Westport Rugby Football Club
Westport RFC is a New Zealand rugby union team based in the South Island of New Zealand. The club should not be confused with the Westport Rugby Club of Ireland.
| Full name | Westport Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Bumble Bees | |
| Founded | 1886 | |
| Location | Westport, New Zealand | |
| Ground(s) | Patterson Park (Capacity: 5,000) | |
| President |  Gerald Hart | |
| Captain(s) | Nick Makea | |
| League(s) | Buller Rugby Football Union Club Championships and Buller/West Coast Combined Club Championships | |
| 2009 | 2nd | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| www | ||
The Westport RFC is affiliated to both the Buller Rugby Football Union (it's provincial parent union) and the New Zealand Rugby Union. Westport RFC players can be selected to Buller Provincial Representative teams, including the Buller NPC side, as well as being picked for New Zealand sides.
The men's first team play in the Buller Rugby Football Union premier club competition. The side also plays in a Buller/West Coast combined premier league.
History
The Westport Rugby Football Club was founded in 1886. Originally the club participated in the West Coast Rugby Football Union competitions. With the logistical difficulties of playing teams from the lower West Coast the Westport club became instrumental in the founding of the Buller Rugby Football Union in the Northern part of the West Coast region in 1892 and have participated in Buller provincial competitions since this time.
Records
The Westport RFC first team won the Buller Rugby Union club championships 8 years in a row from 1963 to 1970 which at the time was a New Zealand record for most consecutive wins of a provincial club championship. The record stood for many years until recently beaten by Paeroa West of the Thames Valley Rugby Football Union who won 9 in a row.
Westport have also won the Buller Championships 28 times, the most of any Buller club.
Championships
Westport RFC has won the Buller Club Championships 28 times. Westport have also won the Buller/West Coast Combined competition 5 times since its inception in 1969.
Westport RFC - Buller Championships
1897, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1907, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1920, 1921, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003
Westport RFC - Buller/West Coast Combined Championships
1969, 1989, 1990, 1997, 1998
Notable players
All Blacks
Although up to 6 All Blacks have played for Westport RFC, there have officially been 2 Westport RFC players selected for the All Blacks whilst playing their club rugby for Westport at the time of selection. They are:
- Samuel Bligh (1910 All Black)
- Charles Mclean (1920 All Black)
NZ Maori All Blacks
There have been 2 Westport players selected for the New Zealand Maori Rugby team whilst playing their club rugby for Westport.
- Tom French (1911, 1913 NZ Maori)
- Sandy Webster (1888-89 NZ Natives)
Current Buller NPC Representative Players
- Stephen Crackett (Prop)
- Daniel Hooper (Flyhalf)
- Nick Makea (Halfback)
Mitieli Kaloudigibeci (Wing)
Other Notable Past Players
- Brian Stack (1966 All Black reserve vs British Lions)
- George Aitken Junior (1921 All Black captain who also played 8 tests for Scotland)
- Clem Green (Selected in the 1910 All Blacks but could not tour due to work commitments)
- Andrew Stephens (2008 NZ Divisional XV)
- Tim Manawatu (NZ Divisional XV)
- Thomas Stuart (Former record holder for most consecutive NPC appearances)
Teams
As well as providing senior rugby, Westport RFC also has a vibrant junior rugby section which provides rugby for children of all ages. The junior section normally has teams in all age grades from Under 6 up to Under 18.