The Old Boys Rugby Club Oamaru (often simply called Old Boys or OOB) is one of the foundational and most successful clubs competing under the North Otago Rugby Football Union (NORFU).
Foundation and Early Beginctions (1911)
With the dissolution of the original Oamaru Football Club and local shifts in secondary school rugby, a clear gap emerged for a new senior side in the town.
• Founded: 1911
• The High School Link: As the name suggests, the club was deeply intertwined with former pupils and affiliates of Waitaki Boys’ High School. Iconic figures like Frank Milner (the legendary long-serving rector of Waitaki Boys’) served as patrons and foundational figures for the club.
• Early Success: It didn’t take long for the club to make its mark. In 1920, Old Boys claimed their first major milestone by winning the local Citizens Shield, the ultimate prize in North Otago premier club rugby.
The Citizens Shield Dominance
Unlike many old clubs that ultimately merged to survive modern demographic shifts, Oamaru Old Boys has proudly maintained its independent identity into the 21st century.
They are a consistent heavyweight in the North Otago premier club competition, sharing iconic local rivalries with neighboring Oamaru clubs like Athletic Marist and Excelsior, as well as country sides like Kurow and Maheno. Old Boys has amassed numerous Citizens Shield titles over its century-plus existence, maintaining a reputation for robust forward packs and clinical country rugby.
Milestones and Commemorative History
The club’s long history has been well-documented through several major milestones:
• 50th Jubilee (1961): Marked by a commemorative booklet detailing the early decades and the foundational influence of figures like Walter Sumpter.
• 75th Anniversary (1986)
• 90th Anniversary (2001)
• Centenary Era (2011): To celebrate 100 years of the club, local author Leo Breen published a comprehensive 329-page historical book titled “144 Years of Rugby: A Celebration of the History of Oamaru Old Boys Rugby Club” (capturing the deeper roots of rugby in the area alongside the club’s official 1911 centenary).
The Modern “Family” Club
Oamaru Old Boys operates out of Whitestone Contracting Stadium (Centennial Park) in Oamaru.
The club has successfully adapted to modern times by transitioning into a highly inclusive community hub. OOB fields highly competitive Senior Men’s sides in the NORFU ranks while fostering a massive Junior Advisory Board (JAB) rugby system, ensuring that generations of North Otago kids continue to wear the Old Boys jersey
