Club History

Saracens Rugby Club

Saracens Rugby Club – This Hawkes Bay based club is recorded as playing a second-class fixture against Hawkes Bay in 1939. They would have played the Centurions the following season but “due to war conditions a proposed match against the recently formed Saracens Club from Hawkes Bay proposed for July 1940 was abandoned”.1 The Saracens played their initial first-class match against the Evergreens at Rugby Park, Dannevirke in October 1974, to mark the opening of a new grandstand. Their team included five All Blacks and two Australians, Owen Stephens and Ray Price. They beat the Evergreens, who fielded four All Blacks and two Fijian representatives, 46 – 33. The Saracens have now played six first class matches, but one, in 1992 against a New Zealand XV, was really an All Black trial for the upcoming NZRU Centennial Tests against a World XV. Hawkes Bay XVs playing warmup matches prior to the start of competition matches have in recent years played as the Saracens. The club for some years has sponsored College Day, when visiting schools come to play Hawkes Bay schools. The HB Development team plays under the Saracens banner in the Hurricanes Development teams tournament, currently in jerseys supplied by the club. Club membership remains open to anyone who has played one first class match, and the club holds an annual Saracens’ Day, coinciding with a Magpies home match. 1 ”Halfway – The First 50 Years of Centurions Rugby”, pub. 1989 p. 10 (Bob Luxford 2017) The Saracens Rugby Club Facebook page says “Rugby organisation for former Hawkes Bay Magpies rugby players or former 1st class players domiciled.”
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New Zealand Invitation XV versus Hawkes Bay 1966

Club:
Year published:
Author:
Page count:
Notes:
Saracens Rugby Club
1966
Not stated
16 pages
This is an end of season game arranged by the Saracens Rugby Club to fundraise. This programme outlines the history and purpose of the club.
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New Zealand Invitation XV versus Hawkes Bay 1966

Club:
Saracens Rugby Club
Year:
1966
Author:
Not stated
Pages:
16 pages
Notes:
This is an end of season game arranged by the Saracens Rugby Club to fundraise. This programme outlines the history and purpose of the club.
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The Saracens v The Centurions 1967

Club:
Year published:
Author:
Page count:
Notes:
Saracens Rugby Club
1967
Not stated
24 pages
This is the match programme from the 1967 match at Dannevirke between Saracens and Centurions. It was Tom Ingram’s benefit match. While it contains no information about the club, it is typical of these “barbarian” or “friendly” type clubs.
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The Saracens v The Centurions 1967

Club:
Saracens Rugby Club
Year:
1967
Author:
Not stated
Pages:
24 pages
Notes:
This is the match programme from the 1967 match at Dannevirke between Saracens and Centurions. It was Tom Ingram’s benefit match. While it contains no information about the club, it is typical of these “barbarian” or “friendly” type clubs.
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Hawkes Bay Saracens “Golden Oldies” Rugby Tour to California/Hawaii June 1981

Club:
Year published:
Author:
Page count:
Notes:
Saracens Rugby Club
1981
Not stated
16 pages
A 16 page booklet previewing the Saracens 1981 tour to California and Hawaii. No real history of the club included.
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Hawkes Bay Saracens “Golden Oldies” Rugby Tour to California/Hawaii June 1981

Club:
Saracens Rugby Club
Year:
1981
Author:
Not stated
Pages:
16 pages
Notes:
A 16 page booklet previewing the Saracens 1981 tour to California and Hawaii. No real history of the club included.