Kia ora. We’ve been playing and supporting rugby in our little (but awesome) town of Thames for 150 years, and we think that’s a milestone well worth celebrating so that’s what we’re going to do.
Fancy coming along?
Save the 13-15 August 2021 in your diary if you’re keen to join the celebrations in Thames. It would also be great if you could spread the word amongst your mates so everyone knows it’s coming up.
The weekend will be a chance for old mates to catch up, share memories and have a few laughs. There are also some great photos that we have from over the years that will be on display too. Man, some impressive moustaches and mullets have rocked through the club doors over the years!
Whether you played rugby or netball in the club, helped to keep the club running, were/are a fanatical fan or you just tagged along with your partner or parents every weekend, this is set to be a great weekend in our hood.
We’re building a programme of events for the weekend of the 13-15 August 2021 that will have something for everyone, including some free community events and some you’ll need to buy a ticket for. We’re working hard to keep ticket pricing as low as possible and affordable for everyone too.
The full programme of events will be released in March and will include:
Registration, Couch Chat and Catch Up Function | Friday 13 August 2021 | from 6pm | Thames Rugby & Sports Club, Rhodes Park, Thames | Ticketed
Complimentary drink on arrival, supper, interviews with local legends, 150th Jersy Auction
Thames Invitational vs N.Z Barbarians selection Rugby Match | Saturday 14 August 2021 | 12pm to 5pm | Rhodes Park, Thames | Free Event
Curtain raiser: Thames Junior Rugby 12pm, Golden Oldies 1pm, Thames v Barbarians Kick Off 2pm. Food & Refreshments available, Club & Bar open
150 Year Celebration Dinner | Saturday 14 August 2021 | from 7.00pm (start time TBC) | War Memorial Civic Centre, 200 Mary Street, Thames | Dress code: Your number ones | Ticketed – and these will be limited
2x course meal & table wines, self service bar, Entertaining speakers, MCs, rugby legends, celebrity guests, and Jersey auctions.
Link for Tickets Below
https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/150-years-of-thames-rugby-1870-2020-tickets-125821267799
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat to get an alert when tickets go on sale as they will be limited. If you “don’t do social media”, please email 150yearsofthamesrugby@gmail.com and we can flick you an email when more event details and tickets are available.
If you’d like to support the Celebration of 150 Years of Thames Rugby as a sponsor, please email 150yearsofthamesrugby@gmail.com and we’ll catch up with you on your options.
We really hope you can join us.
Ngā mihi nui
SENIOR A
Playing in the Thames Valley Senior A rugby competition. The club has a long history of winning in this competition and we are looking forward to a big year.
Senior A Draw
COACHES
Hayden "Neebsie" Roe
MANAGER
To Be Confirmed
RUGBY SUBCOMMITTEE
-
SENIOR B
Playing in the Thames Valley Senior B rugby competition.
COACHES
Coach: Scott Goudie
Ass Coach: Ron Mikaere
MANAGER
Mark Larden 029 475 3526
Additional support team: Lindsay Goudie, Mike "Spyder" McWatt, Ian "Pinga" Cameron
Contact
Rebecca Welsh - welsh.taipari@hotmail.co.nz or 027 879 3929
Visit them on Facebook: TRSC Netball
CLUB NETBALL
TRSC have four teams that play in the Wednesday Night Club Netball competition in Thames. The competition the starts on 2nd May 2018.
LEAGUE NETBALL
TRSC 1 plays in the Friday Night Thames League. The competition starts on 11 May 2018.
PLAY RUGBY IN NZ
The Thames Rugby and Sports Club are always on the lookout for new rugby players looking to relocate from within New Zealand or overseas players who wish to develop their skills while experiencing the Coromandel and the many recreational activities and cultural experiences on offer. We have contacts to help you arrange accommodation and employment with work opportunities existing in landscaping, construction, saw-milling, agriculture, manufacturing, health, plumbing, painting, hospitality, retail and many other trades.
LOCATION
Thames is a service and historical New Zealand town situated between the calm waters of the Firth of Thames and the majestic ranges of the Coromandel Peninsula. Thames is a great place to base yourself with fishing, diving, boating, hunting, tramping and beautiful beaches on your door step or within a 30 minute drive. The major cities of Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga are within a 1 to 1.5 hours’ drive from the town and it has its own hospital, supermarket, shopping Centre and varied specialty shops.
More info: http://www.thamesinfo.co.nz
PLAYING SEASON
The club season extends from March through until August, with pre-season training starting in January. If selected for Thames Valley representative teams, the Heartland Competition season follows this from August to October and involves travelling throughout New Zealand playing provincial rugby.
Thames Valley Rugby Union Link: http://www.thamesvalleyswampfoxes.co.nz
WORKING IN NEW ZEALAND
If you are from a country other than Australia and New Zealand you must have a current working visa and I.R.D number to work in New Zealand.
New Zealand currently has working holiday agreements with the UK, Canada, Chile, The Netherlands, Japan, Ireland, Korea, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Hong Kong, Italy, Malaysia, and is currently negotiating arrangements with a range of additional countries. If you are from a country other than Australia and New Zealand you must obtain a work visa or permit.
Australians do not need a work permit as a special agreement exists between the countries.
To be eligible for a work visa under this scheme, applicants must:
Be citizens of one of the above countries ordinarily residing in that country at the time of applying
Satisfy the New Zealand Embassy that their main intention for coming to New Zealand is to holiday and that employment is an incidental reason for the visit.
Have funds available for maintenance.
Agree to hold a comprehensive medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance that will remain current throughout their stay
Be aged between eighteen (18) and thirty (30) years, both inclusive, at the time of application
Not be accompanied by children
Possess a valid passport
Possess a return ticket, or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket
There may be other requirements specific to the country you are applying in so if you’re unsure of the requirements, it’s important to check with the New Zealand Immigration Service
More useful information for overseas players can be found at the following links;
Argentina players: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workingholiday/argentinaworkingholidayscheme
U.S.A players: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workingholiday/unitedstatesofamericaworkingholidayscheme
United Kingdom players: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workingholiday/unitedkingdomworkingholidayscheme
Ireland players: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workingholiday/irelandworkingholidayscheme
Japan players: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workingholiday/japanworkingholidayscheme
Canada players: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workingholiday/canadaworkingholidayscheme
TRSC 2019 Proudly supported by the following businesses:
HALL HIRE
Would you like to hire our clubrooms for your next event or party?
o Full day: $500 + GST
o 1/2 day : $250 + GST
+ $600 bond refundable after inspection.
For all bookings
Contact: Carol Battson 027 303 1475
o Hall, bar, toilets and surroundings to be left clean and tidy and all rubbish removed.
o The hirer is responsible for all breakages and any damages.
PRESIDENT
Stephen Gooder 0274 880 751
TREASURER
Vaughan de Groen 021 183 4296
Secretary
Vaughan de Groen
CLUB CAPTAIN
Craig Bradley
COMMITTEE
Neven Leopold, Carol Battson, Rebecca Welsh, Stacey Payze, Tarn Adams, Craig Bradley, Corbin Saunders
NETBALL SUB COMMITTEE
Bec Welsh, Kelly Ngamane, Desiree Robson, Marcia Robins
RUGBY IN THAMES
The first recorded game of rugby in Thames was played in 1870 between a team from Auckland and a local team. The Auckland team of 13 named players arrived at the Tararu wharf in Thames on the ship the ‘Golden Crown’ and proceeded to Shortland, Western Thames, for the game. The Thames team consisted of 16 named players but it is not clear how many started the match for each side but in the event, the game ended in a scoreless draw and although it certainly wasn’t rugby as we know it today, no doubt the young men playing enjoyed the contest.
In these early games the rules were certainly different, with one of the aims to kick the ball
through the posts, not over a bar but beneath a tape stretched between the posts. Some kickers today probably wish that rule was still in the game!
There was no offside rule at that time, but players could run with the ball, bouncing it every five
yards and this was called the Melbourne rule and it remains to this day in Aussie Rules footie. This rule was done away with in New Zealand in 1871.
Early rugby in Thames was played very physically, with the second game played between Thames and
Auckland in 1871 being a very rugged affair.
W.Cussen of Auckland was knocked unconscious and taken to hospital where he was joined by Dunlevy of Thames being severely kicked in the groin.
Bull of Thames had two ribs broken and Jennings of Thames had two teeth knocked out. Reported as a good game which also ended in a scoreless draw.
At the time some wag wrote the following poem:
After the football is over, after the field is clear, Straighten my nose and shoulder, Help me to
find my ear!
There were changes in 1873 when the Thames Club decided to change to a different version of rugby
based on the rules of Wellington College in England. It was reported that this radical move involved a great deal of discussion in the hotels, taverns and other meeting places on the Thames Goldfields.
In 1893, blue and black were registered as Thames colours.
The first All Black to come from Thames was the great R.W.(Dick) McGregor who represented the
country against New South Wales in 1901. He toured with Dave Gallagher’s team to Australia in 1903 whom they beat 22-3 at the Sydney Cricket ground in what was New Zealand’s first full-scale international match. Other players were to follow in All Black teams and Provincial teams over the years since, with many others playing in various trials.
World War 2 was to see a lull in rugby activity in Thames and in the 1940/41 seasons there were no
senior teams playing. In the interim Junior teams were promoted to Senior but this changed when the boys returned from the war eventually and by 1946 rugby was again being played at strength in Thames.
Changes were to come to Thames in 1982 when two of the three Club teams left in the Thames Sub-union amalgamated to form United Hui Mai. This was followed in 1983 when Thames High School Old Boys also wished to join the amalgamation and this lead to the formation of the Thames Rugby and Sports Club as it is known today.
All three Clubs, Thames United, Hui Mai and Thames High School Old Boys still all have their
parochial supporters within the new Club and memorabilia from these Clubs is displayed throughout the present Clubrooms.
The Club’s teams currently play in the Thames Valley Rugby Union’s competitions but that hasn’t
always been the case, having early associations with the Auckland Union. The Club has also had a long association with the New Zealand Barbarian Rugby Club who played their first game in New Zealand in 1937 at Thames.
The Club has an ambitious project in mind to replace the present Grandstand at Rhodes Park,
opened in 1948, with a new Grandstand and Clubrooms with changing rooms etc. below and it is hoped to complete this within the next few years.
The Thames Rugby & Sports Club has a long history of providing excellent hospitality to rugby teams, supporters and visitors and you can always be assured of a warm welcome at our Clubrooms.
Life Member & Club Historian, Errol Kingsbury
