Manawatu Rugby Union

The National Provincial Championship underwent a necessary format change to accommodate the limited window of availability of competition play before the 2011 Rugby World Cup, which divided the competition of 14 teams into two pools of 7. The Premiership (top 7) and Championship (bottom 7). As Manawatu finished 13th of 14 in 2010, the team were placed in the Championship for 2011.

For Manawatu Turbos' previous Air New Zealand Cup seasons see:

• 2008
• 2009

In 2005, the team was promoted from the Second Division. In 2006, however, Manawatu did not win a game in the competition, which saw the team play against the likes of Auckland, Wellington and Otago. Manawatu drew with Hawke's Bay.

In 2012, the Women's Provincial Championship format was a full round robin of six teams playing six rounds (each team with one bye round). The Cyclones began with a bye. Wins for the Cyclones were over Waikato, Wellington and Hawke's Bay. Unfortunately large losses to Otago and eventual finalists Auckland and Canterbury and missing crucial bonus points, meant the Cyclones did not make the post-season.

Notable Cyclones:

Current

• Selica Winiata
• Sarah Goss

Past

• Farah Palmer
• Rebecca Mahoney

Early years

The first recorded match in the Manawatu took place on 13 July 1878. A Feilding side faced a "Rangitikei Combined Clubs XV" which was played at Feilding.[9]

The first Ranfurly Shield game Manawatu appeared in was in 1914. This was played against Taranaki at Pukekura Park. The match was lost 11-3 with William Carroll scoring a sole try. Their next challenge came ten years later, in 1924, where they would lose 31-5 to Hawke's Bay. Manawatu also provided J.F. Manning to referee a match in 1905 between Auckland and Wellington.[10]

1970s: Glory Days and Shield Era

The period from 1976 to 1983 saw Manawatu as a powerhouse in New Zealand rugby. To date, the only Ranfurly Shield reign (1976–78) was followed by a National Provincial Championship (NPC) victory in 1980. Manawatu were also NPC runner-ups in 1976 and 1981.

In the final Ranfurly Shield challenge of the 1978 season Manawatu were leading North Auckland (now named Northland) 10–9 with time up on the clock. A continued Ranfurly Shield reign seemed possible. The referee, Bill Adlam, from Wanganui, played 5–6 minutes of 'injury' time before awarding the visitors a penalty, due to an offside, close to the posts. A penalty kick was successful and thus, the shield was awarded to North Auckland. The referee then required a police escort off Showgrounds Oval (as it was known) while Manawatu fans showed their disgust and disappointment. Adlam claimed after the match that the game clock at the venue had not allocated for a couple of "lengthy" injury breaks, and so he rightly let the game go on. This was also backed up by a photographer who accurately timed the game.[10]

Controversy had also stirred a year prior, in 1977. The Auckland rugby union had a legitimate request for a shield challenge that season which was denied by Manawatu who argued that Auckland had had 'too much influence in shield rugby for too long'.

Auckland would later win back the shield in 1979. They denied Manawatu a challenge in 1980.

1980s

In 1980, its championship winning season, Manawatu had eight All Blacks within the team.

They were: Mark Donaldson, Mark Shaw, Geoff Old, Frank Oliver, Gary Knight, Doug Rollerson, Lachie Cameron and Craig Wickes.

In 1983 the Canterbury Ranfurly Shield team put Manawatu last on their list of challengers for that season. Auckland and Wellington were considered easier options.

In 1985, Manawatu celebrated a centenary of club competition and in 1986, the union's centenary.

In 1988, the union was relegated to the second division for the first time.

Manawatu, based in the second division, was reduced to a 'feeder' role, effectively developing players for other unions.[11]

1990s

In 1996 Manawatu and Hawke's Bay merged their teams to form the Central Vikings Rugby Union. It was an attempt to elevate both unions back to the first division. Players such as Mark Allen, Christian Cullen, Mark Ranby, Stephen Bachop and Roger Randle featured in the team. The 1997 season saw them finish second overall with 6 wins and 2 losses. This saw the team into the semi-finals. In the semi-final, the Vikings would go on to beat Bay of Plenty and came up against Northland in the final. Northland won the final 63–10. Northland were thus promoted to the first division. However, had the Vikings won, they would not have been eligible to be promoted.

1998 saw a repeat of form for the Vikings who went unbeaten in the season. They subsequently won the final against Bay of Plenty and were promoted to first division. However, due to financial issues, the merger split back to Manawatu and Hawke's Bay as separate unions. Manawatu returned in 1999 to the second division.

2000s

Manawatu began the new millennium firmly fixed in the second tier competition.

In 2005, Manawatu were defeated 6–109 by the touring British and Irish Lions at Palmerston North. In the same year Manawatu were given an invitation to return to the top level in a revamped NPC competition.

Fly-half Aaron Cruden was selected for the All Blacks in 2010. He was the first All Black chosen whilst playing for the union since Christian Cullen in 1996.[12] In 2012, Cruden was joined by teammate, Aaron Smith. The addition of Smith meant for the first time since 1986, two All Blacks came from Manawatu. Lately, more players from Manawatu have been selected for Super Rugby teams.

Manawatu had two theme songs during their 'glory' years, which were played on radio '2ZA' in the days leading up to the big games on Saturday. They were:

• A Ranfurly Shield theme song 1976–78 (sung to the melody of the American civil war song When Johnny Comes Marching Home): "We're Manawatu, we've got the shield huh rah, huh rah!..."
• A later song (early 1980s) was used prior to NPC and Ranfurly Shield challenges: "We'll pass the ball and run it, green and white! And let them feel the power of country might!..."
• A much earlier song, On The Ball, was sung at Manawatu games during its foundation years and beyond. According to Manawatu rugby historian, Clive Akers, it was composed in Palmerston North by team captain Ted Secker and was 'made famous by the 1888 Native team that toured Britain'. Akers said further 'it would rate as Manawatu's greatest contribution to the rugby world'. Its chorus went: "On the Ball! On the Ball! On the Ball! Thro' scrummage, three-quarters and all, sticking together we keep on the leather, and shout as we go, On the Ball!"

In New Zealand, to be selected to the All Blacks is the pinnacle of rugby achievement. In its 126-year history, Manawatu have produced many players who have been selected for the national team.

Bold = indicates current player

♦ = indicates a club amalgamated with another

♥ = indicates a club no longer in the Manawatu Rugby Union

♣ = a club no longer extant

• Kurt Baker – moved to Taranaki; played Super Rugby for Highlanders.
• Josh Bradnock – Foundation Turbo – Captain, 60+ Games, Hurricanes player who would have played many Super games if career was not lost to multiple tendon injuries.
• John Brady - Played 15 matches for Auckland 1960-65. Trialled for the Wallabies in 1966, but was not selected due to nationality issues.
• Hugh Blair – 1970s winger, Ranfurly Shield hero and crowd favourite, from the Varsity Club of Massey University. Instantly recognisable with his long blond hair, headband and beard. Went on to lecture at Auckland University.
• Francisco Bosch (rugby union) – (2006–08) Foundation Turbo. Represented Argentina for tests vs Chile, Japan, Samoa and South Africa in 2004–05. Also a former Sevens player for Argentina.
• Jim Carroll – The son of Manawatu All Black Phonse Carroll, he was an outstanding first-five eighth during Manawatu's Ranfurly Shield reign from 1976 to 1978. Scored the winning try from a charge-down in the 15-10 win over Counties in 1977. This shield defence was perhaps Manawatu's most memorable.
• Denis Clare – hooker during the Ranfurly Shield and National Championship winning era.
• Nick Crosswell – (2006–14) Foundation Turbo; Captain (2009–13); played Super Rugby for Chiefs (2013–15) having also played previously for Highlanders.
• Ma'afu Fia (2009–15) former Turbo; played Super Rugby for Highlanders.
• Michael Fitzgerald (2010–14) Turbo; played Super Rugby for Chiefs
• Alan Innes – from the early Hamer years.
• Andrew MacMaster – Represented the NZ Combined Services. An exciting winger who transferred to Manawatu's Ohakea Air Force Base in 1984. Prior to this he starred for Canterbury during their memorable Ranfurly Shield era (1982–85).
• Hadleigh Parkes (2010). Relocated to Auckland; played Super Rugby for Southern Kings (South Africa) in 2013.
• Terry Sole – Loose forward during the early, and most successful, Hamer years.
• Alex Tatana – Midfielder – Hamer years, early to mid-1980s.
• Andre Taylor – Fullback/wing – Former Turbo, moved to Taranaki; played Super Rugby for Hurricanes.
• Hayden Triggs – Lock – Has represented the Māori All Blacks. He played Super Rugby for the Hurricanes and Highlanders. He played in Japan before returning to the Blues and North Harbour. 50+ Games for Manawatu.
• Ian Wood – Midfielder who came close to All Black selection in 1985–86. Considered unlucky not to have been selected for cancelled 1985 tour of South Africa and subsequent replacement tour to Argentina.