Kawhia District Sub-Union had the distinction of playing under the supervision of 3 different provincial unions, South Auckland, Waikato and King Country. Kawhia Rugby Union was formed in 1920 with 4 clubs playing a local competition, however rugby football had been played in the area from as early as 1903. The union became affiliated to what was then known as the South Auckland Union. Kawhia was a founding sub-union member of the Waikato Rugby Union when it established in 1921, and as part of both these Unions contested for the Findlay Cup (inter sub union cup) unsuccessfully several times. More regularly played in the early years was an eagerly anticipated annual match day with the Raglan Sub Union often with an A & B team competing and occasionally with a schoolboy’s team. In 1915 a game between the 2 unions was arranged in Egypt prior to the Gallipoli campaign.
In late 1927 there was talk of Kawhia joining hands with Maniapoto and Tainui Sub-Unions to form a union under the auspices of Taranaki Rugby Union, this however did not eventuate. In 1928 Kawhia applied for and was successful in affiliation to the King Country Rugby Union.
Throughout its years of organising rugby in the area, several teams were put out from different districts: Awaroa, Oparau, Kinohaku, Makomako, Moerangi, Taharoa, Marokopa, [Te] Mania, Te Rauamoa.
Throughout the 1930’s the competition had its ups and downs and with a recess in the early 1940’s due to the war. The Kawhia District Sub-Union went into permanent recess in 1961 due to a lack of teams in the competition.
Perhaps the Kawhia Districts most famous rugby playing son is William John Phillips, who played for the Mako Mako Club and went on to play for King Country in 1934, New Zealand Maori in 1934 & 35, North Island in 1937 before being selected to play for the All Blacks against the Springboks in Christchurch of that year. The following year, in 1938 he obtained selection to tour Australia, where he appeared 6 times. His photo is shown above as the logo.
References:
i https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KSRA19230720.2.9?end_date=31-12-1933&items_per_page=10&page=20&query=rugby&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1905&title=KSRA
ii https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KSRA19270826.2.23?end_date=31-12-1933&items_per_page=10&page=18&query=rugby&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1905&title=KSRA
iii https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KSRA19280420.2.25
Thank you to James Bryan for supplying the information.
