Taranaki - a brief rugby history

Founded: 1889
Colours: Jersey: Amber & Black hoops Shorts: White Socks: Amber & Black hoops
Main Ground: Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
President: Robyn Houghton
Chairman: Lindsay Thomson
CEO: Paul J Veric

Website: www.trfu.co.nz

View/Download:

Taranaki Rugby Results 1976 - 2018 (PDF) Updated 25/4/19

Taranaki v's Others Stats (PDF) Updated 25/4/19

Taranaki NPC Premiership Statistics 1976 - 2018 (PDF) Updated 25/4/19

Taranaki Non Championship Statistics 1976 - 2018 (PDF) Updated 25/4/19

Coaches Coaching Records (PDF) Updated 25/4/19

Since 1976 (the start of the NPC) Taranaki has won the 2nd Division competition 6 times, the last time in 1992. They have been in the 1st Division many times, consistently since 1996.

The most appearances is by Ian Eliason (222) from 1964 - 1981.
The most points scored is by Kieran Crowley (1,723) from 1980 - 1994.
The most tries scored is by Kieran Crowley (64) from 1980 - 1994.

In 2018 Taranaki finished 7th in the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership Division round robin series, and was relegated to the Championship division.
The 2019 coach is Willie Rickards.
The 2019 captain is Mitchell Brown.
The 2019 squad is: Bedwell-Curtis H, Boshier K, Boshier L, Brighouse D, Brown M, Florence T, Gawler C, Hall L, Hoeata F, Lahmert W, Mellow S, Milo-Harris L, Naholo K, Naholo W, Northcott-Hill B, Lord J, O'Neill R, Ormond J, Parete J, Perofeta S, Potroz J, Price L, Proffit J, Riccitelli R, Roe X, Slater B, Sorovaki A, Sowakula P G, Stewart K, Tahuriorangi Te T, Va'ai T, Verney R, Wainui S, Waite D, Walden T.

Clubs that form the Union are:
Click on the names to access each club's website

Club Name	Founded	Colours

Referees
Bell Block		Jersey: Green & Gold Shorts: Green Socks: Green with Gold tops
Clifton		Jersey: Cambridge Blue, Emerald Green with Gold scales Shorts: White with Blue, Green & Gold stripes Socks: White with Green Ta Moko
Coastal	1995	Jersey: Green with White stripe Shorts: Black Socks: Green with White stripe
Eltham/Kaponga		Jersey: Black & White Harlequin squares Shorts: Black Socks: White & Black
Inglewood U		Jersey: Maroon with Navy collar Shorts: Navy Socks: Maroon with Navy top
Kaitake		Jersey: Blue & Black Shorts: Black Socks: Blue & Black
N P OB		Jersey: Black, Gold & White Shorts: Black Socks: Black with two White bands at top
Okaiawa		Jersey: Maroon & Blue hoops Shorts: Blue Socks: Maroon & Blue hoops
Patea		Jersey: Royal Blue with White collar Shorts: Royal Blue Socks: Royal Blue with White stripes
Spotswood U		Jersey: Red, Yellow & Black Shorts: Black with Red & Yellow stripes Socks: Red, Yellow & Black
Southern		Jersey: Gold, Hunter Green & Navy Blue Shorts: Navy Blue Socks: Navy Blue with White, Green & Gold band
Stratford	1995	Jersey: Red & Black hoops Shorts: Black Socks: Red & Black hoops
Toko		Jersey: Amber & Black hoops Shorts: Black Socks: Amber & Black hoops
Tukapa		Jersey: Blue & White hoops Shorts: Blue Socks: Blue & White

Endorsements

Kerry - great website on rugby - just a comment your player information for Ken J Tarrant (brother) South Canterbury is incorrect. It says he played 29 games I think you will find it was around 69 from early 70s to late 70s.
Steve Tarrant
(170 games over 14 seasons for Sth Canterbury & Southland)

Kerry's note: Thanks Steve, this will be corrected once I go back earlier than 1975.

I would like to thank Kerry for his Rugby History website. The site is very easy to use. The information it has provided me with for an article I am researching for the Rugby Statistician's Magazine has proved invaluable.

Dave Hall

Kerry
Firstly, this is an awesome website – love all the work you’ve done. It’s a real bonus especially to those of us who never collected Rugby Almanack etc.
So awesome to see my own name in there – but you’ve missed one NZU game – I played 3 – Full 80’s against Scotland & Uruguay and as a replacement vs France in the semi final.
Every game counts when we’re old, lol!
Cheers
Pat J Stevens

I have seen the development of the website http://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/ over the past 12 months and genuinely believe it has the potential to become the online portal for rugby history and statistics in New Zealand. Outside of the Rugby Almanack there is nowhere that rugby followers can go to gain such information, and there is certainly nowhere online that comes close to the level of detail that Kerry’s website provides.

With a bit of support I think http://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/ can become the most comprehensive rugby database in the country, and in the process protect the legacy of our national game.

Hamish Forsman
Waikato Rugby Union Media Executive & Historian

Hi Kerry
I just came across your website ......it is amazing.
Michael O'Dwyer
Tipperary, Ireland

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Testimonial

It gives me great pleasure to write this character reference about this website. There would not be a person in this country who doesn’t know that rugby is the national game of New Zealand. The passion runs deep and the profile and exposure of the sport is without peer. A fair chunk of our heroes come from the game and nothing affects the mental psychology of the people more than rugby. Not even politics.

Because of this rich feeling, discussions in society are often based around the game and on the players involved. Memories tend to play tricks on people. They can fade and forget and get things muddled up. For nearly 90 years New Zealand rugby enthusiasts have been superbly served by the Rugby Almanack. It remains the definitive source of information from each season despite the advancement of technology.

However, we must accept that technology has advanced and like rugby, we therefore need to embrace the good that comes with that change. www.rugbyhistory.co.nz is the best rugby history site that is available. It provides comprehensive records of the All Blacks, all the Super rugby sides and most impressively of all, places a large emphasis on the national provincial competition, which remains such a crucial part of the fabric in New Zealand.

Kery Geertson’s dedication to this growing rugby treasure can not be denied. It continues to grow, mature and impress. To paraphrase the late, great Terry McLean www.rugbyhistory.co.nz should be stored as a favourite website for every rugby lover; it provides facts and fairness and hours of one of life’s greatest pleasures – browsing.

Grant Hassall
Wannabe Rugby Historian
New Plymouth

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Taranaki - a brief rugby history