The Friendly Clubs by Bob Luxford
Bob Luxford first volunteered for the NZ Rugby Museum in 1987. He is now referred to as “New Zealand Rugby Museum’s keeper of treasures”. Bob has very kindly submitted this article that he wrote in 2015 so that all readers can share and enjoy this record of the Friendly Clubs. An early rugby memory is […]
The Greatest NZ Rugby Families – My Top 5
I read a story on the NZ Rugby Museum website recently about the achievements of brothers in NZ rugby history. The article focused on two sets of brothers, the Clarkes and the Finlayson’s, and ended with “If someone knows of other remarkable family representations the Rugby Museum would love to hear about them.” That got […]
Preserving the history of New Zealand rugby
We need your help. Since the introduction of professionalism in Rugby, Rugby clubs have struggled to maintain finances, volunteers and playing numbers. Recent reports have highlighted the problems which are facing all clubs currently, while many clubs have folded under the pressure. In July 2022, New Zealand Rugby launched a new initiative focusing on the […]
The oldest rugby club in New Zealand
It is not Nelson Rugby Club. Nelson Rugby Club is acknowledged as the oldest Rugby Club in New Zealand, with its origins dating to 1870, and the first Rugby match in New Zealand between The College and The Town taking part on Saturday, May 18th, 1870, at the Botanical Reserve in Nelson. In Bill Reed […]
Why is our main image significant to NZ Rugby history?
The main image for our site www.nzrugbyhistory.com depicts two club teams taking the field in 1962. Looking back on that occasion, 60 years later, it has a story that is typical of the history of club Rugby in New Zealand. The two teams are Athletic from Wellington and Taita. The occasion is the opening of […]