Wainuiomata Rugby Football Club

Last updated

Wainuiomata Rugby Football Club (WRFC) is a rugby union club based in Wainuiomata, an outlying suburb of Lower Hutt, New Zealand.

The club was formed in 1946 during the significant settlement of the area in the post-war era; mostly by young families attracted by the affordable new housing on offer.

The club has since been through many ups and downs. The 1980s were particularly successful with the club winning many lower-grade titles. However following the 1987 season many players defected to the rival Wainuiomata Rugby League Club, with the club relegated from the Premier ranks the following season. The club would not return to Wellington's top flight until 2006.

Since returning to the Swindale Shield Wainuiomata have won the Hardham Cup twice - in 2007 where they upset Oriental-Rongotai and again in 2010 when they defeated Avalon - and were runners-up to Upper Hutt in 2006 and Tawa in 2008. In 2011 the club qualified for the Jubilee Cup, finishing 7th, and qualified for the semi-finals in 2012.

The 2014 season was a stellar year for the club making its first appearance in the premier competition's Jubilee Cup Final against fierce local rivals, Hutt Old Boys-Marist. The fairytale season did not have a happy ending, going down in a tense final, 11-14.

The club has also enjoyed success with their second and third teams. The second side were promoted out of the Senior 2 competition in 2011 and retained their place in Senior 1 after the second round. In 2012 the second's qualified for the Hardham Cup as one of the top four eligible sides, where they finished 7th. The third side won the Senior 3 competition in 2012 and as eligible for promotion will play the 2013 year in the Senior 3 competition.

The club also fields Colts (U21), Under 85 kg restricted and Presidents grade (over 35's) sides at a senior level; and a large number of junior sides. The club maintains close links with Wainuiomata High School providing a pathway into senior rugby.

The club is based at William Jones Park which has an indoor training facility and a single field. Matches are also played at Mary Crowther Park a short distance away.

Piri Weepu and Jonah Lomu are the club's two All Blacks in its history, Weepu regularly playing for the team when circumstances allowed him too. Jonah Lomu played for the club twice in 2000 and 2001 and also represented the club when donning its club socks when appearing for the Barbarian F.C. in 2000.

Justin Va'a and Earl Va'a represented Manu Samoa including appearances at 2 Rugby World Cup tournaments. Uale Mai was a long serving stalwart for the very successful Samoa national rugby sevens team and was named IRB International Sevens Player of the Year in 2006.

Local boys Tana Umaga and Neemia Tialata both played their senior club rugby at neighbours Petone, mostly during the period when Wainuiomata were outside the Premier ranks.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonah Lomu</span> New Zealand rugby union player (1975–2015)

Jonah Tali Lomu was a New Zealand professional rugby union player. Lomu is considered to have been the first true global superstar of rugby, and consequently had a huge impact on the game. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential players in the history of the sport, and as one of the most talented sportsmen ever.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tana Umaga</span> New Zealand rugby player (born 1973)

Jonathan Ionatana Falefasa Umaga is a New Zealand former rugby union footballer and former captain of the national team, the All Blacks. Since 2016 he has been coach of the Blues in the Super Rugby competition.

Daniel Darko Luger MBE is a former English rugby union international who was a member of the squad that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Harbour Rugby Union</span>

The North Harbour Rugby Union (NHRU), commonly known as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is the governing body of rugby union that encompasses a wide geographical area north of Auckland that includes North Shore City, Rodney District, the Hibiscus Coast and part of Waitakere City. There are 12 rugby clubs from Mahurangi RFC, based in Warkworth, Rodney District, in the north through to Massey the southernmost area of the union.

Trevor Leota is a New Zealand-born former rugby union player for Samoa. He currently coaches at the Footscray Bulldogs in Melbourne, Australia. Leota was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and won 30 caps for Samoa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piri Weepu</span> Rugby player

Piri Awahou Tihou Weepu is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. Weepu played most recently for Wairarapa Bush in the Heartland Championship. Generally Weepu played as a half-back but also played at first five-eighth on occasion. He has represented the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, between 2004 and 2013. He first won national honours against Wales in 2004. In 2005 was called back into the All Blacks squad for the first Tri Nations test against South Africa, having missed selection for the 2005 British & Irish Lions tour. He represented the Hurricanes and Blues in Super Rugby, and Wellington and Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup. He also had brief spells with several clubs in Europe. In October 2017, Weepu announced his retirement as a rugby player.

The Wellington Rugby League Team are a rugby league team that represents the Wellington Rugby League in New Zealand Rugby League competitions. They currently compete in the National Competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wellington Rugby Football Union</span> Governing body of rugby union in the province of Wellington

The Wellington Rugby Football Union are a New Zealand governing body of rugby union in the New Zealand province of Wellington Region. The main stadium is Sky Stadium which is located in Wellington. The union also represents the Wellington Lions, which is professional rugby union team who compete in the Mitre 10 Cup competition and contest for the Ranfurly Shield. Before 2006 the Lions competed in the National Provincial Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wainuiomata Lions</span> NZ rugby league club, based in Wainuiomata

The Wainuiomata Lions are a New Zealand rugby league club based in Wainuiomata, Wellington. They compete in the Wellington Rugby League competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sport in Tonga</span>

Rugby union is the national sport in Tonga. Sumo has a following, while football, judo, surfing, volleyball, and cricket have gained popularity in recent years. Rugby league and Australian football are also played.

Wellington Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Greater Wellington region. It is responsible for the local competition of the same name, as well as its representative team, the Wellington rugby league team.

The Jubilee Cup is a rugby trophy. It is the premier club competition trophy of the Wellington Rugby Football Union, and the current holders are Tawa, following their 36-7 defeat of Marist St Pats in the 2021 final.

Hutt Old Boys-Marist (HOBM) is a New Zealand rugby football club. Playing in the competitions of the Wellington Rugby Football Union, it is based at the Hutt Recreation Ground in Lower Hutt.

The 2000 New Zealand rugby league season was the 93rd season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the inaugural season of the Bartercard Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Canterbury Bulls won the Cup by defeating the Otahuhu Leopards 38–24 in the Grand Final.

The 1994 New Zealand rugby league season was the 87th season of rugby league in New Zealand. The main feature of the season was the inaugural Lion Red Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The North Harbour Sea Eagles won the Cup by defeating the Counties Manukau Heroes 24–16 in the Grand Final. At the end of the season the New Zealand national team was also assembled for a tour of Papua New Guinea.

The 1993 New Zealand rugby league season was the 86th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the National Provincial Championship competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. Canterbury won the Championship by defeating Auckland 36–12 in the Final.

Billy Weepu is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who played for the Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL, and is now a news camera operator.

The 1992 New Zealand rugby league season was the 85th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the National Provincial Competition that was won by Auckland.

Stokes Valley Rugby Football Club (SVRFC) is a rugby union club based in Stokes Valley, a suburb of the Hutt Valley, New Zealand.

Chase Tiatia is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a utility back for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition. He has signed with the Western Force for the 2023 and 2024 Super Rugby season. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but is eligible to represent Manu Samoa internationally due to his Samoan heritage.