Rugby Southland (formerly the Southland Rugby Football Union) is the provincial rugby union who govern the Southland region of New Zealand. Their headquarters are at Rugby Park Stadium in Invercargill, which is also the home ground of the union's professional team, the Southland Stags who compete in the Mitre 10 Cup Championship Division and challenge for the Ranfurly Shield.
Despite their history, no Southland team has ever won the top division of the New Zealand National Provincial Championship since organised competition began in 1976. However, they have won the NPC second division title five times and held the Ranfurly Shield eight times, most recently in 2025 when they beat Waikato 25-10. Southland also plays for the Donald Stuart Memorial Shield against rivals Otago in what is the longest tenured provincial rivalry in New Zealand first-class rugby with close to 250 matches.
History Formation and early years Founded in 1887 after splitting from Otago, Southland and its former stablemate went on to forge what is New Zealand's longest inter-provincial rugby rivalries. The two sides have played more games against each other than any other representative teams in New Zealand. They played their first game against Otago, losing in a close affair. The Southland region already had strong club rugby teams with Invercargill competing in the Dunedin based competition. The Invercargill club had already produced two All Blacks. They were outside back, Henry Braddon and wing forward, James O'Donnell. In 1885 these two players were recognised as Otago All Blacks as they played their rugby for neighbouring province.
It was not until 1896 when Southland hooker, Nisbet McRobie was selected in the New Zealand team to play Queensland. The side won 9-nil and it was McRobie's only game in the 'black jersey', however he occupies a special place in Southland Rugby history as the provinces first of over 50 All Blacks. Billy Stead became the provinces first test All Black in 1903 and also captained the All Blacks 12 times.
Production of talent Southland is renowned for producing a high number of quality players despite the small population of the province shown by the over 50 All Blacks who have come from Southland. This continued following the war with players such as Leo Connolly and Jack Hazlett followed by Leicester Rutledge and Frank Oliver. But as rugby in New Zealand was organised into structured annual competition to replace tours and series which Southland had played in previously Southland Rugby struggled to retain their local talent. With Southland in the NPC Second Division from 1976, talented Southlanders began heading north in search of top level rugby. Southland continued to produce homegrown talent over 1980s and 1990s which led them to five Second Division titles, namely Brian McKechnie, Steven Pokere, Geoff Valli, Paul Henderson and Simon Culhane who was the shining light for Southland over this period, it was the talent that was lost that continues to haunt Southland fans. Southland at this time was used as a kickstart for many successful players careers. Valli moved to North Auckland in 1981, Pokere left Southland for Auckland in 1984 and Henderson spent what most consider to be his best years as a footballer in Otago from 1987–91. This worsened as Southland neared the millennium and led to embarrassing results where victories were few and far between as Southland was promoted to the NPC First Division after their 1996 championship.
Considered one of Southland's best ever athletes, it pains many Southland fans to think that Jeff Wilson played only a season for Southland whilst still attending Cargill High School before heading to Otago to attend university and play his provincial rugby and cricket both of which he would represent New Zealand in before turning 20, going on to play 60 tests for the All Blacks. Justin Marshall who was Southland's halfback left after the winning the 1994 Second Division title and went on to become one of New Zealand's greatest halfbacks playing 81 All Black tests from 1995-2005 and winning every major trophy in New Zealand rugby excluding a Rugby World Cup. 2002 Southland captain Corey Flynn left the province for Canterbury in 2003 and went on to play 70 games for Canterbury and 15 for the All Blacks.
Others who kickstarted their career in Southland before moving where they became All Blacks Norm Hewitt, Pita Alatini, David Hill and Paul Miller. All Blacks such as Anton Oliver, Damian McKenzie and Mils Muliaina (with the latter going on to become the second ever All Blacks centurion), who left the province for their schooling would not return with rugby's increasing professionalism to represent the province like their family had in the past.
In recent years such as 2021, Ethan De Groot has played three tests for the All Blacks
Southland vs international teams For a province of its size, Southland has an unmatched record against international teams. Rugby Park has rarely been a successful venue for visiting foreign sides, many of which have fallen to determined Southland teams over the years.
Australian national and state sides have had a particularly miserable time in Invercargill, losing on twelve occasions. Southland defeated Queensland in 1896 and New South Wales in 1901, 1923 and 1928. The touring Wallabies were beaten by Southland in 1913, 1931, 1936, 1946, 1952, 1958, 1962 and 1978.
The British Lions were defeated 11-0 in 1950 and 16-8 in 1966. France were beaten by Southland 12-11 in 1979 and 12-7 in 1989.
Fiji in 1957, All Japan 1974, Canada 1988 and Italy in 2003 were also beaten by Southland.
Ranfurly Shield Southland were the first South Island province to win the coveted Ranfurly Shield in 1920 when they beat Wellington. Their first shield reign was brief, losing the Shield back to Wellington in 1921 after two defences. They next won the Shield in 1929 off Wairarapa, this time defending it four times before again losing to Wellington.
Southland then won the Ranfurly Shield in 1937 and 1938 when they retained the Shield for 12 challenges before losing it to bitter rivals Otago in 1947. With Ranfurly Shield rugby not played from 1939 to 1945 due to World War II, Southland's nine years with the Shield remains the longest in terms of time period although it did reside under a bed for much of this time. The Southland side during this period boasted All Blacks George Purdue, Bill Hazlett, Art Wesney, Les George and All Black Captains Frank Kilby and Brushy Mitchell in the Shield winning sides.
Their next Shield victory over Taranaki in 1959 would be their last for 51 years before the 2009 Southland side broke the drought by beating Canterbury 9-3 in Christchurch. Their six defences of the Shield proved to be some of the more iconic Shield games in the professional era including a 16-12 victory over arch-rivals Otago in front of a sold-out Rugby Park, and a 9-6 victory over Auckland days after the biggest snow storm ever recorded in the province led to fans having to shovel snow off the field the day before the game. After losing the Shield to Canterbury, the Stags again claimed the shield from their South Island rivals in 2011 in their most recent tenure which lasted two games. These Southland sides were not headlined by regular All Blacks like the teams from the 1930s and 1940s, instead they were made up mostly of locally grown talent educated at Southland Boys' High School such as captain Jamie Mackintosh, centurions Jason Rutledge, David Hall, Josh Bekhuis and Tim Boys, and future Scotland international John Hardie.
Name change In 1998 the Southland Rugby Football Union Incorporated changed its name to Rugby Southland IncorporatedIncorporated Societies Register number 225354, Rugby Southland Incorporated, Incorporated 16 April 1937 as Southland Rugby Football Union Incorporated, New Zealand Companies office, retrieved 17 August 2017
Club rugby When Robert Galbraith stepped down as the Southland Rugby Football Union secretary the union handed him a donation which the long-serving Southland rugby administrator promptly spent on a shield he donated back to the union as a prize for Invercargill's top club rugby competition. The Galbraith Shield has been the prize for Southland's premier club rugby competition since 1908.
There are six teams currently in Southland's premier competition; Marist, Blues, Pirates-Old Boys, Star, Woodlands and the Eastern-Northern Barbarians whose players come from the clubs in the Eastern/Northern sub union.
Current Senior Clubs:
Albion Balfour/Lumsden Bluff Central Pirates Collegiate Drummond-Limehills Star Eastern-Northern Barbarians Edendale Invercargill (Blues) Marist Mataura Midlands Mossburn Ohai-Nightcaps Otautau Pioneer Pirates-Old Boys Pukerau Riversdale Riverton Star Te Anau Tokanui Waiau Star Waikaia Waikaka White Star Waikiwi Wakatipu Wanderers 1 Woodlands Wrights Bush Wyndham
1 Wakatipu play in the Otago Country competition, however due to lack of suitable competition their B team play in the Southlandwide competition as the Wakatipu Wanderers. Wakatipu High School also compete in Southland competition as it involves less travel than the corresponding Otago competition.
Galbraith Shield Champions
+ Galbraith Shield ChampionsYearClubYearClubYearClubYearClubYearClub1980Star1990Invercargill (Blues)2000Woodlands2010Woodlands2020Woodlands1981Invercargill (Blues)1991Invercargill (Blues)2001Marist 2011Star2021Woodlands1982Invercargill (Blues)1992Invercargill (Blues)2002Star2012Woodlands2022Woodlands 1983Invercargill (Blues)1993Invercargill (Blues)2003Invercargill (Blues)2013Woodlands2023Pirates-Old Boys1984Pirates1994Invercargill (Blues) 2004Woodlands2014Woodlands2024Star1985Star1995Albion2005Invercargill (Blues) 2015Star2025Woodlands1986Star1996Woodlands2006Eastern Hawks (Pirates-Old Boys RFC)2016Eastern-Northern Barbarians 2026Eastern-Northern Barbarians 1987Invercargill (Blues) 1997Wyndham2007Star2017Marist 1988Invercargill (Blues)1998Waikaka2008Woodlands2018Marist 1989Invercargill (Blues)1999Star2009Star2019Invercargill (Blues) Total titlesClubSeasons31Invercargill (Blues)1911, 1912, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1958, 1964, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2003, 2005, 201930Star1908, 1913, 1914, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1951, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1999, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2015, 202412Pirates1927, 1929, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1938, 1949, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1976, 198412Woodlands1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2020, 2021, 2022, 20257Marist1940, 1948, 1957, 1979, 2001, 2017, 20186Bluff1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 19591Waikaka19981Albion19952Pirates-Old Boys2006, 20232Eastern-Northern Barbarians2016, 20261Wyndham19974Old Boys1934, 1945, 1961, 19682 Collegiate1953, 19651Winton 19091 Waikiwi 19101 Athletic 19181Tokanui 1978
Premier women
Club final winner:
2026 Pioneer 43-22 MaristBurnes, Campbell. Rugby News magazine (August 2026). Charlotte Smulders Publisher, New Zealand. 2025 Star 46-10 AlbionBurnes, Campbell. Rugby News magazine (August 2025). Charlotte Smulders Publisher, New Zealand.
High Schools Rugby
Aurora College Central Southland College Gore High School James Hargest College Menzies College Northern Southland College Southland Boys' High School Southland Girls' High School St Peter's College, Gore Te Wharekura o Arowhenua Verdon College Wakatipu High School
Bunnings NPC
Southland in Super Rugby