The Weymouth Rugby Club, based in South Auckland, is relatively young compared to some of New Zealand’s century-old heritage clubs, but it holds a unique and legendary place in rugby folklore due to the iconic players who started there.
Here is the history of Weymouth Rugby Club:
1. The Breakaway Beginnings (1970s)
Weymouth RFC was founded in the early 1970s within the proud and fiercely competitive Counties Manukau Rugby Union. The club was born out of local expansion and established itself as a “breakaway” entity from the nearby, highly established Manurewa Rugby Football Club.
To mark its first decade of establishing roots in the community, the club published its 10th Jubilee booklet in 1982.
2. The Global Impact: Churning Out Legends
While Weymouth may not have the massive trophy cabinet of older urban powerhouses, it can boast a jaw-dropping track record of nurturing absolute superstars of world rugby. The club served as the foundational launchpad for two of the most devastating wingers to ever lace up rugby boots:
• Jonah Lomu: The global rugby megastar and arguably the most famous player to ever play the game has deep ties to Weymouth. While he rose to fame out of Wesley College, Lomu actually played his very first senior club rugby game for the Weymouth Rugby Club.
• Joe Rokocoko: Long before he was terrorizing international defenses for the All Blacks and the Blues, Rokocoko’s introduction to New Zealand life and rugby began as a boy in South Auckland. He played his formative junior grade rugby at Weymouth before later moving to the Auckland club scene.
• Loki Crichton: The mercurial utility back—who played for the Chiefs and represented Samoa internationally—was another proud Weymouth man before heading down to the Waikato.
3. Modern Identity
Today, Weymouth operates as a vital community hub in the South Auckland grassroots rugby scene, providing a pathway for junior and senior players under the Counties Manukau banner. It is widely celebrated as a club that punches far above its weight in uncovering raw, generational talent.
