2. The Hamilton region has a very rich rugby history
Hayday
Waikato won the first NPC final in 1992. Until then the competition was decided by round-robin play alone.
Auckland had dominated for 10 years winning their first title in 1982 and then 6 out of the 8 to 1990.
The All Blacks were away when the final was played in 1991 and Otago beat a second string Auckland side but the Auks were back to full strength in 1992.
Waikato broke the deadlock that Auckland had on the NPC (in controversial style)
The second incident happened in the final where Waikato comfortably beat Otago 40-5. This wasn’t enough for combative All Black prop Richard Lowe who eye-gouged Otago fullback, Greg Cooper in a ruck.
- Lowe would receive a significant ban for the transgression
The next year they would take the Ranfurly Shield away from Auckland as well
Waikato were a hard-working, tightly knit team in the early 1990′s led my John Mitchell but there were remarkably few All Blacks in the side.
- Only Mathew Cooper got regular game time with the All Blacks.
- Hooker Warren Gatland was only ever a reserve
- John Mitchell was given a tour and the mid-week captaincy as reward for a great career
- Lock Steve Gordon had 2 caps early in his career
Brent ‘Buck’ Anderson rounded out the second row
Mitchell combined with Richard Gerram and Duane Monkley in a hard-working but under-recognised loose forward trio.
Monkley was robbed
Ask any Waikato rugby fan about Duane Monkley and be prepared to hear about one of the greatest injustices of All Black history. The number 7 was tough, quick to the breakdown and big in the tackle.
Monkley did have considerable opposition during his career for the number 7 jersey, including Mike Brewer, Paul ‘Ginge’ Henderson, Michael Jones and an emerging Josh Kronfeld.
But it is fair to say he was equal or better than others who got an All Black jersey during the period like Mark Carter and Liam Barry.
Team of coaches
The team from the early 1990′s would produce a number of high-profile coaches
- Kevin Putt (Natal)
- Stu Foster (Waikato & the Chiefs)
- Andrew Strawbridge (Auckland NPC assistant coach and Auckland 7s coach)
- Graham Purvis ()
- Warren Gatland (Ireland)
- John Mitchell (All Blacks, Western Force)
History
There are many rugby greats from the area.
All Black hooker Has Katley played 7 tests between 1946-49.
Waikato All Black, Has Catley
… and he had a stylish hairdo – remnants of Crispin Glover.
Two of New Zealand’s most famous players of all time come from the Waikato.
The great Don Clarke, known as ‘The Boot’ and the greatest Kiwi rugby legend of all time, Sir Colin ‘Pinetree’ Meads, known as ‘Pine Tree’.
See the Waikato Rugby Union Timeline for more historic detail.
1981 Springbok Tour
The country was split between the sad naivety of hardcore rugby fans who preferred to remain happily ignorant of the apartheid regime and those that believed it should not be tolerated and any cost.
The first test in Hamilton was called off when protesters occupied the playing field and police feared for their safety from rugby fans throwing full cans of beer and other projectiles.
There was also fears that a small aircraft would cause a safety risk.
The matches in Christchurch and Auckland went ahead but not without incident.
