The Buccaneers Rugby Club formed at a meeting at Canvastown in the 1950s which was attended by representatives from the Nelson, Golden Bay-Motueka and Marlborough rugby unions. The Buccaneers’ distinctive red, white and blue strip represents those three original unions’ respective colours. The intention then was for Buccaneers invitation teams to play the representative teams from those three unions to help provide some top-level competition. Included among those early Buccaneers teams were All Blacks and prominent players from other provincial unions. With the amalgamation of Nelson Bays and Marlborough to form Tasman, the need and opportunity for that type of game no longer existed. However, the Buccaneers continue to support rugby in the Top of the South through their support of colts rugby and regular Golden Oldies fixtures. For many years, the Buccaneers have also made small donations to charity.