Buller Rugby Football Union
Encyclopedia
The Buller Rugby Union is a rugby province based in the town of Westport
, New Zealand. The Buller provincial boundary also includes other notable towns such as Reefton, Karamea
, Granity
, Charleston
, Punakaiki
and Murchison
(Murchison RFC currently compete in the Tasman provincial Union competitions).
Buller (often in combination with West Coast) has had some memorable matches against international sides in the past including victory over Australia. There have also been a number of other impressive results against international opposition including the British Lions, South Africa, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, and various New Zealand representative sides including New Zealand Maori and New Zealand Juniors.
Historically Buller were a strong provincial Union particularly in the pre 1960 era and the Union would compete on a level footing with more famous provincial sides such as Canterbury and Wellington. With the formation of the National Provincial Championship (NPC) in 1976 Buller began to struggle as players moved to bigger Unions to further their rugby and work careers. However the Union has experienced a resurgence in fortunes over the last 4 seasons with the representative team performing well in the Heartland Championship.
Buller also have 3 secondary schools who compete in matches:
, Westport and in the 2010 season will be seeded 10th for the Heartland Championship
. In 2010 the draw is as follows; 28/8 v Wairarapa Bush at Victoria Square, 4/9 v North Otago away, 11/9 v East Coast away, 18/9 v Mid Canterbury at Victoria Square, 25/9 v Poverty Bay away.
, Tasman
, West Coast
, Mid Canterbury
and South Canterbury
make up the Crusaders Super 14
franchise.
despite a number of close matches. The best result being in 1949 when Buller drew 6-6 against Otago at Carisbrook, Dunedin. Interestingly enough had the match been played using the modern scoring system Buller would have won courtesy of scoring more tries than their Otago opposition.
currently compete for the shield. Originally the Golden Bay-Motueka Rugby Union and the Nelson Rugby Union also competed for the shield before both Unions amalgamated to form Nelson Bays. Buller have held the shield on a number of occasions but Nelson Bays are the current holders. In 2009 Buller lost their Seddon Shield challenge by 29-37 against Nelson Bays.
is contested annually between the Buller and West Coast Unions. It is one of the oldest trophies in NZ rugby.
This season (2010) Buller retained the Rundle Cup in a spiteful encounter 20-11.
whilst playing their club rugby Buller.
Also
New Zealand Maori/Natives Representatives
Other Notable Players
Buller Centurions
• John Brazil
• Clark 'Huck' Nelson
• Luke Brownlee
Westport, New Zealand
-Economy:Economic activity is based around fishing, coal mining and dairy farming. Historically, gold mining was a major industry, and coal mining was much more extensive than today . However, the region still is home to New Zealand's largest opencast mining operation in Stockton...
, New Zealand. The Buller provincial boundary also includes other notable towns such as Reefton, Karamea
Karamea
Karamea is a town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.It is the northernmost settlement of any real size on the West Coast, and is located 96 kilometres north-east by road from Westport. There is no other connecting road to the town - the road north ends at the Kohaihai River some...
, Granity
Granity
Granity is a small town on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, located 28 kilometres north-east of Westport on State Highway 67. Karamea is 68 kilometres further north....
, Charleston
Charleston, New Zealand
Charleston is a village in the South Island of New Zealand located 30 km south of Westport. It was founded as a goldmining town after a major goldrush in 1867, and is now an adventure tourist village noted for its extensive limestone caves and caving experiences.- History :Charleston’s origins...
, Punakaiki
Punakaiki
Punakaiki is a small community on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, between Westport and Greymouth. The community lies on the edge of the Paparoa National Park....
and Murchison
Murchison, New Zealand
Murchison is a town in the Tasman Region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is near the western end of the "Four Rivers Plain", at the confluence of the Buller River and the Matakitaki River...
(Murchison RFC currently compete in the Tasman provincial Union competitions).
History
Buller was formed in 1894. Buller has played in both the second and third divisions of the former NPC. After the NZRU restructuring of the NPC in 2006 Buller currently play in the Heartland Championship (effectively the NPC second division). The side has performed with distinction in this competition having made the top tier Meads Cup section twice in the past 3 seasons.Buller (often in combination with West Coast) has had some memorable matches against international sides in the past including victory over Australia. There have also been a number of other impressive results against international opposition including the British Lions, South Africa, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, and various New Zealand representative sides including New Zealand Maori and New Zealand Juniors.
Historically Buller were a strong provincial Union particularly in the pre 1960 era and the Union would compete on a level footing with more famous provincial sides such as Canterbury and Wellington. With the formation of the National Provincial Championship (NPC) in 1976 Buller began to struggle as players moved to bigger Unions to further their rugby and work careers. However the Union has experienced a resurgence in fortunes over the last 4 seasons with the representative team performing well in the Heartland Championship.
Clubs
Buller Rugby Union is made up of 6 clubs:- Karamea Rugby Football Club
- Ngakawau Rugby Football Club
- Old Boys Rugby Football Club
- Reefton Rugby Club
- Westport Rugby Football ClubWestport Rugby Football ClubWestport 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....
- White Star Rugby Football Club
Buller also have 3 secondary schools who compete in matches:
- Buller High School
- Karamea Area School
- Reefton Area School
Representative Rugby
The Buller teams home ground is Victoria SquareVictoria Square
Victoria Square may refer to:Squares and Plazas* Victoria Square, Adelaide, South Australia* Victoria Square, Athens, in the centre of Athens - refer List of places named after Queen Victoria#Athens...
, Westport and in the 2010 season will be seeded 10th for the Heartland Championship
Heartland Championship
The Heartland Championship New Zealand Division One competition, known for sponsorship reasons as the AA Rewards Heartland Championship, is a domestic rugby union competition in New Zealand. It was founded in 2006 as one of two successor competitions to the country's former domestic competition,...
. In 2010 the draw is as follows; 28/8 v Wairarapa Bush at Victoria Square, 4/9 v North Otago away, 11/9 v East Coast away, 18/9 v Mid Canterbury at Victoria Square, 25/9 v Poverty Bay away.
Buller in Super Rugby
Buller along with CanterburyCanterbury Rugby Football Union
The Canterbury Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in a substantial part of the Canterbury region, in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand...
, Tasman
Tasman Rugby Union
The Tasman Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union at the top of the South Island in New Zealand. It is New Zealand's newest provincial union, founded in 2006 with the amalgamation of the existing Marlborough and Nelson Bays sub unions...
, West Coast
West Coast Rugby Football Union
The West Coast Rugby Football Union, formed in 1890, is the official governing body for rugby union in a substantial part of the West Coast region of New Zealand and is affiliated to the New Zealand Rugby Union. The team is based in Greymouth and plays home matches at Rugby Park....
, Mid Canterbury
Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union
The Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union is a rugby province in the South Island of New Zealand.-History:The Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union was formed in 1904 as Ashburton Country when it broke away from the Canterbury Rugby Football Union...
and South Canterbury
South Canterbury Rugby Football Union
The South Canterbury Rugby Football Union is a rugby province based in the central South Island city of Timaru, New Zealand. The South Canterbury team play from Alpine Energy Stadium located in Timaru.-History:...
make up the Crusaders Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
franchise.
Heartland Championship placings
| Heartland Championship Results | ||||||||||||
| Year | Played | Win | Draw | Loss | PF | PA | Diff | BP | Points | Place | Playoffs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 139 | 182 | -43 | 2 | 14 | 4th | (Lochore Cup Semi-finalists) | |
| 2007 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 171 | 186 | -15 | 2 | 22 | 5th | (Meads Cup) | |
| 2008 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 135 | 164 | -29 | 1 | 19 | 5th | (Meads Cup) | |
| 2009 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 163 | 156 | +7 | 5 | 17 | 4th | (Lochore Cup Semi-finalists) | |
Ranfurly Shield
Buller have never held the Ranfurly ShieldRanfurly Shield
The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies...
despite a number of close matches. The best result being in 1949 when Buller drew 6-6 against Otago at Carisbrook, Dunedin. Interestingly enough had the match been played using the modern scoring system Buller would have won courtesy of scoring more tries than their Otago opposition.
Seddon Shield
The Seddon Shield is a challenge shield for representative teams in the top half of the south island. Buller along with Nelson Bays, Marlborough and West CoastWest Coast Rugby Football Union
The West Coast Rugby Football Union, formed in 1890, is the official governing body for rugby union in a substantial part of the West Coast region of New Zealand and is affiliated to the New Zealand Rugby Union. The team is based in Greymouth and plays home matches at Rugby Park....
currently compete for the shield. Originally the Golden Bay-Motueka Rugby Union and the Nelson Rugby Union also competed for the shield before both Unions amalgamated to form Nelson Bays. Buller have held the shield on a number of occasions but Nelson Bays are the current holders. In 2009 Buller lost their Seddon Shield challenge by 29-37 against Nelson Bays.
Rundle Cup
The Rundle CupRundle Cup
The Rundle Cup is a rugby trophy contested between the West Coast and Buller rugby unions. It replaced the Molloy Cup. Of the 37 challenge trophies contested by two provinces in New Zealand rugby it is of the longest continuous existence, it is also the second oldest provincial trophy after the...
is contested annually between the Buller and West Coast Unions. It is one of the oldest trophies in NZ rugby.
This season (2010) Buller retained the Rundle Cup in a spiteful encounter 20-11.
All Blacks
Buller has had 8 players selected for the All BlacksAll Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
whilst playing their club rugby Buller.
- R.S Black
- S Bligh
- T Fisher
- E.C Holder
- C McLean
- W.J Mumm
- K.S Svenson
- R.G Tunnicliff
Also
- C Green (selected for 1910 tour to Australia but was unable to tour)
- B Stack (un-used reserve for 1966 match vs British Lions)
New Zealand Maori/Natives Representatives
- T.A French (Well known Maori rugby Administrator)
- A Webster
Other Notable Players
- G Aitken Jnr (1921 All Black captain and later a Scotland Rep, played for Buller in 1914-15)
- Ben BlairBen BlairBen Austin Blair is a rugby union footballer who plays at a full-back for the Cardiff Blues, and previously played six games for the All Blacks. On his All Blacks debut in 2001, he scored 37 points against Ireland A at Ravenhill in Belfast, however as this was not a test match he was not capped...
(2001 All Black played for Buller at junior level) - J Corbett (1905 All Black. Played for Buller from 1908-10)
- G.D.M Gilbert (1935-36 All Black played for Buller in 1930)
- F Newton (1905 All Black played for Buller in 1908)
- S Yates (2007-08 New Zealand Sevens representative played for Buller at junior level)
Buller Centurions
• John Brazil
• Clark 'Huck' Nelson
• Luke Brownlee
External links
- Official Site
- Buller rugby (NZHistory.net.nz)