Taupō

Taupō played a significant part of the Ross Shield competition up until 1982. They no longer compete for the Ross Shield.

History

Thanks for the Memories

Taupō were late starters in the Ross Shield competition because up until 1936, they were affiliated to the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union. They made their first appearance in the 1943 tournament.

Taupō played hosts to other sub-unions in the Ross Shield tournament in 1958 and that tournament was run between the Taupō and Tongariro Sub-unions — Tongariro now belong to the King Country Rugby Union, but at the same time, were affiliated to the Hawke’s Bay Union.

The first Taupō team was coached by local school teacher, Mr Harold Salmon and managed by Mr Jack Woodward. Representatives in that team who have gone on to leave their mark in Taupō rugby were Frank Reid and Len Balmforth both of whom had the distinction of playing in three successive Ross Shield teams. The first Taupō team to win the coveted shield was the 1963 team which was coached by Mr Ken Wrigley and Mr Frank Reid, and captained by Kevin Bradley.

Further Taupō victories followed, as joint winners in 1970, with Napier and Hastings, in 1972, and the last occasion, 1976 when Taupō was undefeated in winning the tournament and had 9 of its squad members selected for the Hawke's Bay side.

Taupō has also been the proud recipient of the Ron Pierce trophy on several occasions, the last being in 1983. It has the distinction of producing All Black Hayden (Hud) Rickit who was in Taupō's 1963 shield-winning side. Hud represented New Zealand in the two tests against the touring Scotland side in 1981.

Since 1969, when Taupō Intermediate School was opened, the bulk of Taupō's representatives have come from this school. But significant contributions have also come from outlying schools who each year, provide at least one player to the Taupō side.

Men who have coached or managed Taupō sides include M. Love, S. Webb, J. Stevens, D. Hyde, K. Christensen, B. Moyle, P. McNair, G. Furlong, D. Hunt, B. Carlton, K. Murphy, J. Farquhar, J. Carr, I. Wilson, T. Daly, G. Taylor, K. McKenzie, L. Richards, K. Crawford, A. Waller, R. Palmer, J. Tupara, Ken Wrigley, and, of course, Mr Salmon and Mr Woodward.

Taupō administrators find that hosting the Ross Shield tournament is a wonderful experience. People in Taupō are great supporters of Ross Shield competition, particularly the business and Māori communities.

The Māori people go to great lengths to make Ross Shield tournament visitors extremely welcome and try their best to ensure that their stay is a memorable and happy one.

Compiled by Franklyn Reid and Kerry Murphy.

End of an Era

Organising, coaching and/or managing a Ross Shield team from Taupō was a joy.
The enthusiasm of the locals for the game of rugby ensured competition was always keen.
Soccer and hockey played little part in major sport in the area (and anyway they only catered for Dutchmen, Poms and Ministers’ sons!)

  • From 1969 onwards the Ross Shield organisation has centred around the one local Intermediate School where tradition has established that the keen rugby types on the staff have taken on the responsibility for the sub union.

  • Peter McNair, Dave Hunt, Garth Furlong, Terry Daly, Ian Wilson and Kerry Murphy have all given sterling service to the development of the game in the region, whilst Ray Williams, the school’s Principal, ensured time and facilities were at the disposal of the team management.

  • Family ties were most evident and the names — Rameka, Wall, Kapua, Westbrook, Orr, Simon, Rademaker and Van Der Lynden appeared in many of the programmes over and over again.

  • Never bashful at coming forward, we considered ourselves trend setters. A new set of playing gear each year, dress uniform for the boys and managers, plus the introduction of tracksuits helped create an image of a well-presented representative team, leading the way for other sub-unions to follow.

  • Raising money for these amenities was entrusted to the team management and to supplement the annual grant from the sub-union, many a chicken, deer, or some other local delicacy was hawked around the pubs and clubs in the area.

  • Style! That was the broad basis of the rugby Taupō coaches have endeavoured to instil into the boys of the plateau region. Kick and chase was not for us. Individual stars were the prerogative of the other sub-unions. Ours was a controlled game with set moves, trying to run the ball wide to score in the three-quarters. Sometimes successful, sometimes not, but always constructive and most of the time exciting.

Compiled by B. Carlton

Contributing Schools

Ebbett Park

Hastings Central

Hastings Christian

Hastings Int.

Haumoana

Havelock N. Primary

Havelock N. Int.

Hereworth

Lucknow

Mangateretere

Mayfair

Parkvale

Poukawa

Riverslea

St Joseph's

St Matthew's

Te Mata

TKK Takitimu

Waimarama

The first Ross Shield victory for Taupō (Original)

The first Ross Shield victory for Taupō (Enhanced)

The last Taupō Ross Shield team

Honours Board

People who have played for Taup ō and gone on to higher honours

This list is not exhaustive and may contain omissions

John Bradley
NZ Colts

George Blake
Māori All Black

Ranui (Ginger) Kapua
Māori All Black

Max Loughlin
Māori All Black

Hayden (Hud) Rickit
All Black, Māori All Black