Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union

Governing body for rugby union in Gisborne, New Zealand

Poverty Bay

Club information
Full name| Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union
Colours| Scarlet and White
Founded| 1890
Website| Official website
Current details
Ground(s)|

* Rugby Park, Gisborne

Coach| Tom Cairns
Captain| Tamanui Hill
Competition| Heartland Championship

The Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union within the Gisborne district, in the area surrounding Poverty Bay on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The men's representative team play from Rugby Park, Gisborne, and currently compete in the Heartland Championship.

## History

[edit]

The Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union was established in 1890 by four clubs in the Gisborne area — Gisborne, Turanganui, Poverty Bay and Waerenga-a-Hika — with the union's inaugural first-class match being held against Hawke's Bay the same year.[1] Since then, the union has played against every other existent union in New Zealand as well as an array of overseas touring sides, including but not limited to Australia, England, South Africa and Japan, against whom Poverty Bay drew in 1974. In 1981, Rugby Park was the scene of clashes between pro-tour supporters and anti-tour protesters prior to a match against the touring South African side. Poverty Bay ultimately lost the game by 6 - 24.

## Provincial representative rugby

[edit]

### National Provincial Championship

[edit]

Poverty Bay won the National Provincial Championship (NPC) Third division, in:

* 1987 coached by Grant Allen and captained by former Canterbury representative Tony Thorpe,[2] the team was unbeaten in all 9 games they played that season including a 26-16 victory over Hawkes Bay. Fullback Richard Owen scored 104 points in NPC matches (122 in total for the season) and Andrew Hansen[3] scored 7 tries.
* 2004 coached by Kiwi Searancke[4] and captained by Mark Jefferson, a former first class cricketer.

They also finished runners-up in the same division in 1994, 1995 and 1999.

### Heartland Championship

[edit]

Since 2006, Poverty Bay have competed in the Heartland Championship, a competition organised by the New Zealand Rugby Union for New Zealand's amateur unions. Since the introduction of the format in 2006, the team have had great success, winning the Lochore Cup on four occasions:

* 2006 coached by Paul Feeney[5] with Scott Leighton[6] as captain and main goal kicker scoring 115 points for the season.
* 2007 coached by Feeney and captained by Leighton who scored 114 points in Heartland games (144 on all games).
* 2008 coached by Feeney and captained by Leighton. A young Charlie Ngatai[7] from Gisborne Boys' High School also appeared in three games scoring four tries including two in the final.
* 2011 coached by Granger Heikell[8] and captain Leighton. John Stewart[9] scored a Poverty Bay season record equaling 11 tries.

Poverty Bay have not managed to win the Meads Cup, having been eliminated in the semi-finals in 2009, 2010 and 2014.

Heartland Championship results[10][11][12][13]

Year | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts | Place | Playoffs
Qual | Semifinal | Final
2006 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 243 | 194 | +49 | 4 | 24 | 7th | Lochore Cup | Won 36–10 against Buller | Won 46–34 against King Country
2007 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 193 | 162 | +31 | 4 | 24 | 7th | Lochore Cup | Won 65–3 against Thames Valley | Won 38–35 against South Canterbury
2008 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 196 | 131 | +65 | 3 | 23 | 7th | Lochore Cup | Won 43–30 against South Canterbury | Won 26–5 against Horowhenua-Kapiti
2009 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 154 | 181 | −27 | 2 | 26 | 3rd | Meads Cup | Lost 13–48 to Wanganui | —
2010 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 282 | 164 | +118 | 4 | 28 | 3rd | Meads Cup | Lost 24–31 to Wanganui | —
2011 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 184 | 226 | +40 | 5 | 19 | 8th | Lochore Cup | Won 32–30 against Buller | Won 49–22 against South Canterbury
2012 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 212 | 247 | −35 | 5 | 17 | 8th | Lochore Cup | Lost 22–42 to Buller | —
2013 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 141 | 240 | −99 | 2 | 6 | 12th | No | —
2014 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 231 | 168 | +63 | 6 | 28 | 2nd | Meads Cup | Lost 22–29 to Mid Canterbury | —
2015 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 227 | 333 | −106 | 6 | 10 | 11th | No | —
2016 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 296 | 268 | +28 | 8 | 20 | 7th | Lochore Cup | Lost 26-48 to King Country | —
2017 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 185 | 229 | -44 | 4 | 20 | 8th | Lochore Cup | Lost 22-56 to Mid Canterbury | —
2018 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 193 | 302 | −109 | 8 | 16 | 11th | No | —
2019 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 237 | 257 | -20 | 8 | 20 | 8th | Lochore Cup | Lost 35-41 to Wairarapa Bush | —
2021 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 263 | 223 | +40 | 8 | 24 | 5th | No | —
2022 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 183 | 242 | -59 | 4 | 16 | 10th | No | —
2023 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 229 | 249 | -20 | 8 | 16 | 8th | Lochore Cup | Won 40-35 against North Otago | Lost 20-23 against West Coast
2024 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 190 | 350 | -160 | 6 | 6 | 12th | No | —

### Ranfurly Shield

[edit]

Poverty Bay have never held the Ranfurly Shield, although they have challenged for the Shield on 16 occasions. In 1980, Poverty Bay came close to defeating Auckland, losing a hard-fought encounter 12 - 19.

## All Blacks

[edit]

There have been seven players selected for the All Blacks whilst playing for Poverty Bay. Most notable amongst these players are Ian Kirkpatrick and Richard "Tiny" White. Other players include John Collins, Brian Fitzpatrick, Lawrie Knight, Mike Parkinson and Hika Elliot

There have also been players such as Rico Gear, Hosea Gear and Charlie Ngatai who became All Blacks having started their careers with Poverty Bay.

## Super Rugby

[edit]

Poverty Bay along with Wellington, Wairarapa Bush, Wanganui, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu and Horowhenua-Kapiti fall within the Hurricanes catchment. Hosea Gear is the most notable player from the Poverty Bay region to have played for the side.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Football". Papers Past. Poverty Bay Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
2. ^ "Rugby Database: Tony Thorpe Player Profile & Stats". www.rugbydatabase.co.nz.
3. ^ "Rugby Database: Andrew Hansen Player Profile & Stats". www.rugbydatabase.co.nz.
4. ^ "Rugby Database: Kiwi Searancke Player Profile & Stats". www.rugbydatabase.co.nz.
5. ^ "Rugby Database: Paul Feeney Player Profile & Stats". www.rugbydatabase.co.nz.
6. ^ "Rugby Database: Scott Leighton Player Profile & Stats". www.rugbydatabase.co.nz.
7. ^ "Rugby Database: Charlie Ngatai Player Profile & Stats". www.rugbydatabase.co.nz.
8. ^ www.vcsnet.co.nz, VCS Websites (NZ)-Lower Hutt and Wellington. "Granger John Heikell | New Zealand Rugby History". www.rugbyhistory.co.nz.
9. ^ "Rugby Database: John Stewart Player Profile & Stats". www.rugbydatabase.co.nz.
10. ^ "Standings (2006–present)". Heartland Championship. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
11. ^ "Fixtures and Results (2006–present)". Heartland Championship. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
12. ^ "Finalists found in Lochore and Meads Cups". Newshub. 23 October 2010. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
13. ^ "2010 Lochore and Mead Cups finals wrap". Heartland Championship. 31 October 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2016.

## External links

[edit]

* Official Website
* Poverty Bay rugby (NZHistory.net.nz)

* v
* t
* e

Heartland Championship

Teams|

* Buller
* East Coast
* Horowhenua-Kapiti
* King Country
* Mid Canterbury
* North Otago
* Poverty Bay
* South Canterbury
* Thames Valley
* Wairarapa Bush
* Wanganui
* West Coast

Seasons|

* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Cups|

* Meads Cup
* Lochore Cup

Predecessor|

* National Provincial Championship (1976–2005)

* v
* t
* e

Hurricanes

Super Rugby Team|

* Hurricanes

Bunnings NPC teams|

* Hawke's Bay
* Manawatu
* Wellington

Heartland teams|

* Horowhenua-Kapiti
* Poverty Bay
* Wairarapa-Bush
* Wanganui

Stadiums|

* Central Energy Trust Arena
* McLean Park
* Sky Stadium

Other|

* Hurricanes Poua
* List of Hurricanes (rugby union) players

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in New Zealand

Governing body|

* New Zealand Rugby

National teams|

| Men's|

* New Zealand
* Sevens
* U-20
* Schoolboys
* Defunct: U-21
* U-19

|

Women's|

* New Zealand
* Sevens

Other notable teams|

* All Blacks XV
* Barbarians
* Cavaliers
* Classic All Blacks
* Heartland XV
* Māori All Blacks

Competitions|

* Super Rugby
* Super Rugby Aupiki
* National Provincial Championship
* Heartland Championship
* Meads Cup
* Lochore Cup
* Ranfurly Shield
* Hanan Shield
* New Zealand Sevens
* New Zealand Women's Sevens
* National Sevens
* Farah Palmer Cup
* National First XV Championship
* North vs South rugby union match
* The Rugby Championship

Related articles|

* International players
* International player records
* International tours and series
* New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup
* History of rugby union in New Zealand
* Structure of rugby union in New Zealand
* List of New Zealand rugby union teams
* Racism in New Zealand rugby union
* New Zealand Rugby Museum
* Oceania Rugby

Provincial unions|

| North Island|

* Auckland
* Bay of Plenty
* Counties-Manukau
* East Coast
* Hawke's Bay
* Horowhenua-Kapiti
* King Country
* Manawatu
* North Harbour
* Northland
* Poverty Bay
* Taranaki
* Thames Valley
* Waikato
* Wairarapa Bush
* Wanganui
* Wellington

|

South Island|

* Buller
* Canterbury
* Mid-Canterbury
* North Otago
* Otago
* South Canterbury
* Southland
* Tasman
* West Coast

* v
* t
* e

Gisborne District, New Zealand

Seat: Gisborne Central

Populated places|

| Gisborne City|

* Awapuni
* Elgin
* Gisborne Central
* Kaiti
* Makaraka
* Mangapapa
* Okitū
* Riverdale
* Tamarau
* Te Hapara
* Tuaheni Point
* Victoria
* Wainui Beach
* Whataupoko

|

Towns and rural areas|

* East Cape
* Hicks Bay
* Hiruharama
* Horoera
* Potaka
* Rangitukia
* Ruatoria
* Te Araroa
* Tikapa
* Tikitiki
* Whareponga
* Mātāwai
* Mōtū
* Muriwai
* Ngātapa
* Ormond
* Otoko
* Puha
* Rere
* Te Karaka
* Tiniroto
* Waikohu
* Waituhi
* Wharerātā
* Whatatutu
* Akuaku
* Anaura Bay
* Gable End Foreland
* Kaiaua Bay
* Makarika
* Pourewa Island
* Te Puia Springs
* Tokomaru Bay
* Tolaga Bay
* Waimata Valley
* Waipiro Bay
* Whangara
* Hexton
* Makauri
* Manutūkē
* Matokitoki
* Pātūtahi
* Waihirere

Geographic features|

* East Cape
* Whangaokeno / East Island
* Gable End Foreland
* Huiarau Range
* Koranga River
* Motuoroi Island
* Mount Arowhana
* Mount Hikurangi
* Maungahaumi
* Mount Raukūmara
* Pourewa Island
* Raukūmara Range
* Titirangi Hill
* Tuaheni Point
* Young Nick's Head

Facilities and attractions|

* East Cape Lighthouse
* Eastwoodhill Arboretum
* Gisborne Airport
* Gisborne Botanical Gardens
* Gisborne Railway Station
* Hackfalls Arboretum
* Harry Barker Reserve
* Mangahanea Marae
* Raukumara Conservation Park
* Te Puia Springs
* Te Urewera protected area
* Whakarua Park

Schools|

* Campion College
* Gisborne Boys' High School
* Gisborne Girls' High School
* Gisborne Intermediate
* Lytton High School

Sports|

* East Coast Rugby
* Gisborne City Football
* Gisborne Thistle Football
* Poverty Bay Rugby

*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Wins
*[D]: Draws
*[L]: Losses
*[PF]: Points for
*[PA]: Points against
*[PD]: Points difference
*[BP]: Bonus points
*[Pts]: Points
*[Qual]: Playoff qualification to Meads Cup, Lochore Cup or neither
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template