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Club History

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Thames Rugby & Sports Club

CLUB WEBSITE

Founded in 1870, Thames Rugby & Sports Club is one of the oldest rugby union clubs in New Zealand and a foundational institution of Coromandel and Thames Valley rugby.

Club Foundation
1870
Established during the Thames gold rush, making it one of the earliest official rugby clubs formed in New Zealand.

Foundation of Thames Valley Union
1922
Played a pivotal role in the formation of the Thames Valley Rugby Football Union, anchoring the sub-union competition alongside local mining and farming townships.

Centenary Milestone
1970
Celebrated 100 years of continuous rugby history with a major centennial jubilee event in Thames.

Multi-Sport Amalgamation
1990s
Expanded operational focus by merging local sports codes into Thames Rugby & Sports Club, pooling community resources at Rhodes Park.

150th Anniversary
2020
Marked 150 years of uninterrupted club history (1870–2020), cementing its status among New Zealand’s rarest historic clubs.

Key Details & Club Identity
• Home Ground: Rhodes Park, Thames.
• Colors: Blue and Black.
• Affiliation: Thames Valley Rugby Football Union (TVRFU).
• Premier Trophy: Thames Valley McClinchy Cup / Senior A Championship.

• Notable All Blacks & Representatives:

o Bob Scott: Legendary All Black full-back post-WWII (played for Thames during his early career).

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thames-rugby-club-american-tour-1987
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Thames Rugby & Sports Club American Tour ’87

Club:
Year published:
Author:
Page count:
Notes:
Thames Rugby & Sports Club
1987
Peter Rolton
20 pages
thames-rugby-club-american-tour-1987
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Thames Rugby & Sports Club American Tour ’87

Club:
Thames Rugby & Sports Club
Year:
1987
Author:
Peter Rolton
Pages:
20 pages
Notes:
Club History
Provincial History
Sub-Union History
References
Club History
Provincial History
Sub-Union History
References