The Riverton Rugby Club, based in the coastal town of Riverton/Aparima, Southland, is one of New Zealand’s oldest and most historic rugby union clubs.
Key Highlights of Club History
1. Early Foundations (1874)
Founded in 1874, the Riverton Rugby Club is listed among the nation’s earliest established rugby entities. It predates the formation of the Southland Rugby Football Union (1887) and played a pioneering role in bringing competitive rugby to the southern region alongside early clubs in Invercargill and Otautau.
2. The Famous WWI Mutilated Flag
One of the club’s most prized historical artifacts is its WWI club flag.
• During World War I, 128 members of the club entered training camp before shipping overseas (27 of whom lost their lives).
• Players took the Riverton Rugby Club flag with them to training camps, Egypt, Gallipoli, and the Western Front.
• While in the trenches, soldiers ran short of cleaning rags and reluctantly tore off a corner of the club flag to clean their rifles.
• The surviving, torn flag was brought safely back to Riverton and remains a deeply cherished symbol of sacrifice and club pride.
3. Community & Milestones
• 100th Jubilee (1974): Celebrated its centenary with the release of One Hundred Years of Riverton Rugby 1874–1974 by G. Haywood.
• 150th Jubilee (2024): In April 2024, the club marked a massive milestone—150 years of continuous rugby history. The event coincided with ANZAC week to honor its fallen soldiers, featuring former All Blacks such as Mils Muliaina and Christian Cullen as guest speakers, along with the release of a comprehensive 328-page history book written by David Cleaver.
4. Modern Role & Legacy
Riverton RFC remains a cornerstone of the Western Southland community, operating as a key social hub for the town. The club fields both senior and junior teams in the Rugby Southland competitions and focuses heavily on local youth pathways to keep grassroots rugby thriving in the region.
