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Profiling many of the people that built and helped shape the game in Wellington, from its inception in 1870 through to the WRFU’s 50th Jubilee year in 1929. The Melrose Rugby Football was a Wellington club rugby powerhouse in the late 1800s and a regular Senior Championship contender over the course
Rugby History
Pioneers of Rugby in Wellington: 017 J.M. Thomson
The Wellington College rugby team in 1890. Captain J.M. Thomson centre with ball in hand. Profiling many of the people that built and helped shape the game in Wellington, from its inception in 1870 through to the WRFU’s 50th Jubilee year in 1929. Inter-collegiate rugby, what is now First XV rugby, was
Pioneers of Rugby in Wellington: 017 The Ryan brothers
There were no fewer than eight Ryan brothers involved in the Petone Rugby Football Club, Wellington provincial teams and the All Blacks. The Ryans made their mark in a collective career that spanned over two decades at the start of last century. Five played for Wellington. Two were All Blacks. Any list of
Pioneers of Rugby in Wellington: 016 Fred Roberts and Jim Moffitt
From their inception in 1888 through to their amalgamation with Rongotai Old Boys in 1967 to form Oriental-Rongotai, the Oriental club produced five All Blacks. Oriental’s All Blacks were: Fred Roberts (1905, 1907-08 and 1910), Hector ‘Mona’Thomson (1905-6 and 1908), Jim Moffitt (1920-21), Alexander ‘Nugget’ Pringle (1923) and Charlie Gillespie (1913). Of
