The North Shore Rugby Club (NSRFC), affectionately known as “The Pride of the Union,” is one of the oldest, most historic rugby clubs in New Zealand. Based at the picturesque Devonport Domain on Auckland’s North Shore, the club boasts a rich history spanning over 150 years.
1. Foundation & Deep Roots (1873)
• The Masonic Tavern Meeting: The club was officially established on May 3, 1873, following a meeting of local rugby enthusiasts, traditionally believed to have taken place at the historic Masonic Hotel (now the Masonic Tavern) in Devonport.
• A National Pioneer: North Shore is recognized as the oldest club in the northern part of New Zealand. New Zealand Rugby Union records from 1885 list North Shore as one of the very first four clubs formed anywhere in the country, establishing it just weeks after the Auckland club and a year before Ponsonby.
• The First Fixture: Their first game was played on July 20, 1873, against an Auckland side. It was a 12-a-side match that ended in a 0–0 stalemate. Shortly after, they played Auckland in the first-ever 15-a-side game held in the region, which North Shore won after the Auckland team walked off the field out of exhaustion!
2. Evolution of the Jersey & the Wynyard Legacy
• The Color Wardrobe: Interestingly, North Shore hasn’t always worn green and white. They originally played in red and white. In 1903, due to a shortage of red cotton fabric, they temporarily switched to navy blue. After a dispute with another club over who had the right to wear navy, North Shore pivoted to green and white hoops in 1935—a look they have proudly kept ever since (making them one of the few non-Marist clubs to wear green and white).
• The Crest: In 1967, the club adopted a new crest incorporating elements of the coat of arms of the prominent local Wynyard family, whose ancestors arrived in NZ in 1845 and played an immense role in shaping the early days of the club.
3. Shifting Unions: Auckland to North Harbour (1985)
For over a century, North Shore was a founding member and loyal affiliate of the Auckland Rugby Football Union, famously winning the Auckland Senior Championship in 1899.
However, by the 1980s, rugby north of the Waitematā Harbour was rapidly expanding. North Shore became one of the leading drivers behind the historic breakaway movement to form a brand-new provincial body. In 1985, they officially left Auckland to become a founding member of the North Harbour Rugby Union.
4. Modern Dominance & Rivalries
Since joining North Harbour, North Shore has evolved into a perennial powerhouse.
• Championships: They have secured 11 premier titles (1987, 1988, 1992, 2001, 2011, 2014, 2021, and a historic “three-peat” across 2023, 2024, and 2025).
• The Battle of the Shore: The club shares an intensely fierce, legendary local rivalry with neighbors Takapuna, a matchup that regularly draws massive crowds to the Devonport Domain.
5. Notable Players & All Blacks
North Shore has produced a stellar line of provincial stars and All Blacks, including:
• The 1888 Originals: Family members WT, HJ, and G Wynyard, along with R Maynard, represented the club in the legendary 1884–1888 New Zealand Native team that toured Britain.
• Don McKay: An exceptional, speedy three-quarter who became the club’s first modern All Black, playing 12 games (including 5 tests) between 1961 and 1963.
• Brad Johnstone: A legendary prop who captained Auckland, played 13 games for the All Blacks (1976–79), and was a member of the historic 1978 Grand Slam-winning side.
• Wayne “Buck” Shelford: One of the most iconic All Black captains of all time, famous for revitalizing the Ka Mate Haka and leading the All Blacks on an unbeaten streak from 1987 to 1990.
• Frano Botica: A dual-code superstar who played for the All Blacks in the late 1980s before enjoying a legendary rugby league career.
Today, North Shore continues to thrive as a massive community hub, operating vibrant junior, women’s, and senior grades right on the edge of the Waitematā Harbour.
