Early in the year 1939 several interested people of the town and district discussed the possibility of forming a new rugby team through the amalgamation of some of the lesser teams in the local competition. A meeting for the purpose of forming a new Rugby Football club from Old Boys, Pirates and Waiau clubs was held at St Andrew’s Hall on Monday the 20th March 1939. The motion “That a new club be formed from the three old clubs”. Then a rather vigorous discussion took place on a new name for the club with eventually four names being suggested. These names being “City”, “United”, “Wairoa”, “Athletic”. A Clear-cut majority of those present voted for the name “Athletic” and thus the name became “The Athletic Rugby Football Club”