The Kereone Rugby Club (now known as the Kereone Rugby and Sports Club) is a historic, century-old cornerstone of the Waikato rugby community. Located in the rural heartland town of Morrinsville, the club has a proud legacy closely tied to post-World War I settlement.
Foundations and the War Returnees (1919)
The roots of Kereone rugby began with returning New Zealand soldiers who settled in the Kereone and Kiwitahi districts following World War I. Looking for community connection and a physical outlet, they turned to the sport of rugby.
• Establishing a Date: For decades, there was friendly controversy over the club’s official starting year. However, in 1969, it was formally decided that 1919 would stand as the foundational year. This coincided with the official establishment of the Morrinsville Rugby Sub-Union, to which Kereone became an affiliated member.
• The “Accidental” Colors: The original returning soldiers agreed that the club’s playing jersey should be light blue. However, because fabric and color choices were severely limited in post-war New Zealand, they had to settle for what was available. As a result, Green and White stripes became the permanent, iconic identity of Kereone.
• Early Growth: In 1921, just two years after forming, Kereone fielded its very first junior team. This established a strong pathway that consistently fed homegrown local talent into the senior ranks.
Famous Milestones and Innovations
Kereone has a reputation in the Waikato region for being incredibly progressive and community-minded, often leading the charge in adapting to the modern sports era:
• Pioneering Multi-Sport (1984): Kereone made regional history by becoming the very first traditional rugby club in the Waikato province to formally affiliate netball teams into its ranks. Starting with just two teams in 1984, the netball division remains a major part of the club today.
• The Carpark Beach Volleyball Arena (1995): In a uniquely creative community initiative, the club applied to the Morrinsville Rugby Union in 1995 to claim a portion of its parking lot. They filled the space with 200 cubic meters of sand to construct three dedicated beach volleyball courts. The popular summer league continues to draw huge numbers.
The Club Today
• Home Ground: The club operates out of Campbell Park (355 Thames Street, Morrinsville).
• Affiliation: Kereone competes under the Waikato Rugby Union, playing in the highly competitive local structures.
• Community Fabric: Now officially operating as the Kereone Rugby and Sports Club, it stands as a welcoming local hub offering senior rugby, netball, beach volleyball, and a massively successful junior rugby framework (from introductory “ripper” rugby for toddlers through to senior youth grades).
Having celebrated its major milestones—including its Golden Jubilee (1969) and 75th Jubilee (1994)—the green-and-white stripes of Kereone continue to embody the tight-knit, resilient spirit of Waikato grassroots sports.
