Alhambra-Union Rugby Football Club

Alhambra Union Rugby Football Club is a rugby football club based in Dunedin, New Zealand.

History

Origins

The Alhambra Union Rugby Football Club as we know it today was formed at the end of the 1986 season and first took the field in 1987. The two clubs in the north end of Dunedin had each operated in excess of 100 years and after years of informal discussions it was agreed to merge the clubs.

Union had the numbers but lacked the grounds. After a season of training and playing, the picturesque North Ground was far from a picture. Alhambra had the grounds but was losing numbers after it lost its senior status at the end of 1983.

Alhambra

Formed in 1884 the club was founded from members of the old Albany Street school who arranged a 'kick around' at Thompson's paddock, now known as Harbour Terrace. At the end of that first season members began clearing bush at Opoho and permission was obtained to play games there in 1885. That same year the club joined the ORFU and was given the colours of red & black. In 1886 it played its first senior game, drawing against Kaikorai.

In 1891 the club had its first taste of success winning the senior and junior banner. The seniors repeated the feat the following season. In the first decade of the 1900s the club enjoyed a purple patch winning the senior banner in 1902 (13 games undefeated), 1905, 1909 and 1910. They were runner-up twice in that period as well.

Union

The Union Football Club was formed in 1872 after a special meeting on 24 February 1871 at the Annadale Arms Hotel. This meeting took place after students from Otago Boys' High School had played a game against the Dunedin club, which had just been formed.

First reports of the games played by Union appeared in local papers in 1874, although a report on a game played between Dunedin and North Dunedin almost certainly involved the Union club.

The first club resident was Robert Stout who later became Sir Robert Stout. He would go on to be a Provincial Councillor, Prime Minister and later Chief Justice. He would become a long serving patron of the club.

After some tough times in the depression of the 1880s the club won its first senior banner in 1887. It repeated the title again in 1890. Games were played on the North Ground which at that time was surrounded by a picket fence.

War, Depression and the Baby Boomers

Leading up to the First World War, both clubs struggled and were only held together by enthusiastic administrators determined to keep them playing. Union picked up the senior banner in 1916. Alhambra won the title again in 1920 with Jock Richardson playing his part. He would later go on to captain the All Black test team on the famous 1924 Invincibles tour.

In 1926 the Union club amalgamated with the YMCA second grade team. A new monogram was developed with the triangle appearing for the first time.

The depression years in the 1930s were tough for all clubs but games continued to be played. Alhambra played Kaikorai for the Murphy memorial for the first time in 1938 going down 3-0.

After finishing last in 1938 the Union club was guided to the title in 1939 by All Black 'Did' Vorrath defeating Southern 9-6 in the final, thanks to a last minute Ron Silver penalty.

The Second World War was again tough for clubs. Often rival clubs like Alhambra and Kaikorai would combine to ensure games would be played.

By the late 1960s the peak of the "Baby Boomers" had occurred at primary schools and both clubs benefited with large schoolboy numbers. Ten to fifteen years later these numbers had progressed through to the senior clubs.

In 1975 the Union club had nine teams training on the North Ground. Alhambra had a mini-revival in the late 1970s with talented students Tim Burcher and Rex Smith leading them to the Gallaway Shield in 1977.

The Merged Club

The most obvious benefit of the merged club was the increased playing numbers. In 1987 the four senior teams all played in the finals with the Fourths winning the banner. University A beat the Seniors with a penalty in the last action of the day.

The strength continued in the early 90s with impressive performances across the club. The Seniors were consistently in the top four, contesting the final twice. The Colts teams were also strong during this period, picking up the banner in 1993.

From the late nineties through to the current times the club has been buoyed by the success of the Second Grade and Women's teams who have consistently made the top four. The Women's team won the banner in 1999 on the back of strong performances from its three Black Ferns, Farah Palmer, Jacinta Nielson and Maree Edwards. In that same year the club had the unique honour of having both the Men's and Women's NZ Rugby player of the year in Josh Kronfeld and Farah Palmer. Both were playing for the club at the time and is a situation that is unlikely to ever be repeated.

The 21st Century

In 2003 the club had three players in the Highlanders with Filipo Levi, Seru Rabeni and Ben Herring all being selected. Rabeni went on to play for Fiji in the World Cup.

2006 was the year supporters had waited for. The Premier Men's team won the banner, by beating University A 23-17 at Carisbrook. 67 years was a long time to wait. The semi-final against Southern had gone into extra-time before the team won 42-23. The double was almost achieved with the women just losing 24-20 to University team, which made up by far the bulk of the Otago team.

Leading up to the 2007 rugby and cricket world cups, both of the national coaches in these sports, Graham Henry and John Bracewell, had played for the Union club. The club again won the banner in 2008 beating Dunedin 26-10 in the final.

The Women's team won their final in 2007 over Southern 84-3 and gained a hat trick over the next two years by beating Pirates twice in the finals. Players to represent the Black Ferns during these years were Carla Hohepa, Kathleen Wilton and Kelly Brazier.

External links

• Official website