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William James Hardham was the only New Zealander to be awarded the Victoria Cross during the Boer War in South Africa (1899-1902). He also played club rugby for Petone and 53 games for Wellington before and after that war and Wellington’s Premier 2 club rugby trophy is named after him. Hardham
Rugby History
Pioneers of rugby in Wellington 020: Nathanial ‘Ranji’ Arthur Wilson
Nathanial ‘Ranji’ Arthur Wilson was a leading player and later captain of the Athletic club team that won a five-peat of Senior Championship titles between 1911-15 (one shared), played 75 times for Wellington between 1906-1920 and played 10 Tests for the All Blacks between 1908-1914. Of West Indian and English parentage,
Pioneers of rugby in Wellington 019: Paul Francis Kane (AKA) Markham
Pioneers of rugby in Wellington 018: The Spencer brothers
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
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