The Waikato Rugby Union is calling on the Waikato rugby community to join in the upcoming Centenary celebrations later this year.

The Union is pleased to confirm the dates for the upcoming Centenary celebrations, with activities planned for August and October in conjunction with the 2021 NPC season.

The Centenary events will celebrate 100 years of Waikato rugby and take participants on a journey back through history and celebrate our beloved game.

August will be centred around A Big Day of Rugby at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday, 21 August. Three provincial games are scheduled back-to-back, culminating in a Waikato and Taranaki NPC clash which acknowledges the very first provincial game for the Mooloo 100 years ago. The stadium will also host a Reunion Evening the night before providing an opportunity for teammates and friends to connect and reminisce.

In October, the Claudelands Events Centre will be the hub of activities with a Black Tie Dinner on Saturday 2 October co-hosted by James McOnie and Anne-Marie Case-Miller with support from the voices of New Zealand rugby, Keith Quinn and John McBeth, taking attendees on a journey through the past 100 years of Waikato rugby.

The next day a Mooloo Parade involving clubs and community will depart Hamilton city centre for Claudelands with the procession heading to an exhibition match re-enacting the first international game Waikato ever played involving an Invitational South African side taking on a Legends Waikato team at Claudelands.

Acting CEO, Carl Moon, along with a team of volunteers have been hard at planning over the summer to put together a wide range of exciting events for the community.

“There’s no denying that rugby holds a special place in Waikato history. From the Springbok tour protests to famous wins over touring sides, rugby has been a unifier, bringing out the best in our community,” Moon said.

“It is extremely important to us that we use this milestone to protect, recognise, and celebrate the past, to bond and unify the present, and to ensure and nurture the future of our game.”

“That’s why we are calling anyone who has been involved in Waikato Rugby, from playing to coaching or cheering on the side lines to come get involved in the celebrations.”

To join the celebrations, register at www.mooloo.co.nz/Waikato-Centenary

To join the 100Club, register at www.mooloo.co.nz/100-Club-Membership

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Mike Crawford

Rugby Manager

+64 21 344 562 | mikec@mooloo.co.nz

August Centenary Events

Friday 20^th August | Reunion Evening | FMG Stadium Waikato

Inviting everyone involved in Waikato Rugby to join your peers and remember the good ole days.

Saturday 21^st August | A Big Day of Rugby | FMG Stadium Waikato

Game 1: Heartland game - Thames Valley vs Mid-Canterbury

Game 2: FPC game – Waikato vs TBC

Game 3: NPC game - Waikato vs Taranaki – just like 100 years ago when Waikato played their very first provincial game against Taranaki.

October Centenary Events

Saturday 2^nd October | Black Tie Dinner | Claudelands Event Centre

100 years of Waikato rugby will be celebrated in style with a black-tie event at Claudelands Event Centre. Hosted by James McOnie and Anne-Marie Case-Miller, attendees will be taken on a journey through 100 years of Waikato rugby by the NZ’s most well-known commentators in rugby, Keith Quinn and John McBeth.

Sunday 3^rd October | Mooloo Parade

Bring back the Mooloo Parade we heard! Starting in town, we will invite Clubs and the community to join us on a parade that culminates at Claudelands where you’ll be able to grab a bite of lunch before watching the Legends Game.

Sunday 3^rd October | Legends Game - Claudelands Oval

History comes back to life with a free-to-attend event with a carnival atmosphere for the whole community where an Invitational South African side take on a Legends Waikato team, re-enacting the historic first international that Waikato ever played.

Historical Importance

• Founded in 1921, Waikato is one of the most successful provincial unions, despite being the fourth youngest union.
• Waikato has held the Ranfurly Shield on 11 separate occasions, defending it 53 times. This is the third most out of all the provinces, only beaten by traditional powerhouses Auckland and Canterbury.
• Since the NPC started in the late 1970s, Waikato has consistently been in the top division, winning in 1992 and 2006.
• In our 100-year history, we have produced 63 All Blacks and have consistently been one of the top performing provinces.
• Back in the days of international tours also provided some of the Union’s most memorable moments with the 1956 win over the Springboks still regarded by many as the finest day in Waikato Rugby history. Other notable international scalps include France (1961 and 1979), Australia (1972 and 1990), Wales (1988) and the British and Irish Lions (1993).
• The community game in the Waikato is as strong as ever with the club competition regarded as one of the best in the country. Waikato is made up of 32 clubs from Hamilton and the surrounding districts, and it is the strength of the grassroots game, with almost 10,000 registered players, that makes Waikato rugby strong.
• Its central location makes it the heart of rugby in the North Island and has led to some historic rivalries over the years, with neighbours Auckland one of the most significant match ups in New Zealand provincial rugby. 
• The Springbok Tour of 1981 is one of the largest protests in NZ history dividing the country. More than 150,000 people took part in the protests across 28 centres. One of the biggest protests was the Waikato vs Springboks game, where the game ended up being cancelled because of the protesters.