Rugby Clubs

Kahukura Rugby & Sports Club

The lakeside township of Ohinemutu was the centre of Rotorua rugby in the late nineteenth century and it is here that Kahukura has its roots. When the Rotorua sub-union was created over 100 years ago it was thought that the Ohinemutu team was so strong that there would be no effective competition, so it was split into two parts. The two new clubs took their names from two thermal pools at Ohinemutu, Kahukura and Waikite. Those who lived on the Kahukura side of the pool played for the Kahukura club.

The new club was immediately successful, winning the inaugural Banner Championship in 1903 wearing sky blue colours. Kahukura has competed in Rotorua club competition in every year since. Even during the First and Second World Wars Kahukura has put out teams against Waikite and service teams. The clubrooms in those early years were situated in Hinemoa St, which was until recently the site of the Post Office. From the 1930’s to the 1950’s the club was without a permanent base, existing in temporary accommodation at various locations around the town.

 In the 1960’s the long cherished ambition of permanent premises was achieved when many years of fundraising enabled the present clubrooms to be built at the southern end of Kuirau Park. Even though Kuirau Park has been site of the clubrooms it has only been its home ground from the early 90’s.

Over the years a few clubs have amalgamated with Kahukura with the last being in 1971 when the club amalgamated with Western Heights JAB. Along with junior teams Kahukura also added the colour red, giving us our present red, white and blue colours. Junior Rugby has continued to flourish under the Kahukura banner. The investment of thousand of hours by volunteers who run teams as young as the under 6’s has ensured the long term future of the club as well as being a valuable community resource.

Kahukura has been supporting sport in Rotorua for over 100 years. During those years we have had many different codes join our club including netball, hockey, soccer, cricket softball and touch. Some are continuing at present and others have faded into the history of our club. Kahukura has come a long way from one rugby team based in someone’s garage to the multi-sport club it is today. However, Kahukura remains today what it was created in 1903; a club that enables the people of Rotorua to take part in sport in a competitive way while having a good time on and off the field.

sportsground.co.nz/kahukurarsc

Marist St Michaels Club

Marist St Michaels Rugby and Sports Club promote themselves as a “sports club that has something for all” and that is indeed true.

Sports wise we cater for rugby, netball, softball, hockey, cricket and touch rugby and this extends to full administration, training and social functions. We provide a courtesy shuttle for our members and their guests.

Rugby at Marist St Michaels (MSM) started approximately in 1940 in which we have
produced many representative players and also an All Black player Paul Scott 1966. Currently we field one Senior Team, One Colts Team along with eight JAB Teams.

As a Marist Club we are also associated with 29 other Marist Clubs throughout New Zealand and as a strong fraternity we produce many representative players for both New Zealand Marist and the All Blacks.

Many of the Senior Players began their rugby careers at Marist St Michaels Rugby Club. Their progression through the ranks has enabled them to develop their skills and
knowledge with the support of the club.

St Michaels ongoing commitment to rugby is evident through its players, coaches, management and supporters. Our location is in close proximity to the Rotorua Central Business District.

Ngongotaha Sports Club

Prior to 1923, friendly games of Rugby were played at Ngongotaha until two local store keepers presented The Te Awahou Rugby Union Shield and four teams played in this competition, Ngongotaha being one of these teams.

1929 was the first year Ngongotaha Rugby Club was registered with the Rotorua Rugby Union and played a number of years before going into recess. It restarted after the conclusion of World War II. The club fielded mainly junior teams through until 1956 when again it went into recess, but 1959 saw the club restart with the junior teams.

In 1964 the club gained senior status and won the championship the following year. The club continued to develop until 1971 when it amalgamated with Western Heights High School Old Boys, thus becoming Ngongotaha WHHS Old Boys Rugby Club. This was a major turning point and before long the clubs strength began to show through in all the grades and 1975 was the start of the clubs championship successes under its new name.

From the mid 1970’s through to the late 1990’s the club has enjoyed many championship achievements and its prowess was well known throughout the Bay of Plenty.

The 21st century signaled the beginning of difficult times ahead for the club. We had to sell our Hall Road clubrooms where we hosted many local and international guests. Our club began operating out of the local hotel which was fine for our senior club, but not conducive for our juniors whose numbers began to dwindle. Our next move was to the local soccer club which should have been of benefit to both clubs but unfortunately, this relationship broke down. The 2004 season saw the relegation of our Premier Rugby team to Division One which is where we currently remain.

In 2005 we needed to swing the momentum, so a name change was considered to be a good starting point. Hence we are now known as Ngongotaha Sports & Community Association Inc. Also, our life members wanted our original colours of white and maroon reinstated. A partnership with Ngongotaha Bowling Club was initiated, allowing us the use of their facilities. They allowed us to convert their old clubrooms into 2 changing rooms and showers and this is the first time ever, we have had these facilities at the field. This has been operating now for 4 years very successfully for both clubs.

The club has had instant success with these initiatives and is building to put itself back to its previous highs.