The Burnside Rugby Club, affectionately known as the “Candystripers,” is one of the most prominent, successful, and family-oriented grassroots clubs in Christchurch.
The club has played an immense role in developing modern All Black legends and serves as a massive community sports hub in the northwest of the city.
1. The Garage Genesis (1957)
In the 1950s, the boundaries of Christchurch began expanding rapidly to the north and west. Suburbs like Burnside were suddenly full of growing families, but the area completely lacked a local rugby club.
On a Sunday morning in 1957, a group of rugby-loving parents gathered in a local Burnside garage and agreed that a local club was a vital necessity. Following that garage chat, a formal public meeting was held at Fendalton Hall on August 28, 1957, and the Burnside Rugby Football Club was officially born.
The Colors: At that first meeting, the founders chose red and white hoops for the jerseys (giving them their “Candystripers” nickname) combined with black shorts.
The Logo: The club’s crest features a clump of cabbage trees (tī kōuka). This design was modeled after the prominent clump of cabbage trees still standing on the grounds of the nearby Burnside High School—trees that historically served as an important navigation landmark for both Māori and early European travelers crossing the Canterbury Plains.
2. Settling into Burnside Park
For the first decade of its existence, the club was nomadic. It didn’t have a permanent home, operating out of a converted woolshed and a small local council amenities block. Senior players would famously have to gather at the nearby Russley Hotel for after-match speeches and beers.
The Breakthrough: After years of lobbying the Waimairi County Council, the club was finally granted permission to establish a permanent home base at Burnside Park.
Official Opening: Their custom-built clubrooms were officially opened on October 3, 1970. The facility was later expanded during their 25th jubilee in 1982 and remains a premier community facility today.
3. The All Black Production Line
Despite its relatively young age compared to some of Christchurch’s 19th-century foundation clubs, Burnside has built an astonishing track record of developing elite international rugby talent.
Eight club members have gone on to earn the ultimate New Zealand rugby honor—the All Black jersey:
Shayne Philpott: The club’s very first home-grown All Black.
Jon Preston: Tactical halfback/first-five who starred for Canterbury and the All Blacks in the 1990s.
Scott Robertson: The iconic loose forward who later coached the Crusaders to a historic Super Rugby dynasty and became the All Blacks Head Coach.
Leon MacDonald: Explosive fullback/center and former All Blacks selector.
Caleb Ralph: Durable, high-scoring winger who was a mainstay of Canterbury rugby.
Brad Thorn: One of the greatest dual-code legendary locks in sporting history (World Cup winner with the All Blacks and league legend).
Wyatt Crockett: The ultimate loyal clubman and standard-setter, who holds the record for the most Super Rugby appearances in history.
Tom Taylor: Direct, sharp utility back who achieved All Black selection in 2013.
In addition to their All Blacks, Burnside has produced high-profile international players for other nations, including Duane Major (Canada), Doug Havea (Tonga), and Greg Smith (Japan).
4. The Modern Hub
Today, Burnside is one of the largest and most structurally sound clubs in the Canterbury Rugby Football Union. They typically field over 400 junior players every season alongside a strong contingency of senior open-grade squads.
The club is also famous across Christchurch for its massive Touch 7s summer module. Originally started in 1983 with just 26 teams, Burnside Park now hosts around 100 teams a night during the summer months, cementing the club as a year-round capital of Canterbury grassroots sport.
