Based on the rugged West Coast of the South Island, the Excelsior Rugby Club (Hokitika) was a legendary powerhouse of West Coast rugby for well over a century. Known affectionately by locals as the “X-Men” or simply “X’s,” the club was renowned for its fierce forward packs, uncompromising style, and rich history of international success.
Here is the story of Hokitika’s proud red-and-black institution.
Foundation & Early Success (1910)
On April 24, 1910, an enthusiastic meeting was held in Hokitika to establish a new rugby club to help breathe life back into the local Westland game.
The Colors and Debut: The club unanimously adopted the bold red-and-black hoops as their official colors and secured Cass Square in Hokitika as their home ground.
The First Match: On May 14, 1910, Excelsior played its historic first match at Cass Square against Arahura. Admission was one shilling (ladies were free), and Excelsior announced their arrival in style by dominating the game 23–0.
By the late 1920s, Excelsior had risen to the top tier of the province, capturing their first official West Coast Senior Championships back-to-back in 1928 and 1929.
An Elite All Black Production Line
For a small country club on the West Coast, Excelsior punched incredibly far above its weight on the global stage, producing three of the hardest and most celebrated figures in early New Zealand rugby history:
Harry Butland (All Black #30): A pioneer of West Coast rugby, Butland was a versatile, lightning-fast halfback/winger who represented the All Blacks in 1893 and later became heavily involved in the Excelsior club’s administrative growth.
Frank Freitas (All Black #353): A physical powerhouse of a loose forward who earned his All Blacks call-up in 1928, playing against the touring New South Wales team. Tragically, Freitas later passed away in the historic TEV Wahine ferry disaster of 1968.
Ron King (All Black #404): Arguably the greatest rugby icon to come out of Hokitika. “Big Ron” was a towering, rugged lock who played 42 matches for the All Blacks between 1934 and 1938, including captaining the All Blacks during the legendary 1937 Test series against the South African Springboks. He later served as a national selector.
The Golden Era: Mid-Century Dominance
While Excelsior captured a championship title in 1936, the absolute pinnacle of the club’s history came during the 1950s and 60s. The “X-Men” put together a ruthless dynasty that completely monopolized the West Coast Rugby Union Senior Championship:
The Five-In-A-Row Streak: Excelsior won the senior title in 1953, and then went on an extraordinary run of five consecutive championships from 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, through to 1960.
Later Titles: The club proved its lasting class by capturing further West Coast senior titles in 1965 and 1967, solidifying themselves as the team of the era.
Modern Evolution: The Birth of Wests RFC
As the West Coast suffered economic shifts toward the end of the 20th century—with the contraction of traditional industries like mining and forestry—the local population base changed. Standing alone became a massive hurdle for Hokitika’s historic clubs.
To preserve the future of premier rugby in Westland and keep the local game competitive against dominant rivals like Greymouth’s Kiwi RFC, a historic local amalgamation took place. Excelsior combined forces with fellow Hokitika stalwarts St Mary’s to form a unified entity: Wests Rugby Football Club.
The merger has successfully kept the Excelsior legacy at the absolute top tier of the game. Wests RFC broken a historic 8-straight title winning streak by Kiwi RFC to claim the West Coast Senior Championship in 2024, and successfully backed it up by defending their throne to win the championship again in 2025. Today, the proud history of the original 1910 Excelsior club remains an active, beating heart of the unified Wests club culture.
