Club History

Harlequins Rugby Club – Friendly Club – Timaru

In 1946, Harlequins Rugby Club – Friendly Club – Timaru played and beat South Canterbury 26 – 18 in Timaru. Selected by N A “Brushy” Mitchell and captained by Charlie Saxton it included seven past or future All Blacks. The Rugby Almanack commented “This newly formed First-Class Club added another to those of similar status and will be welcomed into New Zealand rugby.” Its colours were described as red and gold. The club played a further three 1st class matches in 1947 but thereafter their matches were not classified ‘first class’ and are not well recorded. From 1948 the club played in light blue jerseys with a Dalmation dog badge. A memorable occasion was the Simpson Benefit Fund match against Otago-South Canterbury which raised over £300 for the family of Allen Simpson, an Albury player who died from injuries received during a club match. Fourteen All Blacks took part. The Harlequins final match is thought to have been against South Canterbury in Timaru on Sunday, August 3 1958, a day after South Canterbury had played Mid Canterbury in Ashburton. Nine All Blacks, mostly from Canterbury, appeared, with past South Canterbury All Blacks Morrie & Jack Goddard as touch judges. A notation on the programme shows South Canterbury as winners 35 – 34. Match proceeds were to go to the St John Ambulance Association plus the South Canterbury Union’s touring and Centennial Funds. The previous year’s match, the programme records, raised £1,200 for St Johns. Colours: red and gold, from 1947 light blue with Dalmatian dog badge.
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Harlequins v South Canterbury August 3rd 1958

Club:
Year published:
Author:
Page count:
Notes:
Harlequins Rugby Club – Friendly Club – Timaru
1958
Not stated
8 pages
The Harlequins final match is thought to have been against South Canterbury in Timaru on Sunday, August 3, 1958, a day after South Canterbury had played Mid Canterbury in Ashburton. Nine All Blacks, mostly from Canterbury, appeared, with past South Canterbury All Blacks Morrie & Jack Goddard as touch judges. A notation on the programme shows South Canterbury as winners 35 – 34. Match proceeds were to go to the St John Ambulance Association plus the South Canterbury Union’s touring and Centennial Funds.
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Harlequins v South Canterbury August 3rd 1958

Club:
Harlequins Rugby Club – Friendly Club – Timaru
Year:
1958
Author:
Not stated
Pages:
8 pages
Notes:
The Harlequins final match is thought to have been against South Canterbury in Timaru on Sunday, August 3, 1958, a day after South Canterbury had played Mid Canterbury in Ashburton. Nine All Blacks, mostly from Canterbury, appeared, with past South Canterbury All Blacks Morrie & Jack Goddard as touch judges. A notation on the programme shows South Canterbury as winners 35 – 34. Match proceeds were to go to the St John Ambulance Association plus the South Canterbury Union’s touring and Centennial Funds.
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Harlequins versus T C Morrison’s XV August 6th 1967

Club:
Year published:
Author:
Page count:
Notes:
Harlequins Rugby Club – Friendly Club – Timaru
1967
Not stated
8 pages
Despite the 1958 programme (above) stating that the 1958 programme versus South Canterbury was the last match played by Harlequins Rugby Club Timaru, they did play a match in 1967 versus a T C Morrison’s XV.
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Harlequins versus T C Morrison’s XV August 6th 1967

Club:
Harlequins Rugby Club – Friendly Club – Timaru
Year:
1967
Author:
Not stated
Pages:
8 pages
Notes:
Despite the 1958 programme (above) stating that the 1958 programme versus South Canterbury was the last match played by Harlequins Rugby Club Timaru, they did play a match in 1967 versus a T C Morrison’s XV.