Petone Rugby Club
Encyclopedia
The Petone Rugby Football Club was founded in 1885 and has been the Wellington Premier Champion 39 times between 1895 and 2005. In addition to this, the club has won the Club Championship on 42 occasions between 1922 and 2005. Petone is a constituent club of the Wellington Rugby Football Union
.
Other Club facilities include:
The Club funds two Coaching Coordinators, Ex All Black Allan Hewson
and David Pollock. Both men have years of experience behind them. Both also have key roles in the activities of the Ken Gray Academy.
, Ross Filipo
who is currently playing Super 14 for the Crusaders, is the club's most recent All Black. Current All Black Neemia Tialata
plays for the Hurricanes. NZ Under 20 player Dan Kirkpatrick is also a member of the Wellington Lions squad. All players turn out for Petone when representative duties permit.
Tana Umaga
became an All Black in 1997 and played continuously for his country before his retirement in 2006, becoming Captain in 2004. Andy Leslie
- the current NZ Rugby Union Vice President - was the Club's first appointed All Black touring captain to Britain (1974) and South Africa (1976).
had a four-year reign as Premier Champions between 1904 and 1907 and the Club set a memorable record in the 1907 season when it won all championship grades in the Wellington competition. After the 1907 season the club was weakened by inadvertently helping the formation of rugby league
in New Zealand. The club provided six players for the professional 1907-1908 rugby tour of Great Britain including its two All Blacks
at the time, Tom Cross
and Duncan McGregor
, and the clubs captain, Hercules Wright. All members of the tour were subsequently banned by the New Zealand Rugby Union for life.
In the 1971 season the Premier team won the Premier competition and the Jubilee Cup
for the fifth consecutive season and became the first club in the history of Wellington rugby to achieve this feat since the club competition was commenced in 1868. The first three wins in this sequence were achieved under the leadership of Ken Gray
widely considered one of the greatest All Black prop forwards in the history of the game. The Ken Gray Academy was established in 1995 in Ken's name to assist in the development of the best young players wishing to find their way through the Club to the highest representative honours.
The centennial history records that Te Puni arrived in the Hutt Valley in 1817 and died there in 1870. In the first official match ever played by the Petone Club three descendants of Te Puni were included in the fifteen. Today Petone Rugby is a multi-cultural mix in a family-oriented environment. Visitors are always welcome to come in and share its Hospitality.
In November 2006, the club hosted The World Golden Oldies Festival and in 2010 the Club plans to celebrate its 125th Anniversary.
Wellington Rugby Football Union
The Wellington Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the city of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand...
.
Location
The Petone Club rooms are at the lower end of the Hutt Valley on a site in Udy Street. The Clubrooms stand immediately adjacent to North Park, a field maintained to the highest standards even though it is only used for training.Other Club facilities include:
- Outdoor training - floodlit fields at North Park and on Petone Recreation ground on the other side of Udy Street.
- A large indoor Tiger Turf Stadium capable of use by a full forward pack and backline in training.
- Two large and well equipped changing and showering rooms.
- A modern and very well equipped weights room.
- A large modern fully heated lounge with full bar and kitchen facilities.
- Extensive collection of memorabilia from around the World.
Club Membership
Club membership in 2008 totalled more than 750, made up of Life Members, Vice Presidents, Honorary Members, Open and Age Grade players and 412 young players in the Junior Section ranging from 4 and 5 year olds in the nursery grade to 12 year olds. The Club fields nine teams in the Wellington Union's 2008 competition grades from Premier to Under 19 including the re-emergence of a Women's side.The Club funds two Coaching Coordinators, Ex All Black Allan Hewson
Allan Hewson
Allan Roy Hewson, born 6 June 1954 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, represented the New Zealand All Blacks in 19 Rugby Union internationals between 1981 and 1984. Hewson played at fullback...
and David Pollock. Both men have years of experience behind them. Both also have key roles in the activities of the Ken Gray Academy.
Reputation
The Club has produced 30 All Blacks and 16 NZ Maori representatives. One of the club's newest Maori Representatives is Hoani TuiHoani Tui
Hoani Tui is a Rugby Union player. Hoani is playing for Exeter Chiefs in the Aviva Premiership. Hoani's position of choice is prop.-External links:***...
, Ross Filipo
Ross Filipo
Ross Ami Filipo is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who currently plays for London Wasps in the Aviva Premiership.-New Zealand:...
who is currently playing Super 14 for the Crusaders, is the club's most recent All Black. Current All Black Neemia Tialata
Neemia Tialata
Neemia Stanley Tialata is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. As well as representing New Zealand, he also plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and for Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup when available....
plays for the Hurricanes. NZ Under 20 player Dan Kirkpatrick is also a member of the Wellington Lions squad. All players turn out for Petone when representative duties permit.
Tana Umaga
Tana Umaga
Jonathan Ionatana Falefasa "Tana" Umaga, ONZM is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and former captain of the national team, the All Blacks. He played for the Hurricanes starting with the Super 12's inception in 1996 and took over the captaincy in 2003...
became an All Black in 1997 and played continuously for his country before his retirement in 2006, becoming Captain in 2004. Andy Leslie
Andy Leslie
Andrew Roy "Andy" Leslie MNZM is a former All Black captain and number eight. On 26 April 2007 he was elected as the president of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union....
- the current NZ Rugby Union Vice President - was the Club's first appointed All Black touring captain to Britain (1974) and South Africa (1976).
Notable Players
- Allan HewsonAllan HewsonAllan Roy Hewson, born 6 June 1954 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, represented the New Zealand All Blacks in 19 Rugby Union internationals between 1981 and 1984. Hewson played at fullback...
- All BlackAll BlacksThe New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport.... - Neemia TialataNeemia TialataNeemia Stanley Tialata is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. As well as representing New Zealand, he also plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and for Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup when available....
- All Black - Tana UmagaTana UmagaJonathan Ionatana Falefasa "Tana" Umaga, ONZM is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and former captain of the national team, the All Blacks. He played for the Hurricanes starting with the Super 12's inception in 1996 and took over the captaincy in 2003...
- All Black captain - Andy LeslieAndy LeslieAndrew Roy "Andy" Leslie MNZM is a former All Black captain and number eight. On 26 April 2007 he was elected as the president of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union....
- All Black captain - Ken GrayKen Gray (All Black)Ken Gray was a sheep farmer from Porirua, New Zealand. He represented New Zealand in Rugby, playing lock and later prop forward. He could play on either side of a scrum...
- All Black - Hercules Richard WrightHercules Richard WrightHercules Richard "Bumper" Wright was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.-Early years:...
- Kiwi - Daniel FraserDaniel Fraser (rugby league)Daniel George Fraser was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.-Boer War:...
- Kiwi - Edward TyneEdward TyneEdward "Hone" Tyne was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.-Rugby Football:...
- Kiwi - Tom CrossTom Cross (rugby)Tom "Angry" William Cross was a New Zealand rugby footballer who represented New Zealand in both rugby union and rugby league.-Rugby Football:...
- All Black & Kiwi - Arthur KellyArthur Kelly (rugby league)Arthur Frederick Kelly was a rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.-Rugby Football:...
- Kiwi - Duncan McGregorDuncan McGregorDuncan McGregor , was a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He was a member of the legendary 1905 Original All Blacks and went on the 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.-Rugby Football:...
- All Black & Kiwi - Riki FluteyRiki FluteyRiki John Flutey is a New Zealand born rugby union footballer who plays at centre or fly-half for London Wasps in the Aviva Premiership....
- England - Marcus NichollsMarcus NichollsMark Nicholls, born Marcus Frederick Nicholls was a New Zealand Rugby Union player and All Black as well as a Wellington and North Island Selector. A member of the legendary 1924/5 All Black Invincibles, Mark was best known as a first five eighth though he actually played many games, including...
- All Black
History
PetonePetone
Petone is a major suburb of the city of Lower Hutt in New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of the narrow triangular plain of the Hutt River, on the northern shore of Wellington Harbour...
had a four-year reign as Premier Champions between 1904 and 1907 and the Club set a memorable record in the 1907 season when it won all championship grades in the Wellington competition. After the 1907 season the club was weakened by inadvertently helping the formation of rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
in New Zealand. The club provided six players for the professional 1907-1908 rugby tour of Great Britain including its two All Blacks
All 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....
at the time, Tom Cross
Tom Cross
Tom Cross, also known as Decius, is an American computer security expert and hacker.- Early life :Cross was born in 1976 in Toronto, Canada and grew up in Tennessee. His father worked in telecommunications policy and his mother was a Registered Nurse's Assistant...
and Duncan McGregor
Duncan McGregor
Duncan McGregor , was a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He was a member of the legendary 1905 Original All Blacks and went on the 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.-Rugby Football:...
, and the clubs captain, Hercules Wright. All members of the tour were subsequently banned by the New Zealand Rugby Union for life.
In the 1971 season the Premier team won the Premier competition and the Jubilee Cup
The Jubilee Cup
The Jubilee Cup is a Wellington premier club rugby trophy. The current holders ar Marist St PatsWellington club rugby's premier trophy was presented by the Wellington Rugby Football Union in 1929 in recognition of its golden jubilee year and is awarded to the winner of the competition among the top...
for the fifth consecutive season and became the first club in the history of Wellington rugby to achieve this feat since the club competition was commenced in 1868. The first three wins in this sequence were achieved under the leadership of Ken Gray
Ken Gray (All Black)
Ken Gray was a sheep farmer from Porirua, New Zealand. He represented New Zealand in Rugby, playing lock and later prop forward. He could play on either side of a scrum...
widely considered one of the greatest All Black prop forwards in the history of the game. The Ken Gray Academy was established in 1995 in Ken's name to assist in the development of the best young players wishing to find their way through the Club to the highest representative honours.
The centennial history records that Te Puni arrived in the Hutt Valley in 1817 and died there in 1870. In the first official match ever played by the Petone Club three descendants of Te Puni were included in the fifteen. Today Petone Rugby is a multi-cultural mix in a family-oriented environment. Visitors are always welcome to come in and share its Hospitality.
In November 2006, the club hosted The World Golden Oldies Festival and in 2010 the Club plans to celebrate its 125th Anniversary.