The history of the Old Boys Rugby Club Invercargill is a tale of grassroots success that eventually transformed into one of Southland’s prominent modern amalgamations.
Foundation (1928)
The Old Boys Rugby Club was officially established in 1928. Interestingly, its roots were tied to local rugby politics; a group of foundational members chose to break away from the already established Pirates Rugby Club (founded in 1883) to form this new club, creating an instant city rivalry.
For over seven decades, Old Boys wore their own distinct jerseys, cultivating a highly competitive and respected presence within the Southland Rugby Football Union (SRFU) club system. They celebrated their 50th Jubilee in 1978.
The Merger: Pirates Old Boys (2001)
By the turn of the millennium, shifting demographics, player numbers, and economic pressures led to a dramatic twist of historical irony. The two clubs that split apart in 1928—Pirates and Old Boys—decided to merge to secure their long-term survival.
• 2001 (Eastern Suburbs): At the conclusion of the 2000 season, the clubs officially unified. They initially competed under the name Eastern Suburbs Rugby Club to ease the cultural transition of merging two fierce rivals. They adopted the Hawk as their club logo.
• 2011 (Pirates Old Boys): A decade later, the club officially changed its name to Pirates Old Boys Rugby Club (often called POB) to better honor and reflect the deep historic legacies of both founding entities.
Home Ground and Legacy
• Home Base: The modern club operates out of Lithgow Park on Lithgow Street in Glengarry, Invercargill.
• Combined Greatness: Combined with the historic Pirates ledger, the unified Pirates Old Boys history boasts a massive legacy, having produced 19 All Blacks, 6 New Zealand Rugby presidents/managers, and countless Southland Stags provincial representatives over more than a century of combined history.
Note on “Marist Old Boys”: Invercargill is also home to the Marist Rugby Club (based on Miller Street), which was founded in 1920 under the name Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Football Club. While they share the “Old Boys” moniker historically, they remained a separate entity from the 1928 Old Boys club.
