RUGBY JUBILEE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22173, 29 July 1935, Page 12

RUGBY JUBILEE

OLDEST NEW ZEALAND CLUB CELEBRATIONS AT NELSON [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] NELSON, Sunday The Nelson Rugby Union this year is celebrating its jubilee, and next week will see the commencement of a programme befitting the occasion. Rugby football was first played in New Zealand at Victory Square, Nelson, in 18G8. but it was not until 17 years later, in 1885, that the Rugby Union was formed to control the game. The first interprovincial matches played in the Dominion took place in 1870, between Wellington and Nelson. It is therefore appropriate that the celebration of the local union's jubilee should be the occasion of a visit by the Wellington representatives, who will play Nelson at Trafalgar Park on the first Monday in August. Nelson is the only part of New Zealand keeping up the English bank holiday, although, curiously enough, the banks are practically the only local institutions which do not observe this holiday. The Nelson Club is the oldest football club in the Dominion, having its foundation on May 30, 1868, at a meeting called by Mr. R. C. Tennent. At that time there was no winter sport in New Zealand, and the youth of Nelson occupied itself mainly during those months with horse riding and hill climbing. Mr. Tennent saw by the English papers that, men's clubs were being formed in the Old Country to play under Association football rules. He suggested to his friends that they should form a club in Nelson and decide later what rules should be adopted. As a result, in the Evening Mail of May 30, 1868, an advertisement appeared, calling a meeting at the Nelson hotel of "gentlemen interested in the formation of a football club for the ensuing winter." A club, named the Nelson Football Club, was duly formed, Mr. Tennent being elected secretary-treasurer. The first practice was held at Victory Square, under Association rules. Then Victorian rules were tried. It so happened that, "after a few practices had been held, Mr. Charles J. Monro, the son of Sir David Monro, returned from England, where he had been attending Sherborin School, where Rugby Union played. ' Mr. Monro persuaded the Nelson players to try Rugby. They preferred that game out of three tried. Shortly afterwards Nelson College adopted Rugby, and soon had a strong team. Matches wore then commenced between the college and Nelson clubs, and thus what is now a national winter sport was first established in New Zealand.