The story of the Naenae Old Boys Rugby Club is a classic tale of post-WWII New Zealand community spirit, local politics, and gritty determination. Though the club no longer exists under its original name, its legacy is alive and well in Hutt Valley rugby today.
1. Post-War Beginnings (1949)
Following World War II, Naenae transitioned rapidly from rural market gardens into a massive, bustling state-housing suburb built for returned servicemen and their young families. With four primary schools, a brand-new high school (Naenae College), and an influx of young working-class residents, there was an immediate demand for a local rugby club.
The club was officially formed in September 1949. Originally named the Naenae Rugby Club, it quickly added “Old Boys” to its moniker to cement an affiliation with Naenae College.
The Original Colors
Getting a new club on its feet wasn’t easy or cheap. For the inaugural 1950 season, the club managed to buy a set of jerseys left over from the recently defunct Rongotai Rugby Club in Miramar. Because of this economical shortcut, Naenae’s first team colors were an unusual mix of blue with small gold and black stripes. Later on, they settled into their standard look: Cambridge blue with gold trim.
2. Fighting for Respect (1950s–1960s)
Establishing a new club in Wellington rugby met surprising resistance. The Wellington Rugby Football Union (WRFU) and several established powerhouse clubs weren’t keen on a newcomer encroaching on their territory.
Naenae spent its first two decades fighting an uphill battle for inclusion, but their talent on the field forced the union’s hand:
• The Steady Climb: The club aggressively worked its way up through the lower grades, consistently outperforming expectations.
• The Historic 1967 Playoff: By 1967, Naenae earned the right to a promotion-relegation match against the bottom-tier Senior A team to get into the top flight. No lower-grade club had accomplished this feat since the 1930s.
• Shocking Senior A (1968): No one expected them to win promotion, and when they did, critics expected them to be relegated immediately in 1968. Instead, Naenae shocked Wellington rugby by defeating heavyweights Hutt in their first Senior A game, followed by a stunning victory over a strong University team in their second.
3. The Fateful 1979 Merger
By the late 1970s, the demographics of Naenae were shifting. The original wave of post-war children had grown up and moved away, and both Naenae Old Boys and their neighboring rivals, Taita Rugby Club, were struggling with player depth and maintaining independent premier status.
The tipping point came on the final day of the 1979 Hardham Cup season. Fittingly, Naenae and Taita played each other at Naenae Park: The match ended in a gritty, uninspiring 0-0 draw.
Because of the draw, Taita was officially relegated to the second division. At the after-match function in the clubrooms that evening, Taita’s Chairman walked up to Naenae’s officials and officially suggested that the local rivals join forces.
Because many of the players from both sides had grown up together attending either Taita or Naenae College, the idea was incredibly well-received. Both clubs voted to pass the motion, and on November 28, 1979, they officially merged.
4. The Legacy: Avalon Rugby Club
The amalgamation created the Avalon Rugby Football Club (now known as the Avalon Wolves), moving their permanent home base to Fraser Park.
To honor both founding clubs, Avalon designed a jersey that blended Naenae’s Cambridge blue, black, and gold with Taita’s maroon and white. The merger paid off instantly—the combined club won the Hardham Cup just two years later in 1981 and went on to lift Wellington’s prestigious Swindale Shield in 1991, 1993, and 2001.
Notable players who pulled on the Naenae jersey during its 30-year run included brothers Paul and Hone Tainui—with winger Paul Tainui notably becoming the very first outside back (and first player from a Hardham Cup tier team) to win the Wellington Best and Fairest competition in 1971.
Despite amalgamating in 1979, they still run a Facebook page. View the link
