King Country Rugby Football Union

King Country Rugby Football Union

Nickname(s)	Rams
Founded	1922
Region	Waikato
Ground(s)	Owen Delany Park Rugby Park Taumarunui Domain
Chairman	Andrew McCullough
Coach(es)	Dan Alofa
Captain(s)	Arian Dunster
League(s)	Heartland Championship
2015	7th (Lochore Cup Champions)
Team kit
Official website
www.kingcountryrugby.co.nz

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. It was formed in 1922 when the South Auckland Rugby Union was split into three (the other two Unions formed were Waikato and Thames Valley).

The King Country team play from Owen Delany Park, Taupo, Rugby Park, Te Kuiti and Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui. King Country are like many other heartland unions have struggled since the start of professional era. In 1996, King Country were in the first division of the NPC and in just 6 years were in the third division.

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 (which was renamed as the Taumarunui Sub-union in 1922) along with the Ruapehu Sub-union in Ohakune (founded 1908), Maniapoto Sub-union in Te Kuiti (1907) and Ohura Valley Sub-union (1920). These were joined by Otorohanga Sub-union in 1927, Kaitieke in 1933 and Kawhia in 1926 with the Taupo 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 (all affiliated to the Wanganui Rugby Union, and the King Country Union (affiliated to South Auckland) 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 Kuiti, Taumarunui and Raetahi or Ohakune. Otorohanga was first used for a representative game in 1939 with representative games also being hosted in Tokaanu (1966) and Turangi (1967).

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 18 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 Te Kuiti when “Boris the Boar” mysteriously got onto the field and camped in the Auckland 25 for much of the second half.

Championships

Heartland Championship placings

Heartland Championship Results
Year	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	For	Against	+/-	BP	Points	Place
2006	5	0	2	3	77	92	-15	2	6	6th
2007	5	3	0	2	88	66	+22	2	14	3rd
2008	5	3	0	2	119	96	+23	2	14	3rd
2009	5	2	0	3	100	111	-11	2	9	5th
2010	5	1	0	4	76	119	-43	2	6	5th
2011	8	1	0	7	150	281	-131	1	5	11th

Ranfurly Shield

King Country have never held the Ranfurly Shield.

1922	Hawke's Bay	42–8	King Country	Napier
1933	Canterbury File:CanterburyColours.png	36–0	King Country	Christchurch
1952	Waikato File:Mooloo.png	18–8	King Country	Hamilton
1958	Taranaki	15–11	King Country	New Plymouth
1961	Auckland	17–3	King Country	Auckland
1964	Taranaki	21–0	King Country	New Plymouth
1966	Auckland	14–6	King Country	Auckland
1969	Hawke's Bay	19–16	King Country	Napier
1971	North Auckland	16–6	King Country	Whangarei
1979	North Auckland	21–6	King Country	Whangarei
1980	Auckland	29–3	King Country	Auckland
1981	Waikato File:Mooloo.png	22–9	King Country	Hamilton
1985	Canterbury File:CanterburyColours.png	33–0	King Country	Christchurch
1988	Auckland	28–0	King Country	Te Kuiti
1992	Auckland	42–15	King Country	Taupo
1994	Waikato File:Mooloo.png	45–10	King Country	Hamilton
1998	Waikato File:Mooloo.png	76–0	King Country	Hamilton
2012	Taranaki	67–16	King Country	Inglewood

King Country in Super Rugby

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

All Blacks

There have had 8 players selected for the All Blacks whilst playing for King Country. The most famous King Country All Black is All Black of the century, Sir Colin Meads.

• Kevin Boroevich
• Ronald Bryers
• Phil Coffin
• Jack McLean
• Sir Colin Meads
• Stanley Meads
• William Phillips
• Graham Whiting

Additionally, former England captain and coach Martin Johnson played for King Country, during his early career. Further former Welsh hooker Garin Jenkins spent a spell playing for the province in his younger years.

Player Records

Most Appearances	147	P. L. Mitchell	1988–2001
Most Points	917	H. C. Coffin	1984–1995
Most Tries	46	M. R. Kidd	1974–1984
Most Conversions	150	H.C. Coffin	1984–1995
Most Points In A Season	230	H. C. Coffin	1992
Most Tries In A Season	11	S. J. Bradley	1992
Most Conversions In A Season	40	H. C. Coffin	1992
Most Penalty Goals In A Season	45	H. C. Coffin	1992
Most Dropped Goals In A Season	8	I. N. Ingham	1966
Most Points In A Match	33	H. C. Coffin	1992
Most Tries In A Match	4	J. W. Wells	1992
Most Conversions In A Match	10	H. C. Coffin	1992
Most Penalty Goals In A Match	7	L. W. T. Peina	2000

Clubs

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

Coast Bush United Kio Kio United Waitomo Pio Pio Taumarunui Districts

Taumarunui Sports Taupo Sports Taupo United Turangi Sports Waitete

External links

• Official site
• Taumarunui Rugby and Sports Reunion Website
• King Country rugby (NZHistory.net.nz)