Invercargill Rugby Club (Blues)

Blues RC (Invercargill) is an amateur rugby team that plays in the Premier Division of Southland Club Rugby. Founded in 1874, the club has a prestigious history, and it boasts 31 Galbraith Shield titles including a record period of eight in a row.

Blues
Full nameInvercargill Blues RC
Founded1874 (1874)
Ground(s)Balmoral Drive
PresidentDarryl Olphert
Coach(es)Ratu Filimoni Tagicakibau, Mark Crosbie
Management - Tori Clarke, Greg Payne
Captain(s)Sam Muir
League(s)Premier Division, Womens, Bs, Cs
Team kit

The club also has a strong women's rugby team.[1]

Notable players edit

Blues has had many players achieve Southland Stags honours as well as a number of All Blacks and other New Zealand representatives.

The following have represented the All Blacks.

Player
All Black number
Year of All Black debut
Henry Braddon[2] 2 1884
Simon Culhane[3] 946 1995
Ethan de Groot[4] [5] 1197 2021
Elliot Dixon[6] 1149 2016
Les George[7] 439 1938
Paul Henderson 897 1989
James O'Donnell[8] 9 1884
Steven Pokere[9] 825 1981

The club has also had a representative of the New Zealand women's national rugby union team (Black Ferns), Amy Rule.[10]

Other notable players include:

Galbraith Shield victories edit

  • 1911 & 1912
  • 1930 & 1931
  • 1936 & 1937
  • 1939
  • 1945-1947
  • 1958
  • 1964
  • 1967
  • 1970 & 1971
  • 1974
  • 1977
  • 1981-1983
  • 1987-1994
  • 2003
  • 2005
  • 2019

References edit

  1. ^ Savory, Logan (16 June 2019). "Marist knock over previously unbeaten Blues to claim women's title". Stuff.
  2. ^ "Stats | allblacks.com". stats.allblacks.com.
  3. ^ "Stats | allblacks.com". stats.allblacks.com.
  4. ^ "Stats | allblacks.com". stats.allblacks.com.
  5. ^ Savory, Logan (21 October 2023). "The Eastern Southland kid ready to step onto rugby's biggest stage".
  6. ^ "Stats | allblacks.com". stats.allblacks.com.
  7. ^ "Stats | allblacks.com". stats.allblacks.com.
  8. ^ "Stats | allblacks.com". stats.allblacks.com.
  9. ^ "Stats | allblacks.com". stats.allblacks.com.
  10. ^ www.vcsnet.co.nz, VCS Websites (NZ)-Lower Hutt and Wellington. "Amy McKenzie Rule | New Zealand Rugby History". www.rugbyhistory.co.nz.
  11. ^ www.vcsnet.co.nz, VCS Websites (NZ)-Lower Hutt and Wellington. "Michael J Fatialofa | New Zealand Rugby History". www.rugbyhistory.co.nz.
  12. ^ www.vcsnet.co.nz, VCS Websites (NZ)-Lower Hutt and Wellington. "David Bruce Henderson | New Zealand Rugby History". www.rugbyhistory.co.nz.
  13. ^ www.vcsnet.co.nz, VCS Websites (NZ)-Lower Hutt and Wellington. "Kendrick Graeme Lynn | New Zealand Rugby History". www.rugbyhistory.co.nz.
  14. ^ www.vcsnet.co.nz, VCS Websites (NZ)-Lower Hutt and Wellington. "Jay L Renton | New Zealand Rugby History". www.rugbyhistory.co.nz.
  15. ^ Savory, Logan (20 November 2017). "Teenage halfback Jay Renton's rise continues with Highlanders opportunity". Stuff.
  16. ^ Savory, Logan (14 July 2020). "Club Stalwarts: Blues flanker Daniel Townson just keeps trucking". Stuff.
  17. ^ www.vcsnet.co.nz, VCS Websites (NZ)-Lower Hutt and Wellington. "James William Rangi Wilson | New Zealand Rugby History". www.rugbyhistory.co.nz.

See also edit