King Country Rugby Football Union


The King Country Rugby Football Union is a constituent union in the New Zealand Rugby Union. It is located in the central North Island of New Zealand in an area known as the King Country. It was formed in 1922 when the South Auckland Rugby Union was split into three.
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History

The original King Country Rugby Union was formed in 1905 by the Manunui, Matapuna, Oio and Kakahi rugby clubs. In 1907, the newly formed Taumarunui rugby club replaced Oio.
The current King Country Rugby Football Union was formed in 1922, by the amalgamation of the first King Country Rugby Union along with the Ruapehu Sub-union in Ohakune, Maniapoto Sub-union in Te Kūiti and Ōhura Sub-union. These were joined by Ōtorohanga Sub-union in 1927, Kawhia in 1926 and Kaitieke in 1933 with the Taupō Sub-union transferring from the Hawkes Bay Rugby Union in 1987. The Ruapehu Sub-union returned to its original parent union the Wanganui Rugby Union in 1970.
This was the second attempt to establish a Rugby Union in the middle of the North Island, as in 1920 the Rangatiki, Taihape, Ruapehu sub-unions, and the King Country Union had applied for affiliation as the Main Trunk Union. However, this was declined after the Wanganui Rugby Union objected to the loss of their country players.
In those early years King Country representative games were held in Te Kūiti, Taumarunui and Raetihi or Ohakune. Ōtorohanga was first used for a representative game in 1939 with representative games also being hosted in Tokaanu and Tūrangi.
In later years King Country played home games at Piopio, Maihiihi, and Waitomo.
King Country played in light blue and green until 1949 when it switched to maroon and gold hoops. In 1980, a maroon jersey with gold collar and cuffs was adopted. The current strip has been used since 1994.
King Country has made 22 challenges for the Ranfurly Shield over the years without success but having come close at times, going down to Taranaki in a hard fought game 11–15 in 1958. In 1969 they came even closer when good mates Colin Meads and Kel Tremain were the respective captains, King Country storming back from 6–19 at half time in a torrid second half before going down 16–19.
A well known and amusing challenge in 1988 against Auckland at Rugby Park in Te Kūiti when “Boris the Boar” mysteriously got onto the field and camped in the Auckland 22 for much of the second half.
With the 2020 Heartland Championship cancelled due to Covid-19, the Rams played three First-Class Fixtures against some of their traditional Heartland Rivals. King Country lost their first match against Wairarapa-Bush in the inaugural Meads-Lochore Scroll Fixture. They won their second fixture versus East Coast and in their final game they became holders of the Sir Colin Meads Memorial log beating Whanganui 16–11 in Taumarunui. This game was also Carl Carmichaels 100th first-class game.

Clubs

King Country Rugby Football Union is made up of 11 clubs.

Former clubs

King Country clubs that are now defunct or in recess include the following.
KawhiaOtorohanga ManiapotoOhuraTaumarunuiKaitiekeTongariroTaupō
KawhiaOtewaHangatikiOhura ValleyHikurangiKaitiekeTurangiWairakei Marist
OparauHonikiwiOparureMatiereOngarueOwhangoPihangaMangakino
MakomakoOtorohanga HuiaTe KūitiTokirimaTaumarunui AthleticRaurimuRotoairaTihoi
TaharoaOlympiansTe Kuiti RailwaysNiho NihoManunuiReturukeRangipoTaupo Athletic
AwaroaTigersHuiaOhura Kia-ToaSouthern UnitedHuimaiWaikuneTauhara
KinohakuWaitomo ValleyAria-MokauitiOhura AthleticTuhuaUnitedDownersMokai
MarokopaOtorohanga Power BoardMangaotakiOhuraOkahukuraExampleMountaineersOruanui
CoastOtorohanga Old BoysNehenehenuiNorth OhuraOio TokaanuCollege Old Boys
KarioiRangitotoMahoenuiMatapunaRotokawa
MoerangiWaitanguruNgati HauaWaitahanui
Te RauamoaMangapehiWaituhi
Te WaitereHauaroa
HauturuForresters

Secondary schools

As King Country is a geographically large union with a relatively low population there are only a few secondary schools within the region so it doesn't have a consolidated Secondary Schools competition. Schools play their rugby in other provinces such as Waikato and Bay of Plenty Rugby Union that can offer better opportunities. Players from these schools are still eligible for the King Country Secondary Schools and U19 Rugby Representative teams.
Together these schools are able to challenge for the Sam Te Kaha Shield, which is a challenge shield between all King Country Secondary Schools.

Provincial representative rugby

The King Country team play home matches at Owen Delany Park, Taupō, Rugby Park, Te Kūiti and Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui.

National Provincial Championship (NPC)

In 1996, King Country were in the first division of the NPC but in subsequent years struggled and in just 6 years were in the third division.

Heartland Championship

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

Ranfurly Shield

King Country have never held the Ranfurly Shield. The union has challenged unsuccessfully for the Shield 22 times.
YearHolderScoreChallengerVenue
1922Hawke's Bay42–8King CountryNapier
1933Canterbury36–0King CountryChristchurch
1952Waikato18–8King CountryHamilton
1958Taranaki15–11King CountryNew Plymouth
1961Auckland17–3King CountryAuckland
1964Taranaki21–0King CountryNew Plymouth
1966Auckland14–6King CountryAuckland
1969Hawke's Bay19–16King CountryNapier
1971North Auckland16–6King CountryWhangārei
1979North Auckland21–6King CountryWhangārei
1980Auckland29–3King CountryAuckland
1981Waikato22–9King CountryHamilton
1985Canterbury33–0King CountryChristchurch
1988Auckland28–0King CountryTe Kūiti
1990Auckland58–3King CountryAuckland
1992Auckland42–15King CountryTaupō
1994Waikato45–10King CountryHamilton
1998Waikato76–0King CountryHamilton
2012Taranaki67–16King CountryInglewood
2016Waikato55–0King CountryMatamata
2024Hawke's Bay57–7King CountryHastings
2025Taranaki78–7King CountryNew Plymouth

Matches against visiting international teams

King Country Rugby Union has a long history of playing against visiting international teams and playing them competitively. For a number of these games, King Country paired up with neighbouring unions.
YearDateHome TeamOppositionScoreVenue
192516 September 1925Waikato/King CountryNew South Wales16–19Taumarunui
19302 August 1930Waikato/Thames Valley/King CountryBritish Isles16–40Hamilton
193123 September 1931Waikato/King CountryAustralia10–30Hamilton
193728 August 1937Waikato/Thames Valley/King CountrySouth Africa3–6Rugby Park, Hamilton
193930 August 1939King CountryFiji9–14Taumarunui
194624 August 1946Taranaki/King CountryAustralia8–9Pukekura Park,New Plymouth
194917 August 1949King CountryAustralia6–24Taumarunui
195015 July 1950Waikato/Thames Valley/King CountryBritish Isles0–30Rugby Park, Hamilton
195220 August 1952King CountryAustralia6–16Island Reserve, Ōtorohanga
195417 July 1954King CountryNSW Country9–9Island Reserve, Ōtorohanga
195514 September 1955Wanganui/King CountryAustralia8–38Cooks Gardens, Whanganui
19568 August 1956Wanganui/King CountrySouth Africa16–36Spriggens Park, Whanganui
195731 July 1957King CountryFiji26–14Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui
195919 August 1959King Country/CountiesBritish Lions5–25Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui
196327 April 1963King CountryQueensland Rugby Union24–6Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui
19654 August 1965Wanganui/King CountrySouth Africa19–24Cooks Gardens, Whanganui
196610 August 1966Wanganui/King CountryBritish Lions12–6Cooks Gardens, Whanganui
196831 July 1968King CountryFrance9–23Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui
197024 June 1970King CountryNew South Wales13–15Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui
197126 May 1971Wanganui/King CountryBritish Lions9–22Spriggens Park, Whanganui
197223 August 1972King CountryAustralia6–13Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui
197414 August 1974King CountryFiji3–38Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui
197523 July 1975King CountryTonga13–18Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui
19771 June 1977Wanganui/King CountryBritish Lions9–60Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui
197914 April 1979King CountryVictoria Rugby Union12–18Island Reserve, Ōtorohanga
198127 May 1981King CountryScotland13–39Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui
198320 August 1983King CountryAustralia U21–Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui
19851 May 1985King CountryQueensland Rugby Union7–18Rugby Park, Te Kūiti
19895 July 1989King CountryArgentina4–9Owen Delany Park, Taupō
19911 May 1991King CountryWestern Samoa12–21Rugby Park, Te Kūiti
199129 May 1991King CountryRomania6–28Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui
199118 June 1991King CountrySoviet Union15–22Rugby Park, Te Kūiti
199213 May 1992King CountryAustralian Capital Territories18–12Island Reserve, Ōtorohanga
19921 July 1992King CountryTonga30–8Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui
199324 July 1993King CountryManu Samoa21–57Rugby Park, Te Kūiti
199423 June 1994King CountrySouth Africa10–46Owen Delany Park, Taupō
199611 June 1996King CountryManu Samoa20–27Rugby Park, Te Kūiti
19976 June 1997King CountryIreland A32–26Owen Delany Park, Taupō
199713 June 1997King CountryCook Islands–Owen Delany Park, Taupō

Top points scorers

RankPlayerGamesPoints
1Hutana Coffin137925
2Michael Blank60402
3Tony Gordon (rugby)44302
4Lee Peina69297
5Patrick Hedley19265
6Ian Ingham119250
7Zayn Tipping71248

Top try scorers

RankPlayerGamesTries
1Murray Kidd10846
2Dean Church7341
3Dion Mathews7739
4Dave Flavell8134
4Simon Bradley9934
6Colin Meads13932
7Paul Mitchell14627
8Glynn Meads11324
9Cliff Crossman3823
10Chris Wills10422
10Paul Olsen4322

All Blacks

There have been eight players selected for the New Zealand national team while playing for King Country. The most famous King Country All Black is All Black of the Century Colin Meads.
Additionally, former England captain and coach Martin Johnson played for King Country, during his early career. Former Wales hooker Garin Jenkins also spent a spell playing for the province in his younger years.

Super Rugby

King Country along with Waikato, Counties Manukau, East Coast, Bay of Plenty, Thames Valley and Taranaki make up the Chiefs region.