Rangiora Rugby Club

Club History

The Rangiora Rugby Club was one of the oldest rugby clubs in Canterbury and New Zealand. Rooted in the North Canterbury region, the club played a pioneering role in the development of provincial rugby for over 130 years before merging to form the modern Saracens Rugby Football Club.

Key Historical Milestones

• Foundation (1875):

Formed in 1875 as North Canterbury/Rangiora, it was among the earliest organized rugby clubs established in the South Island.

• Founding Member of Canterbury Rugby (1879):

On 26 July 1879, delegates from Rangiora (representing North Canterbury) met in Timaru alongside other regional teams to establish the Canterbury Rugby Football Union (CRFU) — New Zealand’s very first provincial rugby union.

• Home Grounds & Relocation:

o Dudley Park (1928–1960): The club played at Dudley Park from its official opening in May 1928.

o Rangiora Showgrounds (1960–Present): In 1960, the club moved its headquarters and playing fields to the Rangiora Showgrounds Oval.

• Centennial (1975): The club celebrated its 100-year centennial jubilee in 1975, publishing a 76-page historical retrospective marking a century of country rugby in the Waimakariri district.

rangiora-rugby-club-100-years-1975-newspaper-supplement

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Centennial Celebrations 1875 – 1975

Club:

Year published:

Author:

Page count:

Notes:

Rangiora Rugby Club

1975

Not stated

76 pages

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Centennial Celebrations 1875 – 1975

Club:

Rangiora Rugby Club

Year:

1975

Author:

Not stated

Pages:

76 pages

Notes:

Club History