introduction of the format in 2006, the team have had great success, winning the Lochore Cup on four occasions: 2006 coached by Paul Feeney with Scott Leighton as captain and main goal kicker scoring 115 points for the season. 2007 coached by Feeney and captained by Leighton who scored 114 points in Heartland games (144 on all games). 2008 coached by Feeney and captained by Leighton. A young Charlie Ngatai from Gisborne Boys' High School also appeared in three games scoring four tries including two in the final. 2011 coached by Granger Heikell and captain Leighton. John Stewart scored a Poverty Bay season record equaling 11 tries.

Poverty Bay have not managed to win the Meads Cup, having been eliminated in the semi-finals in 2009, 2010 and 2014.

Heartland Championship resultsYear Place Playoffs Semifinal Final 20068 5 0 3 243 194 +49 4 24 7th Lochore Cup Won 36–10 against Buller Won 46–34 against King Country 20078 5 0 3 193 162 +31 4 24 7th Lochore CupWon 65–3 against Thames Valley Won 38–35 against South Canterbury 20088 5 0 3 196 131 +65 3 23 7th Lochore Cup Won 43–30 against South Canterbury Won 26–5 against Horowhenua-Kapiti 20098 6 0 2 154 181 −27 2 26 3rd Meads Cup Lost 13–48 to Wanganui — 20108 6 0 2 282 164 +118 4 28 3rd Meads Cup Lost 24–31 to Wanganui — 20118 3 1 4 184 226 +40 5 19 8th Lochore Cup Won 32–30 against Buller Won 49–22 against South Canterbury 20128 3 0 5 212 247 −35 5 17 8th Lochore Cup Lost 22–42 to Buller — 20138 1 0 7 141 240 −99 2 6 12th No — 20148 5 1 2 231 168 +63 6 28 2nd Meads Cup Lost 22–29 to Mid Canterbury — 20158 1 0 7 227 333 −106 6 10 11th No — 20168 3 0 5 296 268 +28 8 20 7th Lochore Cup Lost 26-48 to King Country — 20178 4 0 4 185 229 -44 4 20 8th Lochore Cup Lost 22-56 to Mid Canterbury — 20188 2 0 6 193 302 −109 8 16 11th No — 20198 3 0 5 237 257 -20 8 20 8th Lochore Cup Lost 35-41 to Wairarapa Bush — 20218 4 0 4 263 223 +40 8 24 5th No — 20228 3 0 5 183 242 -59 4 16 10th No — 20238 2 0 6 229 249 -20 8 16 8th Lochore Cup Won 40-35 against North Otago Lost 20-23 against West Coast 20248 0 0 8 190 350 -160 6 6 12th No — 20258 4 0 4 249 247 +2 5 257th Lochore Cup Lost 46-48 to North Otago —

Ranfurly Shield Poverty Bay have never held the Ranfurly Shield. In 1980, Poverty Bay came close to defeating Auckland, losing a hard-fought encounter 12 - 19.

Past challenges

All Blacks There have been seven players selected for the All Blacks whilst playing for Poverty Bay:

John Collins: All Blacks 1964-65 Hika Elliot: Poverty Bay 2014, All Blacks 2010-15 Brian Fitzpatrick: All Blacks 1951-1954. Father of All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick Ian Kirkpatrick: All Blacks 1967-77 Lawrie Knight: All Blacks 1974-77 Mike Parkinson: All Blacks 1972-73 Richard "Tiny" White: All Blacks 1946-57.

Players who became All Blacks after previously representing Poverty Bay include:

Hosea Gear: Poverty Bay 2000, All Blacks 2008-12 Rico Gear: Poverty Bay 1997 (also 2014-16), All Blacks 2004-07 Charlie Ngatai: Poverty Bay 2008, All Blacks 2015.

Super Rugby Poverty Bay along with Wellington, Wairarapa Bush, Wanganui, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu and Horowhenua-Kapiti fall within the catchment. Hosea Gear is the most notable player from the Poverty Bay region to have played for the side.

References

External links Official Website Poverty Bay rugby (NZHistory.net.nz)