The history of the Inglewood United Rugby Club in Taranaki is a story of a fierce town division that turned into one of the most successful, powerhouse clubs in the province.
Known traditionally for their striking Maroon and White colors, the club’s origins trace back to the late 19th century.
1. The Town Split & The 1898 Merger
Rugby in the rural township of Inglewood kicked off in 1893 with the formation of the town’s first team, the Athletic Club. Just three years later, in 1896, a second club called Pirates was formed.
For a few years, a bitter, intense rivalry divided the small town as both clubs fought for local dominance. However, local leaders quickly realized that splitting the town’s talent across two separate squads was holding Inglewood back from genuinely competing against the bigger New Plymouth clubs.
In 1898, the two clubs put their rivalry aside and officially amalgamated to form the Inglewood United Rugby Football Club.
2. A Century of Taranaki Dominance
Once united, Inglewood became a force to be reckoned with in the Taranaki premier club competition.
• The Title Haul: The club has won 14 Taranaki Premier Championships. They won their maiden title in 1940, followed by a golden era from 1985 to 1989 where they utterly dominated the province with an aggressive, forward-pack-oriented style of rugby.
• The Modern Era: Inglewood has remained incredibly competitive in the professional era, capturing the Taranaki CMK Premier title in 2014 and again in 2021 (where they famously shut out Coastal 23–0 in a rain-soaked final at home).
• The Modern Home: The club operates out of the TET Stadium & Events Centre (historically Jubilee Park) in Inglewood, boasting world-class community assets.
3. Producing All Black Greats
Inglewood has a decorated history of grooming elite grassroots players who went on to achieve international fame with the All Blacks. The three most famous names to come out of the club include:
• John Major (1963–1967): A tough-as-nails hooker who wore the black jersey in 25 matches.
• Dave Loveridge (1978–1985): Widely regarded as one of the greatest All Black halfbacks of all time. “Smiley” was a master tactician who earned 54 caps for New Zealand.
• Chris Masoe (2005–2007): A dynamic, hard-hitting loose forward who played 20 tests for the All Blacks before finding massive success in French club rugby.
4. Becoming a Dual-Sport Club (2023)
As the cultural landscape of local sports evolved, Inglewood transitioned from a traditional rugby club into a fully family-focused sports hub.
Inglewood Senior Netball was officially welcomed into the club structure in 2001, followed by the amalgamation of Country Netball in 2020. Recognizing this massive shift, the club officially updated its name in 2023 to the Inglewood United Rugby Netball Club (IURNC). Just like their rugby counterparts, the netball division has thrived, producing Silver Ferns squad members like Erika Maifea and Parris Mason.
