On the 8th of May 1888, the South Canterbury Rugby Union was formed. The Clubs in attendance were Fairlie Creek, South Canterbury, Temuka, Waimate, Geraldine Wanderers, Winchester and Pirates (formed by amalgamation of Crusader and Invincibles Clubs, and later became Star). The Union’s boundaries were the Rangitata River in the north, and the Waitaki River in the south.