The Bombay Rugby Club, established in 1888, is one of the oldest, most historic, and highly decorated grassroots rugby clubs in New Zealand.
Based in the rural volcanic hills of Bombay, just south of the Auckland boundary, the club is a foundation pillar of the Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union. Known for its passionate, community-driven spirit, Bombay has a reputation for punching well above its weight against much larger urban clubs.
Foundation & Early Years
The Name: The area and the club were named after the ship Bombay, which brought British settlers to New Zealand in the 1860s.
1888 Genesis: The club was officially formed in 1888. In its earliest years, it helped form the local Franklin Rugby Union in 1893 alongside neighboring clubs like Pukekohe and Tuakau.
The Struggle to the Top: For the first several decades of its existence, Bombay was a proud but small rural club, often navigating the challenges of maintaining player numbers in an isolated farming community.
The First Golden Era (1980s)
After Counties Manukau achieved full provincial union status in 1955, Bombay steadily built its infrastructure. The club’s hard work paid off in the 1980s when they finally broke through to capture their first-ever Counties Manukau Premier Club Championship.
They became a dominant force in the region, capturing three premier titles in quick succession:
1985 (First ever championship)
1987
1989
The Modern Dynasty (2010s)
Following some lean years, Bombay underwent a massive resurgence in the 2010s, orchestrating one of the most dominant dynasties in modern New Zealand club rugby history.
Under the guidance of dedicated coaching and a fierce, tight-knit culture, Bombay achieved a historic “four-peat”, winning consecutive Premier McNamara Cup titles from 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. They added another championship to their trophy cabinet in 2019, bringing their total to 8 Premier titles.
Famous Alumni: The Andy Dalton Legacy
By far the club’s most famous and celebrated product is legendary All Black hooker and captain Andy Dalton.
Dalton played his club rugby for Bombay while establishing himself as a cornerstone of the brilliant Counties provincial teams of the late 1970s and 80s.
He went on to play 58 matches (including 35 tests) for the All Blacks between 1977 and 1985, captaining the national side 17 times in tests.
Dalton’s leadership and tough, uncompromising rural ethic perfectly mirrored the identity of the Bombay club.
Today, the Bombay Rugby Club remains a thriving rural hub, running a massive junior rugby program and continuing to contest the premier Counties Manukau competitions from their scenic hilltop base.
