Counties Cavaliers Rugby Club

Club History

Counties Cavaliers Rugby Club was formed in July 1977 when a small band of ex Counties players formed this Barbarian type club. Bob Luxford wrote The Friendly Clubs in 2015, and this is what he wrote regarding Counties Cavaliers: The “NZ Barbarians Rugby Book 1980”, refers to a Barbarians style club, the Cavaliers, being established in Counties. This was late in the piece for such clubs to be formed, as the increased demands of the NPC was affecting the freedom for players to take part in benefit type matches. Current Counties Manukau staff were not aware of any 1980s activities but the name lives on, Counties play their pre-season matches as the Cavaliers. Andy Dalton, who was playing in Counties in 1980, thinks the Cavaliers name only applied to invitation teams and does recall a number of fixtures against secondary schools. He doubts there was a “Cavaliers Club” as such. The Cavaliers did not, it appears, play a first-class match but beat the Goldfields Club 30 – 11 at Pukekohe on 13 April 1980. Selected by P T Walsh and P Barry the Cavaliers side was made up entirely of Counties players, all but one having played or going on to play first class rugby.

counties-cavaliers-versus-thames-valley-goldfields-1980

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Counties Cavaliers Versus Thames Valley Goldfields

Club:

Year published:

Author:

Page count:

Notes:

Counties Cavaliers Rugby Club

1980

Not stated

20 pages

This is the programme between Counties Cavaliers and Thames Valley Goldfields on April 13, 1980. The programme includes the history of the Counties Cavaliers club and its committee members.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Counties Cavaliers Versus Thames Valley Goldfields

Club:

Counties Cavaliers Rugby Club

Year:

1980

Author:

Not stated

Pages:

20 pages

Notes:

This is the programme between Counties Cavaliers and Thames Valley Goldfields on April 13, 1980. The programme includes the history of the Counties Cavaliers club and its committee members.

Club History