The Matatā Rugby Club, based in the coastal settlement of Matatā in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, is one of the oldest and most historically significant grassroots rugby clubs in the country. Established in 1887, its history predates the formation of the official Bay of Plenty Rugby Union by more than two decades.
1. The Native Team Connection & The Warbricks (1888)
Matatā’s place in global rugby history was cemented just one year after its founding. The legendary 1888–1889 New Zealand Native football team—the very first New Zealand representative rugby team to tour outside of Australasia—was heavily anchored by the famous Warbrick brothers, a prominent Māori family from the small Matatā settlement.
The touring squad famously included five Warbrick brothers: Joe, Alfred, Arthur, Fred, and Billy. While Joe and Fred were playing for other regions at the exact time of the tour, the family’s deep roots in Matatā put the tiny Bay of Plenty logging and coastal community squarely on the international rugby map. Joe Warbrick had previously toured Australia with the 1884 New Zealand side as well.
2. A Century of Evolution
For decades, Matatā operated as a proud, independent pillar of the Eastern Bay of Plenty sub-union, developing a fierce reputation for producing hard, physical forward packs and lightning-fast backlines.
Club Established
1887
The Matatā Rugby Football Club is officially formed, anchoring community sport in the coastal Bay of Plenty region.
The Grand Opening
1979
The club opens its comprehensive modern Clubrooms and Recreation Reserves at the Matatā Domain, giving the community a permanent base.
Centennial Celebrations
1987
The club celebrates 100 years of history, marked by “Past vs. Present” matches and the publication of a definitive century-long history book by local author B.W. Dobson.
Championship Success
1997
Matatā finishes top of the ladder and officially claims the Inter-Bay 2nd Division Championship title after a dominant season.
120 Years of Rugby
2007
The club expands its official history archives with a secondary retrospective, mapping its journey from the 19th to the 21st century.
3. The Modern Club & Community Hub
Like many historic rural clubs in New Zealand, the entity eventually transitioned into the Matatā Rugby & Sports Club to widen its net and support the local community. Alongside its Senior Mens, Development, and thriving Junior Advisory Board (JAB) rugby grades, the club plays a massive role in regional netball, fielding multiple senior and junior netball squads.
Operating out of the Matatā Recreation Reserve, the club continues to compete proudly under the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union banner, acting as a vital social and sporting heartbeat for the coastal families of the area.
