Founded in 1876, the Pātea Rugby Club (also referred to as the Patea Rugby and Sports Club) is one of the oldest rugby clubs in Taranaki and New Zealand.

Key Historical Highlights

• Foundation & Early Era (1876): Established during the pioneering days of New Zealand rugby, Pātea was among the earliest clubs formed in the region alongside Hawera and Egmont.

• Club Colors: Known traditionally for wearing royal blue jerseys.

• Championship Glory: Playing in the Taranaki local union competitions, Pātea captured Senior Premier title honors in 1934 and 1951.

• Amalgamation with Border (1996): Following economic shifts in South Taranaki in the late 20th century (including the closure of the local freezing works), the club merged with neighboring Waverley-based Border Rugby Club in 1996.

The Rebirth (2012)

After 16 years as part of the Waverley-Border merger—and after Border transitioned into the Whanganui rugby competition—local community members reformed Pātea Rugby Club in 2012.

The club re-entered the Taranaki Rugby Football Union competition, playing out of their home ground at Victoria Park in Pātea and bringing back the classic blue jersey.

All Blacks & Notable Players

Despite being a small rural community, Pātea has produced national representatives and Taranaki rugby stalwarts, including All Blacks:

• Murray Wills (All Black #676, 1967)

• Alistair Scown (All Black #713, 1972)