The Greytown Rugby Football Club (RFC), based in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand, holds a legendary status in Kiwi grassroots rugby. Established in 1876, it is officially the oldest rugby club in the Wairarapa Bush province and stands as one of the oldest and most historic rugby clubs in all of New Zealand.
Foundation and Early Years
The club was founded just six years after rugby was first introduced to New Zealand in Nelson. In 1876, local enthusiasts in the small South Wairarapa town of Greytown organized the area’s very first football club.
In its formative decades, the club served as a massive sporting and social anchor for the colonial farming community. Greytown quickly developed a reputation for fielding tough, highly competitive teams, helping to establish the Wairarapa region as an early powerhouse in provincial rugby.
Home Ground: East Street
For nearly a century and a half, the heart and soul of the club has been its grounds on East Street.
Historical Significance: The fields have been in continuous use for rugby since the late 19th century.
The 99-Year Lease: To protect this legacy, a landmark agreement was reached between the Greytown Lands Trust, the South Wairarapa District Council, and the club. The historic grounds were formally secured for community use for the next 99 years and renamed the Greytown Lands Trust Park, ensuring future generations will continue to play on the club’s historic tūrangawaewae (home ground).