The Southern Rugby Club Hawera (known locally as the “Southern Sharks”) is the premier rugby and community sports club representing Hāwera and the wider South Taranaki region.
Based out of Hicks Park in Hāwera, the modern club is the product of a major three-way merger of historic South Taranaki clubs.
1. The Predecessor Clubs
Southern’s roots reach back into the 19th century through the three local entities that eventually came together:
• Hāwera RFC (1876): Formed in 1876, Hāwera was one of New Zealand’s earliest rugby clubs—predating the Taranaki Rugby Football Union by more than a decade. Its most legendary figure was second five-eighth Jimmy Hunter, a vice-captain of the iconic 1905 “Originals” All Blacks who scored an astonishing 44 tries on that single tour.
• Waimate RFC (c. 1886): Based nearby in Manaia, Waimate was another early pillar of South Taranaki rugby, serving the surrounding dairy farming community.
• Athletic RFC (1925): Formed following a breakaway from the original Hāwera club in 1925, Athletic earned the nickname “The Bolshies” (a nod to the Russian Revolution era) and built a fierce local cross-town rivalry with Hāwera RFC for nearly 70 years.
2. The 1994 Amalgamation & Debut
By the early 1990s, changing economic realities, shifting demographics, and the transition toward professional rugby made it increasingly difficult for smaller neighboring clubs to field separate premier-level squads.
In 1994, Hāwera RFC, Athletic RFC, and Waimate RFC agreed to pool their resources and merge into Southern Rugby Club. The unified club kicked off its first official season in 1995, establishing a wide catchment area extending across South Taranaki (from Ōpunake, Manaia, and Eltham down to Pātea).
3. Notable Successes & On-Field Milestones
• 2013 Premier Championship: The crown jewel of Southern’s modern era came in 2013, when the Premier team captured the Taranaki Premier Championship (The McMaster Shield) in a thrilling 15–14 final against Clifton.
• Super Rugby & Representative Stars: The club has produced or fielded a number of high-profile players who progressed to the Chiefs, Taranaki Bulls, and international ranks:
o Craig Clarke: Taranaki captain and back-to-back Super Rugby champion captain with the Chiefs (2012–2013).
o Jarrod Hoeata: Became Southern’s first All Black selection post-merger in 2011.
o Michael Bent: Southern player who went on to earn international caps for Ireland.
4. Modern Community Role
Operating out of Hicks Park, Southern serves as a major athletic hub for South Taranaki, running teams across all senior, colts, and junior grades. The club recently expanded its community footprint even further by formally amalgamating local netball sides to form Southern Netball, creating a unified multi-sport organization for the district.
