The Carterton Rugby Club holds an extraordinary place in New Zealand sports history as one of the oldest rugby clubs in the country. Based in the heart of the Wairarapa region, its origins stretch all the way back to the pioneering days of the sport in the late 19th century.
1. The Ultra-Early Origins (1879)
Rugby began taking root in the Wairarapa in the late 1870s. Following a few scratch matches played in local paddocks, enthusiasm quickly ballooned. On July 5, 1879, Carterton played its first recorded structural club match against nearby Greytown.
Led by their first president, G.W. Deller, and secretary Louis Nix, the early Carterton players wore a distinct uniform far removed from today’s kit: black-and-white hooped jerseys, white knickerbockers, wool stockings, and striped woollen caps. In these early days, the game was dominated by brutal 10-man forward packs, and referees didn’t even appear on Wairarapa fields until 1881 (prior to that, two umpires waved flags to signal rules).
2. Early Dominance and the War Years (1900–1919)
By the turn of the 20th century, Carterton established itself as a powerhouse in the local competition. The club completely dominated the Wairarapa Senior Grade, claiming championships in 1907, 1908, 1910, 1911, 1912, and 1913.
This golden era was abruptly halted by World War I. Some 70 club members left the ranks of the rugby team to serve overseas. Tragically, 21 Carterton players were killed in action, and many more suffered severe wounds that ended their playing careers, forcing the club into a massive rebuilding phase in 1919.
3. A Historic Milestone: The Combined Union (1970)
A major shift in regional rugby occurred in 1970 when the Wairarapa and Bush Rugby Unions formally amalgamated to become the Wairarapa Bush Rugby Football Union.
That inaugural 1970 season became legendary in Carterton folklore. In the first-ever combined Wairarapa-Bush championship, Carterton found themselves in a dead heat with Featherston. Despite their squad being plagued by sudden illnesses and injuries, Carterton rallied to win the historic playoff match at Greytown, claiming the first-ever combined crown. That same year, winger Graham Falconer became the club’s very first Junior All Black.
4. Establishing Howard Booth Park
Throughout the 1970s, the club heavily mobilized its community to secure its long-term future. Through rigorous fundraising (including community hay-carting bees) and working alongside the local borough council, the club secured and cleared land at Howard Booth Park.
They built modern clubrooms, established dedicated squash courts, and by 1978, officially paid off all debentures to own their grounds outright—creating the vibrant community hub that remains the club’s home ground today.
The Club’s Legacy Today
Now boasting over 145 years of continuous history, Carterton RFC remains a vital part of the Wairarapa Bush rugby landscape. Operating out of Howard Booth Park, the club continues to foster deep roots in the community, fielding everything from senior men’s and women’s teams down to a booming junior rugby program, all while preserving the proud, gritty legacy of the pioneers of 1879.
