Founded in 1895 in the Waikato district, Taupiri Rugby Club is one of the oldest and most historic sub-union rugby clubs in the Waikato region.

Club Foundation
1895
Established as a rural community rugby club in Northern Waikato.

Affiliation with Waikato Union
1921
Became an active member of the newly formed Waikato Rugby Football Union, playing in local sub-union and provincial club competitions.

Inception of the Taupiri Sevens
1984
Club members Ken Wilkinson and Gary Catley established the Taupiri Sevens. It rapidly grew into one of New Zealand’s premier and most grueling one-day club 7s tournaments.

High-Performance Peak
1990s
Fielded strong Waikato Division 1 sides and established a reputation for producing elite forward pack players and national representatives.

125th Anniversary
2020
Celebrated 125 years of continuous rural rugby history in the Waikato region (1895–2020).

Key Details & Club Identity

• Home Grounds: Murphy Lane / Murray Field, Taupiri.
• Colors: Blue & Yellow / Gold.
• Affiliation: Waikato Rugby Football Union (WRFU).
• Notable All Blacks & Figures:
o Has Catley: Legendary Waikato and All Black hooker.
o Warren Gatland: Former Waikato player, All Black, and world-renowned international head coach (Wales & British & Irish Lions).
o Steve Gordon: Former Waikato lock and All Black.