Manawatu Rugby Union - History - NPC & Ranfurly Shield

NPC & Ranfurly Shield

This proud union, which at its best combines bullocking forwards from the outlying country areas, with the speedy backs from the Varsity club, has produced several outstanding All Blacks and has achieved notable success on the national rugby stage.

1970s: Glory Days and Shield Era

The period from 1976 to 1983 saw Manawatu as a powerhouse in New Zealand rugby, achieving outstanding success. One of the great Ranfurly Shield reigns (1976–1978) was followed by an historic National Provincial Championship (NPC) victory in 1980.

Manawatu was also NPC Runner-up in 1976 and 1981. These lofty heights placed a heavy burden on Manawatu sides in the future, who failed to live up to this 'once in a generation' success of the Graham Hamer coached teams of 1976 to 1983.

In the final Ranfurly Shield challenge of 1978 Manawatu were leading North Auckland (now called Northland) 10–9 with time up on the clock. A record Ranfurly Shield reign seemed possible, as the team headed into the 1979 season and beyond with one of the most powerful teams in the country, one that was notoriously tough to beat at 'The Oval', where all shield defences would be played.

Inexplicably, the referee played 5–6 minutes of 'injury' time before awarding the visitors a dubious penalty close to the posts. They duly kicked it and took the shield north. The referee then required a police escort off 'The Showgrounds Oval' as Manawatu fans showed their disgust and obvious disappointment.

This highly controversial moment was a bitter end to Manawatu's impressive run with the shield. To Manawatu supporters at the time, there was no clear or acceptable explanation for the referee's actions that day, and none have surfaced since.

There were several conspiracy theories with the most notable involving the Auckland Rugby Union (ARU). They had a legitimate request for a challenge in 1977 controversially denied by the Manawatu union who argued that Auckland had had 'too much influence in shield rugby for too long'.

The ARU would not be confident of a challenge in 1979 against Manawatu but would 'probably' get one against a victorious North Auckland. In the end Auckland got their wish; North Auckland won, and Auckland easily took the shield off their neighbours in the following season. Interestingly, they denied Manawatu a challenge in 1980.

1980s

In 1980, its championship winning season, Manawatu had no less than eight All Blacks, an impressive number even by today's standards.

They were: Mark Donaldson, Mark 'Cowboy' Shaw (who earned his living at various meat works around the city), Geoff Old, Frank Oliver, Gary Knight, Doug Rollerson, Lachie Cameron and 18-year-old PNBHS schoolboy Craig Wickes (a substitute in the final minutes against Fiji at Eden Park).

Manawatu remained one of the most feared and powerful unions in the country until the 1984 season when standards slipped considerably. So respected were Manawatu that the great Canterbury Ranfurly Shield team of 1983 put Manawatu last on their list of challengers for that season. Auckland and Wellington were considered easier options, which is hard to fathom these days.

In 1985, Manawatu celebrated a centenary of club competition and in 1986, the union's centenary.

In 1988, the union was relegated to the second division for the first time and spent a lengthy time playing against other struggling unions.

Once an attractive option in its glory days for notable players such as Frank Oliver, Manawatu in the second division was reduced to a 'feeder' role, effectively developing players for other unions.

1990s

In 1996 Manawatu and Hawke's Bay merged their teams to form the Central Vikings Rugby Union. It was an attempt to elevate the unions back to the then first division. Players such as Mark Allen, Christian Cullen, Mark Ranby, Stephen Bachop and Roger Randle featured in the team. The 1997 season saw Central finish overall second with 6 wins, 2 losses and into the semifinals. In the semifinal, the Vikings avenged their loss to Bay of Plenty in round robin play to face Northland in the final. Northland won the final 63–10. Northland were thus promoted to the First Division. However, had the Vikings won, they would not have been eligible to be promoted.

1998 saw a repeat of form for the Vikings who went unbeaten in the season. They subsequently won the final against Bay of Plenty and were promoted to First Division. However, due to financial issues, the merger split back to Manawatu and Hawke's Bay. Manawatu returned in 1999 to the second division set back by the financial issues from the Central Vikings days.

2000s

Manawatu began the new millennium firmly fixed in the second tier competition.

In 2005, Manawatu fell to a woeful 6–109 defeat by the touring British and Irish Lions at Palmerston North. The outlook for the future of rugby in Manawatu at the time, was not promising. However in the same year, a rugby lifeline was handed to Manawatu with the invitation to return to the top level in a revamped NPC.

The promotion to the top level in 2006 provided hope for greater things to Manawatu rugby and has restored respect and dignity to the green and white jersey. Crowd support for the new venture has been among the highest of all unions in the competition. Although recent results suggest the union has a long way to go to get back to the glory days it once enjoyed, the selection of Aaron Cruden in 2010 for the All Blacks showed the country, supporters and local aspiring players they do not need to move elsewhere to chase the All Black dream. He was the first All Black chosen whilst playing for the union since Christian Cullen in 1996. In 2012, Cruden was joined by Turbos teammate, Aaron Smith. The addition of Smith meant for the first time since 1986, two All Blacks came from Manawatu. Lately (as of 2012) more players from Manawatu have been selected for Super Rugby teams.