Raetihi Rugby Club

Club History

Raetihi Rugby Club, a long-standing, historic rural rugby union club based in Raetihi, located at the foot of Mount Ruapehu in the Central North Island.
Key Historical Highlights

• Founding & Early Days (1901): The club was established in 1901 to serve the timber milling, farming, and railway-building community in the Raetihi district.

• The Ruapehu Sub-Union: In 1908, Raetihi helped form the Ruapehu Sub-Union alongside neighboring clubs Ohakune, Karioi, and Ohakune Pioneers. Shortly after, the sub-union affiliated with the Whanganui Rugby Football Union.

• Provincial Shifts: Because of its Central North Island geography, local rugby administration shifted over time. Between 1922 and 1970, Raetihi and the Ruapehu sub-union played within the King Country Rugby Football Union boundary, competing for King Country representative honors before returning to Whanganui.

• Famous Figures & Māori Rugby Connections: The club held deep ties with local hapū and farming whānau. Prominent rugby figures affiliated with the club included Ray Parr (Māori All Black in 1955 and 12-year King Country representative) and former Wellington player Des O’Donnell, who served as Raetihi’s player-coach through much of the 1950s.

• Centenary Celebration (1993): In 1993, the town and club commemorated a century of community history (1893–1993), featuring documented records of Raetihi’s early rugby teams, local fixtures, and club leaders.

• Modern Integration (Northern Ruapehu): As population changes impacted player numbers in the Waimarino area, local clubs in the district combined resources. The legacy of Raetihi RFC lives on today through the combined Ruapehu Rugby & Sports Club (based in neighboring Ohakune), which serves as the premier rugby hub for the entire Northern Ruapehu district.

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Raetihi Centennial 1893 – 1993

Club:

Year published:

Author:

Page count:

Notes:

Raetihi Rugby Club

1993

Not stated

96 pages

This is a book about the centenary of Raetihi. There are 4 pages with information on the Raetihi Rugby Club.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Raetihi Centennial 1893 – 1993

Club:

Raetihi Rugby Club

Year:

1993

Author:

Not stated

Pages:

96 pages

Notes:

This is a book about the centenary of Raetihi. There are 4 pages with information on the Raetihi Rugby Club.

Club History