Bunnythorpe Rugby Club is a small semi-rural club located in the town of Bunnythorpe, 10 minutess from Palmerston North. They have three Rugby teams: Presidents, Senior 3rds & under 12s.
Rugby was first played in Bunnythorpe in 1898, when Mr Lyall, a teacher at the local school formed the Huia Club. Among the players were the Coldstream brothers, who would later become foundation members of the Palmerston North Kia Toa Club. After a few seasons, the Huia club fell by the wayside, although Rugby was still played against teams from Hiwinui and Colyton.
The ground was rough and the players wore ordinary work boots. Players rolled their long underpants up above the knees to be hidden under the shorts.
1922 saw the foundation of the present Bunnythorpe Rugby Club. The orginal colours chosen were green but were changed to the current Maroon in 1925.
In 2012 netball was also introduced to the club.
Thanks to club president Lyn Bevan for the history.