Rugby

Manawatu – The Home of Rugby in New Zealand

When the adidas Rugby Institute was opened on Massey University’s campus in September, 1999, there was no doubt some passing thought of Charles Monro, the man who organized the first rugby match ever played in New Zealand.

That history-making event took place at Nelson, on May 14, 1870, between the teams of Nelson College and Nelson Town. 

But how many people were aware that Charles Monro actually lived only a stone’s throw from the site of the adidas Rugby Institute – and in a house that is now one of the university’s on-campus hostels?

Charles Monro was born and brought up in Nelson, where his father Dr David Monro became a prominent citizen, serving as Member of the House of Representatives for the district and as Speaker of the House before being knighted and retiring.  Like most reasonably well-off families, the Monros sent their son back to England for his education and it was there that Charles Monro enjoyed taking part in the new game of rugby football for the first time.

Charles Monro moved to Palmerston North in 1887 and bought 51 acres of land on the bluff at Fitzherbert to build a family home in 1889.  “Craiglockhart” named after the family’s estate in Scotland, was built not long afterwards and the family owned “Craiglockhart” until 1944 when it was bought by Massey Agricultural College to become a women’s hostel.   Today, the steep rise on SH57 adjacent to Massey University is called Monro Hill.
  
Did they wear the silver fern?

Another Manawatu rugby story that persists despite lack of hard evidence to support it, is the claim that the Feilding Rugby Football Club was the first in New Zealand to wear a black jersey with a silver fern on it.    Nobody has yet come up with a team photograph showing players wearing such a uniform, and in fact 1880s era photographs show the team members wearing assorted jerseys, ranging from black to striped.  A report of the first Palmerston versus Feilding game on August 10, 1878,  (published in the “Wanganui Herald”) says that “the Square looked very gay with the jerseys of divers colours, stockings and caps to match, of the Feildingites mixed as they were with the red-legged Palmerstonians.”  This description indicates that the Feilding group was certainly not attired in black jerseys that day.  Nevertheless, this fascinating local legend regularly surfaces – and, with a lack of photographic evidence, maybe it is just as hard to disprove as it is to prove.

We know our rugby in Manawatu

The largest collection of rugby relics and memorabilia in the world is located in Palmerston North thanks to the enthusiasm of a local rugby devotee, John Sinclair.  The New Zealand Rugby Museum was opened on April 16, 1969, after Mr Sinclair, in his role of sports tour party leader, became inspired with the idea of a comprehensive rugby museum as a New Zealand equivalent of the Trophy Room at Cardiff Arms Park in Wales. 

The project was supported by Dr Fred Spurdle a former president of the Manawatu Rugby Football Union and Tom Morrison, at that time Chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.