JUBILEE OF RUGBY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18770, 29 July 1935, Page 7

JUBILEE OF RUGBY

NELSON CELEBRATION CRADLE OP N.Z. GAME SIXTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO (Per Press Association.) NELSON, this day. The Nelson Rugby Union this year is celebrating its jubilee. This week will see the commencement of the programme to celebrate the occasion. Rugby football was first played in New Zealand at Victory Square, Nelson, in 1868, 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 jubileo should be the occasion of a visit by Wellington representatives, who will play Nelson at Trafalgar Park on the first Monday in August, a bank holiday.

Nelson is the only part of New Zealand which is keeping up the English bank holiday, though curiously enough the local banks are practically the only local institutions who do not observe it.

The Neßon club is 'the oldest football club in the Dominion, having its foundation on Mav 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 English papers that men’s dubs 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 1 football club for the ensuing winter.” A club named the Nelson Football Club was duly formed, Mr. Tennent being elected secretary and treasurer.

The first practice was held in Victoria Square under Association" rules. Then Victorian rules were tried. It so happened that after a few practices had been held Mr. Charles J. Monro, son of Sip. David Monro,' returned from England, where he had been attending Sberborin School where Rugby Union was played. Mr. Monro persuaded the Nelson players to try Rugby. They preferred that game out of the three tried. Shortly afterwards Nelson College adopted Rugby sjnd soon had a strong team. Matches were then commenced between the college and the Nelson clubs Thus what is now the national winter sport was first established in New Zealand.