The King Country Rugby Football Union is a constituent union in the New Zealand Rugby Union. It is located in the central North Island of New Zealand in an area known as the King Country. It was formed in 1922 when the South Auckland Rugby Union was split into three (the other two Unions formed were Waikato and Thames Valley).
History The King Country Rugby Football Union was formed in 1922, by the amalgamation of the first King Country Rugby Union (which was renamed as the Taumarunui Sub-union in 1922) along with the Ruapehu Sub-union in Ohakune (founded 1908), Maniapoto Sub-union in Te Kūiti (1907) and Ōhura Sub-union (1920). These were joined by Ōtorohanga Sub-union in 1927, Kawhia in 1926 (founded 1920) and Kaitieke in 1933 with the Taupō Sub-union transferring from the Hawkes Bay Rugby Union in 1987. The Ruapehu Sub-union returned to its original parent union the Wanganui Rugby Union in 1970.
The originally named King Country Rugby Union was formed in 1905 by the Manunui, Matapuna, Oio and Kakahi rugby clubs. In 1907, the newly formed Taumarunui rugby club replaced Oio.
This was the second attempt to establish a Rugby Union in the middle of the North Island, as in 1920 the Rangatiki, Taihape, Ruapehu sub-unions (all affiliated to the Wanganui Rugby Union), and the King Country Union (affiliated to South Auckland) had applied for affiliation as the Main Trunk Union. However, this was declined after the Wanganui Rugby Union objected to the loss of their country players.
In those early years King Country representative games were held in Te Kūiti, Taumarunui and Raetihi or Ohakune. Ōtorohanga was first used for a representative game in 1939 with representative games also being hosted in Tokaanu (1966) and Tūrangi (1967). In later years King Country played home games at Piopio, Maihiihi, and Waitomo.
King Country played in light blue and green until 1949 when it switched to maroon and gold hoops. In 1980, a maroon jersey with gold collar and cuffs was adopted. The current strip has been used since 1994.
King Country has made many challenges for the Ranfurly Shield over the years without success but having come close at times. In 1958 they went down 11-15 to Taranaki in a hard fought game. In 1969 they came even closer when good mates Colin Meads and Kel Tremain were the respective captains, King Country storming back from 6–19 at half time in a torrid second half before going down 16–19.
A well-known challenge took place in 1988 against Auckland at Rugby Park in Te Kūiti when “Boris the Boar” mysteriously got onto the field and camped in the Auckland 22 for much of the second half.
With the 2020 Heartland Championship cancelled due to Covid-19, the Rams played three First-Class Fixtures against some of their traditional Heartland Rivals. King Country lost their first match against Wairarapa-Bush in the inaugural Meads-Lochore Scroll Fixture (18–22). They won their second fixture versus East Coast (34–22) and in their final game they became holders of the Sir Colin Meads Memorial log beating Whanganui 16–11 in Taumarunui. This game was also Carl Carmichaels 100th first-class game.
Clubs King Country Rugby Football Union is made up of 11 clubs.
Bush United Rugby Football Club, Benneydale Kio Kio United Sports Club, Maihiihi Piopio Rugby Football Club, Piopio Taumarunui Districts Rugby Football Club, Taumarunui Taumarunui Rugby & Sports Club, Taumarunui Taupo Marist, Taupō Taupo Rugby & Sports Club, Taupō Taupo United Inc. Taupō Tongariro Sports Club Inc. Tūrangi Waitete Rugby Football Club, Te Kūiti Waitomo Rugby Sports & Recreation Club, Waitomo
Club champions
Meads Shield 2022 - Taupo Sports 37 Piopio 19 2023 - Taupo Sports 42 Tongariro United 35 2024 - Taumarunui Districts 39 Taupo Marist 22 2025 - Tongariro United 17 Taupo Marist 10 2026 - Taupo Marist 36 Taupo Sports 17Burnes, Campbell. Rugby News magazine (August 2026). Charlotte Smulders Publisher, New Zealand.
Former clubs
King Country clubs that are now defunct or in recess include the following.
+ Previously affiliated clubs by sub-union Kawhia Otorohanga (Northern King Country) Maniapoto Ohura Taumarunui Kaitieke Tongariro Taupō Kawhia Otewa Hangatiki Ohura Valley Hikurangi Kaitieke Turangi Wairakei Marist Oparau Honikiwi Oparure Matiere Ongarue Owhango Pihanga Mangakino Makomako Otorohanga Huia Te Kūiti Tokirima Taumarunui Athletic Raurimu Rotoaira Tihoi Taharoa Olympians Te Kuiti Railways Niho Niho Manunui Returuke Rangipo Taupo Athletic Awaroa Tigers Huia Ohura Kia-Toa Southern United Huimai Waikune Tauhara Kinohaku Waitomo Valley Aria-Mokauiti Ohura Athletic Tuhua United Downers Mokai Marokopa Otorohanga Power Board Mangaotaki Ohura Okahukura Example Mountaineers Oruanui Coast Otorohanga Old Boys Nehenehenui North Ohura Oio (Kakihi) Tokaanu College Old Boys Karioi Rangitoto Mahoenui Matapuna Rotokawa Moerangi Waitanguru Ngati Haua Waitahanui Te Rauamoa Mangapehi Waituhi Te Waitere Hauaroa Hauturu Forresters
Secondary schools As King Country is a geographically large union with a relatively low population there are only a few secondary schools within the region so it doesn't have a consolidated Secondary Schools competition. Schools play their rugby in other provinces such as Waikato and Bay of Plenty Rugby Union that can offer better opportunities. Players from these schools are still eligible for the King Country Secondary Schools and U19 Rugby Representative teams.
Ōtorohanga College Piopio College Tauhara College Taumarunui High School Taupo-nui-a-Tia College Te Kūiti High School Te Kura o Hirangi, Tūrangi Tongariro School, Tūrangi
Together these schools are able to challenge for the Sam Te Kaha Shield, which is a challenge shield between all King Country Secondary Schools.
Provincial representative rugby
The King Country team play home matches at Rugby Park, Te Kūiti, Owen Delany Park, Taupō and Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui.
National Provincial Championship (NPC)
In 1996, King Country were in the first division of the NPC but in subsequent years struggled and in just 6 years were in the third division.
Heartland Championship
Heartland Championship ResultsYear Place Playoffs 20065 0 2 3 77 92 −15 2 6 6th Lochore Cup Won 17–15 against Thames Valley Lost 34–46 to Poverty Bay 20075 3 0 2 88 66 +22 2 14 3rd No — 20085 3 0 2 119 96 +23 2 14 3rd No — 20095 2 0 3 100 111 −11 2 10 5th Lochore Cup Lost 27–31 to North Otago — 20105 1 0 4 76 119 −43 2 6 5th No — 20118 1 0 7 150 281 −131 1 5 11th No — 20128 1 0 7 178 230 −52 5 9 11th No — 20138 3 0 5 163 211 −48 3 15 9th No — 20148 5 0 3 196 176 +20 5 25 5th Lochore Cup Lost 6–37 to Wanganui — 20158 4 1 3 245 192 +53 3 21 7th Lochore Cup Won 20–6 against Buller Won 47–34 against North Otago 20168 4 2 2 236 170 −66 5 25 6th Lochore Cup Won 48-26 against Poverty Bay Lost 22-44 to North Otago 20178 1 0 7 206 323 −117 8 12 10th No — 20188 6 0 2 303 229 +72 7 31 3rd Meads Cup Lost 21-58 to South Canterbury — 20197 2 0 5 172 230 −58 5 13 10th No — 20218 0 0 8 113 367 −254 1 1 12th No — 20228 5 0 3 218 201 +17 5 25 4th Meads Cup Lost 9-76 to South Canterbury — 20238 3 0 5 175 248 −73 4 16 10th No — 20248 5 0 3 276 179 +97 8 28 5th Lochore Cup Won 34-31 against Ngati Porou East Coast Won 46-44 against West Coast 20258 2 0 6 259 234 +25 5 15 9th No —
There was no Heartland Championship in 2020 due to Covid 19 restrictions.
Ranfurly Shield King Country have never held the Ranfurly Shield. The union has challenged unsuccessfully for the Shield 22 times.
YearHolderScoreChallengerVenue1922Hawke's Bay 42–8 King Country Napier1933Canterbury 36–0 King Country Christchurch1952Waikato 18–8 King Country Hamilton1958Taranaki 15–11 King Country New Plymouth1961Auckland 17–3 King Country Auckland1964Taranaki 21–0 King Country New Plymouth1966Auckland 14–6 King Country Auckland1969Hawke's Bay 19–16 King Country Napier1971North Auckland 16–6 King Country Whangārei1979North Auckland 21–6 King Country Whangārei1980Auckland 29–3 King Country Auckland1981Waikato 22–9 King Country Hamilton1985Canterbury 33–0 King Country Christchurch1988Auckland 28–0 King Country Te Kūiti1990Auckland 58–3 King Country Auckland1992Auckland 42–15 King Country Taupō1994Waikato 45–10 King Country Hamilton1998Waikato 76–0 King Country Hamilton2012Taranaki 67–16 King Country Inglewood2016Waikato 55–0 King Country Matamata2024Hawke's Bay 57–7 King Country Hastings2025Taranaki 78–7 King Country New Plymouth
Matches against visiting international teams King Country Rugby Union has a long history of playing against visiting international teams and playing them competitively. For a number of these games, King Country paired up with neighbouring unions.
Year Date Home team Opposition Score Venue 1925 16 September 1925 Waikato/King Country New South Wales 16–19 Taumarunui 1930 2 August 1930 Waikato/Thames Valley/King Country British Isles 16–40 Hamilton 1931 23 September 1931 Waikato/King Country Australia 10–30 Hamilton 1937 28 August 1937 Waikato/Thames Valley/King Country South Africa 3–6 Rugby Park, Hamilton 1939 30 August 1939 King Country Fiji 9–14 Taumarunui 1946 24 August 1946 Taranaki/King Country Australia 8–9 Pukekura Park, New Plymouth 1949 17 August 1949 King Country Australia 6–24 Taumarunui 1950 15 July 1950 Waikato/Thames Valley/King Country British Isles 0–30 Rugby Park, Hamilton 1952 20 August 1952 King Country Australia 6–16 Island Reserve, Ōtorohanga 1954 17 July 1954 King Country NSW Country 9–9 Island Reserve, Ōtorohanga 1955 14 September 1955 Wanganui/King Country Australia 8–38 Cooks Gardens, Whanganui 1956 8 August 1956 Wanganui/King Country South Africa 16–36 Spriggens Park, Whanganui 1957 31 July 1957 King Country Fiji 26–14 Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui 1959 19 August 1959 King Country/Counties British Lions 5–25 Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui 1963 27 April 1963 King Country Queensland Rugby Union 24–6 Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui 1965 4 August 1965 Wanganui/King Country South Africa 19–24 Cooks Gardens, Whanganui 1966 10 August 1966 Wanganui/King Country British Lions 12–6 Cooks Gardens, Whanganui 1968 31 July 1968 King Country France 9–23 Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui 1970 24 June 1970 King Country New South Wales 13–15 Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui 1971 26 May 1971 Wanganui/King Country British Lions 9–22 Spriggens Park, Whanganui 1972 23 August 1972 King Country Australia 6–13 Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui 1974 14 August 1974 King Country Fiji 3–38 Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui 1975 23 July 1975 King Country Tonga 13–18 Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui 1977 1 June 1977 Wanganui/King Country British Lions 9–60 Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui 1979 14 April 1979 King Country Victoria Rugby Union 12–18 Island Reserve, Ōtorohanga 1981 27 May 1981 King Country Scotland 13–39 Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui 1983 20 August 1983 King Country Australia U21 – Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui 1985 1 May 1985 King Country Queensland Rugby Union 7–18 Rugby Park, Te Kūiti 1989 5 July 1989 King Country Argentina 4–9 Owen Delany Park, Taupō 1991 1 May 1991 King Country Western Samoa 12–21 Rugby Park, Te Kūiti 1991 29 May 1991 King Country Romania 6–28 Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui 1991 18 June 1991 King Country Soviet Union 15–22 Rugby Park, Te Kūiti 1992 13 May 1992 King Country Australian Capital Territories 18–12 Island Reserve, Ōtorohanga 1992 1 July 1992 King Country Tonga 30–8 Taumarunui Domain, Taumarunui 1993 24 July 1993 King Country Manu Samoa 21–57 Rugby Park, Te Kūiti 1994 23 June 1994 King Country South Africa 10–46 Owen Delany Park, Taupō 1996 11 June 1996 King Country Manu Samoa 20–27 Rugby Park, Te Kūiti 1997 6 June 1997 King Country Ireland A 32–26 Owen Delany Park, Taupō 1997 13 June 1997 King Country Cook Islands 64–5 Owen Delany Park, Taupō
Player records