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Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20531, 24 September 1936, Page 11

FIRST RUGBY CLUB MR K. C. TENNENT’S PART By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, September 23. The formation of the first Rugby Club in New Zealand, was recalled in a letter read at a meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union. The letter was from Mr K. C. Tennent, of Woodville, who wrote: “I was 87 last birthday. In 1868 I assisted in calling a meeting in Nelson when we formed the first Rugby club in New Zealand. I was elected the first secretary and treasurer. I played in the first match between Nelson and Wellington at Pctone in 1870, and in 1874 captained the Nelson team against Wellington on the Basin Reserve. The result was a draw. The Bank of New South Wales, of which I am the oldest pensioner, appointed me to open their patea branch in 1874. I formed a Rugby Football Club there, and was captain for five years, when I retired from the game.” Mr Tennent is the father of Dr Alan Tennent of Wellington.