Christian Mathias Cullen is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. He played most of his rugby at fullback for New Zealand, for the Hurricanes in the Super 12, and for Manawatu, Wellington and later Munster at provincial level. He was nicknamed the Paekakariki Express and was considered to be one of the most potent running fullbacks rugby has ever seen. With 46 tries scored in 58 tests, Cullen is the 9th-highest try-scorer in international rugby.
Jason John Eaton is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He played as a lock.
The Manawatu rugby league team are a rugby league team that represents the Manawatu Rugby League in New Zealand Rugby League competitions. They have the nickname the Mustangs and between 2002 and 2007 competed in the Bartercard Cup as the Central Falcons.
Mark Darren "Sharky" Robinson is a New Zealand former rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He played international rugby union for the All Blacks between 1997 and 2001. He played provincial rugby in New Zealand for North Harbour and Super 12 rugby for the Waikato Chiefs and then the Auckland Blues. He briefly played rugby league for the New Zealand Warriors before moving overseas to play with Northampton and then London Wasps, both in England. He retired from professional rugby in 2010.
Palmerston North Boys' High School is a traditional boys school located in Palmerston North, New Zealand.
The Manawatu Rugby Football Union (MRU) is the governing body of the sport of rugby union in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand.
Tasesa James Lavea is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former professional rugby league and rugby union footballer. He is of Samoan and Māori descent and heritage, and he coaches the 1st XV for Saint Kentigern College.
Josh Bradnock is a retired New Zealand Super Rugby rugby player. Bradnock captained the Manawatu Turbos in the Air New Zealand Cup. He was one of the top openside flankers in New Zealand rugby. Josh Bradnock was an exciting addition to 2009 Hurricanes squad by adding depth and enthusiasm to the loose forward stocks. However, injury severely limited his first season and eventually forced his early retirement from the game.
Aaron Wiremu Cruden is a New Zealand rugby union player, who plays for Chiefs and formerly Montpellier, Manawatu and New Zealand internationally. Cruden's usual position is first five-eighth.
Matthew David Duffie is a New Zealand professional rugby footballer who plays rugby union for the Blues in Super Rugby. He previously played rugby league with the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League and was a part of their under-20s Premiership winning team in 2009, scoring 25 tries. On 1 May 2011, he was selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team for the 2011 ANZAC Test. In October 2017, Duffie was named in the All Blacks for their end-of-year tour, becoming a dual-code rugby international.
Mark William Donaldson is a former New Zealand half-back rugby union player. Donaldson played 35 matches, including 13 test matches, for the All Blacks from 1977 to 1981.
Alphonsus "Fonse" John Carroll was a New Zealand dual-code international rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s, who represented New Zealand in both codes. He played at both Prop and Hooker.
Doug Tietjens is a former Australian-born New Zealand rugby union player who last played as a flanker for Taranaki in the National Provincial Championship, having shifted north to the province after 45 matches with Manawatu from 2008 to 2012.
Andre Taylor is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays in the fullback position and most recently played for Kintetsu Liners of Japan, and previously played for the Wellington-based Super Rugby franchise, the Hurricanes. He has played for New Zealand's Māori international side, the Māori All Blacks. Also a former New Zealand under-20 rep, Taylor endeared himself to Hurricanes' fans with a superb Super Rugby season in 2012. Starting at fullback, he became a regular try-scoring threat, drawing comparisons with the great Christian Cullen. At provincial level he began his career with Manawatu, his home province before making the switch to Taranaki in early 2010.
Koinonia Halafungani Laumape is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who currently plays as a centre for Kobelco Kobe Steelers. Laumape previously played in Super Rugby for the Hurricanes and was previously a rugby league player for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League.
Nehe Rihara Milner-Skudder is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays for the Rugby New York.
Otere Black is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a first five-eighth for Bay of Plenty in the Mitre 10 Cup and the Blues in Super Rugby.
Douglas Leslie Rollerson was a New Zealand rugby union and rugby league player, and rugby union executive.
Jackson Nikora Hemopo is a New Zealand All Black and rugby union player who played as a lock or loose forward for Manawatu in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Highlanders in the international Super Rugby competition.
Eric Gordon Fletcher was a rugby union and rugby league player. He represented the New Zealand rugby league team in 1 test against Australia in 1935. In the process he became the 239th player to represent New Zealand. Fletcher also played rugby union representatively for Manawatu province and the combined Manawatu-Horowhenua side whilst a member of the Old Boys and later Massey College club sides. After moving to Auckland he also represented Auckland in a sub-union match with Thames. After switching to rugby league he played for the Richmond Rovers club and played for Auckland, and Auckland Province. He was also a talented cricketer and played a handful of games for Manawatu in his younger years. After retiring from rugby he played representative golf in the Manawatu region and in 1939 played in the New Zealand Golf Open.
