Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union
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.Provincial representative rugby
National Provincial Championship
Poverty Bay won the National Provincial Championship 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 and Andrew Hansen scored 7 tries.
- 2004 coached by Kiwi Searancke and captained by Mark Jefferson, a former first class cricketer.
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.
- 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.
Ranfurly Shield
Poverty Bay have never held the Ranfurly Shield, although they have challenged for the Shield on 16 occasions. In 1980, Poverty Bay came close to defeating Auckland, losing a hard-fought encounter 12 - 19.All Blacks
There have been seven players selected for the All Blacks whilst playing for Poverty Bay. Most notable amongst these players are Ian Kirkpatrick and Richard "Tiny" White. Other players include John Collins, Brian Fitzpatrick, Lawrie Knight, Mike Parkinson and Hika ElliotThere have also been players such as Rico Gear, Hosea Gear and Charlie Ngatai who became All Blacks having started their careers with Poverty Bay.