Tasman Rugby Union
Encyclopedia
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. The union's premier team is the Tasman Makos, who compete in New Zealand's provincial rugby competetion, the ITM cup.
and Trafalgar Park
, Nelson
.
Golden Edge is the union's principal sponsor. Apparel is supplied by KooGa. SBS, Rosco Contractors, Turf Hotel and Speight's
are the other brand sponsors.
(NPC).
The restructured domestic competition opened the door for the Nelson Bays and Marlborough Rugby Unions to form a relationship, forming one organisation in an attempt to be awarded a position in the new competition. The Makos brand was created.
.
In their first ever match in the Air New Zealand Cup, the Makos earned a bonus point in a loss to the North Harbour
team, losing 33 points to 27. They were defeated by Auckland
the following week by 40 points. However, the Makos won their first match in round three, defeating Manawatu
by 43 points to 0.
Their only other win of the season came at home against Northland, with an impressive 56-15 win.
Despite the season record of just 2 wins and 7 losses, the Makos showed the ability to compete and provided a platform to build for the future.
Early on in the 2008 season, the NZRFU announced that Tasman and Northland would be relegated from the competition at the end of the season, due to failing to meet a set of criteria including financial stability. With the axe hovering over them, the Makos produced their best season yet, silencing their critics.
In round 2 against Waikato, Tasman first five Miah Nikora nailed a stunning last minute drop-goal to snatch a 14-16 victory and claim the Makos first scalp over a major union. This was followed with wins over Taranaki, Northland, Manawatu and a draw against Otago to see the Makos finish the season 7th on the ladder. Facing a strong Canterbury side in the quarter-finals, the Makos went down 48-10. However, their strong season coupled with public pressure forced the NZRFU to reverse its decision and announce that Tasman and Northland would remain in the competition.
2010 was disappointing for the Makos, finishing the season in 12th place on the ladder with just 4 wins, failing to hold on to their mid-table status achieved in the previous two seasons. However, the Makos managed to upset eventual champions and neighbours Canterbury in round 4, with a famous 27-25 victory at Trafalgar Park.
but Marlborough held the shield for 6 challenges in 1973.
Marlborough Rugby Union
Marlborough Rugby Union was a New Zealand rugby union team that played from 1888-2005.Marlborough was founded in 1888 and played at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim.-Championships:...
and Nelson Bays
Nelson Bays Rugby Union
Nelson Bays Rugby Union was a New Zealand rugby union team that played from 1968-2005.Nelson Bays was founded in 1968 when Nelson merged with Golden Bay-Motueka and played until 2005 when they joined with Marlborough to become Tasman Rugby Union in 2006....
sub unions. The union's premier team is the Tasman Makos, who compete in New Zealand's provincial rugby competetion, the ITM cup.
ITM Cup Team
The team is known as the Tasman Makos. Home Grounds are Lansdowne Park, BlenheimLansdowne Park, Blenheim
Lansdowne Park is one of the home grounds for Air New Zealand Cup team Tasman, the other being Trafalgar Park in Nelson. It is also home to the Marlborough Red Devils and Blenheim Clubs Harlequins and Central....
and Trafalgar Park
Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Trafalgar Park is a large sports ground within the heart of the city of Nelson, in New Zealand's South Island. The stadium now has a capacity of 20,080, following upgrades completed for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. It takes its name from the Battle of Trafalgar.It is one of the home grounds for Air...
, Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
.
Golden Edge is the union's principal sponsor. Apparel is supplied by KooGa. SBS, Rosco Contractors, Turf Hotel and Speight's
Speight's
Speight's is a brewery in Dunedin, New Zealand. It is famous for its promotional branding based on being 'a real southern man' and being 'the pride of the south'. Speight's also gave rise to a series of Speight's Ale Houses across New Zealand.- History :...
are the other brand sponsors.
History
When the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) reviewed the domestic competitions in 2005, a new 14 team premier division of competition was created, as the Air New Zealand Cup, taking the place of the National Provincial ChampionshipNational Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
(NPC).
The restructured domestic competition opened the door for the Nelson Bays and Marlborough Rugby Unions to form a relationship, forming one organisation in an attempt to be awarded a position in the new competition. The Makos brand was created.
2006 season
A Tasman XV played Canada 'A' on April 26 in 2006 at Trafalgar Park. The Tasman side won by 40 points, the final score being 48 points to eight. The Makos were grouped in Pool A of the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup2006 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2006 Air New Zealand Cup is a provincial rugby union competition involving 14 teams from New Zealand. Matches started on Friday 28 July 2006, and the Grand Final was won by Waikato on 21 October 2006....
.
In their first ever match in the Air New Zealand Cup, the Makos earned a bonus point in a loss to the North Harbour
North Harbour Rugby Union
The North Harbour Rugby Union , commonly referred to colloquially as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is a provincial rugby team which competes in the ITM Cup , the successor to the country's former domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship .-Area:Harbour Rugby encompasses a...
team, losing 33 points to 27. They were defeated by Auckland
Auckland Rugby Football Union
The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland Region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's top representative team have won New Zealand's top provincial rugby competition 16 times, more than...
the following week by 40 points. However, the Makos won their first match in round three, defeating Manawatu
Manawatu Rugby Union
Manawatu Rugby Union is the governing body of the sport of Rugby union in the Manawatu rugby province. The Union is based in the city of Palmerston North but has a catchment area from nearby towns in the province, including Feilding, Rongotea, Linton, Bulls, Pahiatua, Dannevirke and...
by 43 points to 0.
Their only other win of the season came at home against Northland, with an impressive 56-15 win.
Despite the season record of just 2 wins and 7 losses, the Makos showed the ability to compete and provided a platform to build for the future.
2007-2008 seasons
The 2007 season was disappointing for the Makos, finishing the season with a record of 2 wins and 8 losses. Wins came against Hawke's Bay and Manawatu, with close losses against Waikato and Canterbury.Early on in the 2008 season, the NZRFU announced that Tasman and Northland would be relegated from the competition at the end of the season, due to failing to meet a set of criteria including financial stability. With the axe hovering over them, the Makos produced their best season yet, silencing their critics.
In round 2 against Waikato, Tasman first five Miah Nikora nailed a stunning last minute drop-goal to snatch a 14-16 victory and claim the Makos first scalp over a major union. This was followed with wins over Taranaki, Northland, Manawatu and a draw against Otago to see the Makos finish the season 7th on the ladder. Facing a strong Canterbury side in the quarter-finals, the Makos went down 48-10. However, their strong season coupled with public pressure forced the NZRFU to reverse its decision and announce that Tasman and Northland would remain in the competition.
2009-2010 seasons
There were doubts as to whether Tasman would contest the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup, with funding issues and disagreement amongst its stakeholders on its future. However, these disputes were resolved and Tasman finished the 2009 season in 9th place with 6 wins and 7 losses, with their most memorable performance coming in round 9 against Auckland. Tasman won 12-8 in the most significant result of their short history. The Makos had come from the brink of extinction to topple the biggest union in the country.2010 was disappointing for the Makos, finishing the season in 12th place on the ladder with just 4 wins, failing to hold on to their mid-table status achieved in the previous two seasons. However, the Makos managed to upset eventual champions and neighbours Canterbury in round 4, with a famous 27-25 victory at Trafalgar Park.
Ranfurly Shield
Tasman has not 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...
but Marlborough held the shield for 6 challenges in 1973.
Current squad
Tasman Makos Squad for 2011| Position | |
| Shawn Begg | Half-back |
| Steve Alfeld | Half-back |
| James Marshall | First five-eighth |
| James Proctor | First five-eighth |
| Andrew Goodman | Midfield |
| Jack Umaga | Centre |
| Kieron Fonotia | Midfield |
| Mitchell Scott | Wing |
| Robbie Malneek | Fullback |
| Lucky Mulipola Lucky Mulipola Loakimo "Lucky" Mulipola is a Samoan rugby union player. Lucky is a talented winger who plays his rugby in New Zealand. Lucky made his provincial debut in 2003 for Nelson Bays against Manawatu. His position is winger.-Nelson Bays:... |
Wing |
| Tom Marshall | Fullback |
| Sione Holani | Midfield |
| Position | |
| Ben Franks Ben Franks Ben Franks is a rugby union player for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby competition and All Blacks. He plays as a prop.-Provincial:Franks made his provincial debut for Canterbury against Otago in 2005... |
Prop |
| Sam Prattley | Prop |
| Fai Mika | Prop |
| Craig Moore | Prop |
| James Hadfield | Prop |
| Quentin MacDonald | Hooker |
| Francis Smith | Hooker |
| Vernon Fredericks | Hooker |
| Joe Wheeler | Lock |
| Riki Hoeata | Lock |
| Ben Coman | Lock |
| Liam Squire | Flanker Flanker (rugby union) A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards... |
| Dan Squire | Lock |
| Mark Bright | Number 8 |
| Jonathan Poff Jonathan Poff Jonathan Poff is a rugby union player currently playing for the London Wasps in the Aviva Premiership... |
Flanker Flanker (rugby union) A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards... |
| Shane Christie | Flanker Flanker (rugby union) A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards... |
| Tevita Koloamatangi | Flanker Flanker (rugby union) A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards... |
External links
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