Sporting the famous black and blue hoops, the Havelock North Rugby Club (affectionately known as The Villagers or The Hammerheads) has established a decades-long legacy of breeding resilient, flair-heavy rugby and serving as a key pipeline for Hawke’s Bay Magpies and All Black talent.
Foundations: The Birth of “The Villagers” (1894)
Rugby was first organized and played in the picturesque, tree-lined village of Havelock North in 1894. The club grew organically alongside the township, serving as a social and athletic anchor for local orchardists, farmers, and tradesmen.
They celebrated their centenary in 1994, followed by their 125th jubilee in 2019, cementing them as one of the oldest and most culturally significant clubs in the Hawke’s Bay sub-union.
The Maddison Trophy & Local Dominance
In Hawke’s Bay premier club rugby, the ultimate prize is the Maddison Trophy. Havelock North spent years establishing themselves as fierce contenders before launching into golden eras of dominance, particularly in the late 1990s, 2000s, and early 2010s.
The Villagers captured the Maddison Trophy across several memorable years, including:
• 1973 (Their breakthrough modern era victory)
• 1998
• 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 (An era of sheer dominance in the mid-2000s)
• 2012, 2013
The club also has a legendary reputation on the Sevens circuit, claiming the Hawke’s Bay Club 7s Championship an impressive number of times, spearheaded by players with lethal footwork and pace.
Club Icons & Local Legends
While international reps get the headlines, Havelock North’s history is built on loyal clubmen who racked up massive milestone appearances at their home ground, Anderson Park:
• Murdoch Paewai: A true giant of the club. He made exactly 100 appearances for the Hawke’s Bay Magpies between 1991 and 2000 and remains one of the club’s highest-ever point and try scorers.
• Jarrod Cunningham: One of the most naturally gifted goal-kicking fullbacks to come out of the region. “Cunny” scored a staggering 998 points for Hawke’s Bay in the 90s, went on to star for the Blues and Hurricanes, and unfortunately passed away in 2007 after a brave battle with ALS. His legacy is deeply honored by the club today.
• Ihaia West: The modern maestro fly-half who racked up over 900 points for Havelock North Premiers and over 600 points for the Magpies, famously going on to play Super Rugby and win European championships with La Rochelle.
The All Black Lineage
Havelock North has consistently punched above its weight class by manufacturing top-tier professional athletes. Their modern All Black inductees include:
• Danny Lee (All Black #1023) – A gritty, tactical halfback who debuted in 2002.
• Hika Elliot (All Black #1086) – A dynamic, modern-style hooker who played for the All Blacks and Māori All Blacks.
• Bryn Evans (All Black #1090) – The towering lock who earned international honors in 2009 and enjoyed a massive career locally and overseas.
• Gareth Evans (All Black #1179) – The hard-working loose forward who earned his silver fern in 2018.
Beyond traditional 15s, the club has also contributed massive pieces to New Zealand’s Sevens legacy, most notably producing explosive playmaker Gillies Kaka, who won World Series titles and an Olympic silver medal with the All Blacks Sevens.
Today, the club continues to pack out the sidelines at Anderson Park, maintaining their famous family-centric community culture while blooding the next generation of Magpies.
