View source for Taranaki Rugby Football Union

{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox sport governing body
|name               = Taranaki Rugby
|abbrev             = TRFU
|logo               = Logo Taranaki Rugby Union.svg
|logosize           = 115
|sport              = [[Rugby union]]
|jurisdiction       = [[Taranaki Region]]
|founded            = {{Start date and age|1889}}
|aff                = [[New Zealand Rugby]]
|headquarters       = [[New Plymouth, New Zealand|New Plymouth]]
|chiefexec          = Mike Sandle
|coach              = Neil Barnes
|womenscoach        = Maifea Maifea
|url                = www.trfu.co.nz
|countryflag        = NZL
}}
The '''Taranaki Rugby Football Union''' (also referred to as '''Taranaki Rugby)''' is the governing body for [[rugby union]] in [[Taranaki Region|Taranaki]], [[New Zealand]] and was established in 1889. Taranaki is a [[Regions of New Zealand|region of New Zealand]] that covers areas in the districts of [[New Plymouth District|New Plymouth]], [[Stratford, New Zealand|Stratford]] and [[South Taranaki District|South Taranaki]]. Taranaki Rugby's two most senior representative teams are the men's [[National Provincial Championship (2006–present)|NPC]] side, Taranaki Bulls, and the women's [[Farah Palmer Cup]] side, Taranaki Whio. The union is affiliated with the [[Chiefs (rugby union)|Chiefs]] [[Super Rugby]] franchise. Their playing colours are amber and black and they play their home games at [[Yarrow Stadium]] in New Plymouth.
== History ==
=== Early years ===
Taranaki was officially established in 1889 after a team chosen from the surrounding clubs in existence played as Egmont in 1885. They began with a brown coloured jersey before adopting the amber and black hoops in 1892. During the amateur period, the team won the [[Ranfurly Shield]] on four occasions. It had also won seven-second division titles in the [[National Provincial Championship (1976–2005)|National Provincial Championship]], more than any other team. Further notable moments were in 1959, when a record 35,000 spectators attended Rugby Park in [[New Plymouth, New Zealand|New Plymouth]] to see the province play the [[British and Irish Lions|British Lions]]. Two years later 36,000 people were on hand to watch [[France national rugby union team|France]] defeat the side 11-9.<ref name="taranaki-history">{{cite web | url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/regional-rugby/taranaki#:~:text=Though%20the%20Taranaki%20Rugby%20Football,which%20it%20won%20in%202014. | title=Taranaki Rugby History | author=Ministry for Culture and Heritage | work=New Zealand History | date=9 October 2015 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:deancup.jpg|right|thumb|210px|1907 Strathmore Dean Cup side.]] -->
Their first Ranfurly Shield victory came in 1913 when [[Auckland Rugby Union|Auckland]] was defeated 14-11. Six successful defences followed before a 12-6 loss to [[Wellington Rugby Football Union|Wellington]] in September 1914. In 1957 shield holders Wellington was defeated in a friendly match early in the year and a rematch was scheduled for later in the season. [[Otago Rugby Football Union|Otago]] defeated Wellington, and Otago accepted a special challenge by Taranaki. The match was played on 28 September 1957, the last Saturday of the season, after [[King Country Rugby Football Union|King Country]] gave up its scheduled fixture with Taranaki. Taranaki won against Otago for them to, later on, go a 13-match tenure.<ref name=taranaki-history/>
In 1963 Taranaki regained the Ranfurly Shield once again off Wellington with a win at [[Athletic Park, Wellington|Athletic Park]]. Their third tenure would be its most successful one. The first challenge came from [[Wanganui Rugby Football Union|Wanganui]] who were making their second challenge of the season, having lost earlier to Auckland. Wanganui later would suffer a further defeat in 1964. Taranaki lost to Auckland in their last defence in 1965 and would not reclaim the shield again until 1996 when they edged Auckland 42-39. [[North Harbour Rugby Union|North Harbour]] lost narrowly in a tight contest before Taranaki was beaten by 20 points against [[Waikato Rugby Union|Waikato]].<ref name=taranaki-history/>
=== Professional era ===
In August 2011 Taranaki defeated [[Southland Rugby|Southland]] 15-12 in [[Invercargill, New Zealand|Invercargill]] to begin a fifth tenure of the shield.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/5502907/Taranaki-claim-Ranfurly-Shield-from-Southland | title=Taranaki claim Ranfurly Shield from Southland | author=Logan Savory | work=Stuff | date=25 August 2011 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref> This ended in October 2012 when Waikato won the last challenge of the season.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/117303/waikato-take-ranfurly-shield | title=Waikato take Ranfurly Shield | work=Radio New Zealand | date=4 October 2012 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref> In 2013 Taranaki RFU assembled a women's professional team although it was later disbanded the following year.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/251962/two-provinces-join-women's-rugby-competition | title=Two provinces join women's rugby competition | work=Radio New Zealand | date=13 August 2014 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref> They claimed the national title for the first time in their history with a win over [[Tasman Rugby Union|Tasman]] in the [[2014 ITM Cup]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/rugby/taranaki-win-2014-itm-cup-premiership-6116501 | title=Taranaki win 2014 ITM Cup Premiership | work=TVNZ | date=25 October 2014 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
== Referees ==
Taranaki has a proud history of producing top level referees. Brian Duffy was the region's first test match referee and controlled six internationals, including one test between the [[British and Irish Lions]] and [[All Blacks]] in 1977. [[Paul Williams (referee)|Paul Williams]] followed with his test debut coming in 2017.
Cam Stone and Will Johnston are in the National Panel and take charge of domestic competition matches. Richard Kelly featured in the panel for 12 years, including a successful sevens career, where he was the world's most capped sevens referee when he retired in March 2021. He controlled 280 matches over 52 tournaments, including the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018, 2018 World Rugby 7s World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics, in which he refereed one semi-final.
Other Taranaki referees have been involved in the national scene in the past, these are; Dee Luckin, Darryl Heibner, [[Chris Pollock]], Brian MacDonald, Paul Macfie, Stuart Beissell, Ross Whitmore, [[Paul Honiss]], Russell Hodge and Murray Dombroski.
== Affiliated clubs ==
There are 29 registered clubs incorporated and secondary schools affiliated with the Taranaki RFU, most of which have teams at both senior and junior levels. The Taranaki Rugby Referees' Association is also an affiliated member of the Taranaki RFU. The organisation provides match officials for senior club rugby down to junior grades. They also provide sideline support personnel to home [[National Provincial Championship (2006–present)|National Provincial Championship]], [[Super Rugby]] and test matches.
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
*Bell Block Rugby Sports & Community Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429042594314?sw=Bell%20Block%20Rugby%20Sports%20&%20Community%20Club | title=Bell Block Rugby Sports & Community Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=17 October 1979 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*Central Rugby and Sports Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429043160464?sw=Central%20Rugby%20and%20Sports%20Club | title=Central Rugby and Sports Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=11 January 2008 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*Clifton Rugby and Sports Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429042614067?sw=Clifton%20Rugby%20and%20Sports%20Club | title=Clifton Rugby and Sports Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=7 August 1979 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*Coastal Rugby Football Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429043027491?sw=Coastal%20Rugby%20Football%20Club | title=Coastal Rugby Football Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=21 January 1997 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*Eltham Rugby Football Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429042698906?sw=Eltham%20Rugby%20Football%20Club | title=Eltham Rugby Football Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=15 October 1931 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*[[Francis Douglas Memorial College]]
*[[Hawera High School]]
*[[Inglewood High School, New Zealand|Inglewood High School]]
*Inglewood United Rugby Football Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429042636953?sw=Inglewood%20United%20Rugby%20Football%20Club | title=Inglewood United Rugby Football Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=8 February 1932 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*Kaitake Rugby Football Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429042650010?sw=Kaitake%20Rugby%20Football%20Club | title=Kaitake Rugby Football Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=30 April 1985 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*Kaponga Rugby Football Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429042651970?sw=Kaponga%20Rugby%20Football%20Club | title=Kaponga Rugby Football Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=22 July 1928 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*[[New Plymouth Boys' High School]]
*[[New Plymouth Girls' High School]]
*New Plymouth High School Old Boys' Rugby Football and Sports Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429042684169?sw=New%20Plymouth%20High%20School%20Old%20Boys%27%20Rugby%20Football%20and%20Sports%20Club | title=New Plymouth High School Old Boys' Rugby Football and Sports Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=8 May 1931 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*Okaiawa Rugby Football Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429042824213?sw=Okaiawa%20Rugby%20Football%20Club | title=Okaiawa Rugby Football Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=13 December 1928 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*Okato Rugby Football Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429042824336?sw=Okato%20Rugby%20Football%20Club | title=Okato Rugby Football Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=15 February 1929 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*[[Opunake High School]]
*Patea Rugby & Sports Club
*Rahotu Community And Sports Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429042869122/ | title=Rahotu Community And Sports Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=5 November 1984 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*[[Sacred Heart Girls' College, New Plymouth|Sacred Heart Girls' College]]
*Southern Rugby Football Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429042729983/ | title=Southern Rugby Football Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=27 January 1995 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*[[Spotswood College]]
*Spotswood United Rugby Football & Sports Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429042728801/ | title=Spotswood United Rugby Football & Sports Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=22 July 1929 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*Stratford Eltham Rugby & Sports Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429042833161/ | title=Stratford Eltham Rugby & Sports Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=2 April 1925 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*[[Stratford High School, New Zealand|Stratford High School]]
*[[Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls]]
*Toko Rugby Football Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429042891765/ | title=Toko Rugby Football Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=7 June 1976 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*Tukapa Rugby and Sports Club<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nzbn.govt.nz/mynzbn/nzbndetails/9429042895206/ | title=Tukapa Rugby and Sports Club | work=New Zealand Business Number | date=14 May 1929 | access-date=9 September 2020 }}</ref>
*[[Waitara High School]]
{{div col end}}
{| class="wikitable"
|
!Club
!Founded
!Total Premierships
(McMaster's Shield)
!Premiership Winning Seasons
!All Blacks
!Mergers
|-
! rowspan="13" |Current Clubs
|Bell Block Rugby Sports and  Community Club
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''Clifton''' Rugby & Sports Club
|1880
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''Coastal''' Rugby & Sports Club
|
|
|2009
|Mark Robinson 2000-02, Beauden  Barrett, Scott Barrett, Jordie Barrett
|Merger of the Okato RFC, the  Rahotu RFC and the Opunake RFC.
|-
|'''Inglewood United''' RFC
|1898
|
|1940, 1960, 1970, 1978, 1979,  1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2006, 2014, 2021
|
|Rugby in Inglewood began in 1893, when Inglewood’s first rugby club, the Athletic Club, was formed. Shortly after in 1896, the Pirates Club was formed. These two clubs united to form one club in 1898
|-
|Kaponga RFC
|1907
|
|
|Ian Eliason 1972-73, Kieran  Crowley 1984-91
|
|-
|'''New Plymouth HSOB''' RFC
|1919
|17
|1995
|H.W. Brown 1924-26, R.A. Roper 1949-50, G. Beatt, 1950, N.J. Bowden, 1952, R.H. Brown, 1955–62, R.J. Boon, 1960, J.T. McEldowney, 1976–77, M. Watt, 1979–80, G. Slater, 1999, T. Tahuriorangi 2018, T. Vaa’i 2020
|
|-
|Okaiawa RFC
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|Patea Rugby and Sports Club:
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''Southern''' Rugby Club
|
|
|2013
|Jarrad Hoeata 2011
|Merger of the Hawera RFC, the Hawera Athletic RFC and the Waimate RFC (Manaia).
|-
|'''Spotswood United''' Rugby & Sports Club
|1991
|
|2019
|
|Merger of the Star RFC and the Spotswood Old Boys RFC.
|-
|'''Stratford-Eltham''' Rugby & Sports Club
|2016
|
|
|
|Merger of Stratford RFC and Eltham RFC.
|-
|Toko RFC
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|'''Tukapa''' Rugby & Sports Club
|1892
|17
|2017, 2020, 2022
|
|
|-
! rowspan="10" |Former (defunct or merged) clubs
|Eltham RFC
|
|
|
|Francis Glasgow 1903–05, Roger Urbahn 1959–60, Brian Muller 1967–71, Bryce Robins 1985.
|
|-
|Hawera Athletic RFC
|1925
|
|
|
|
|-
|Hawera RFC
|1886
|
|
|
|
|-
|Okato RFC
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|Opunake RFC
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|Rahotu  RFC
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|Star RFC
|1889
|
|1947, 1948
|Lewis (Snip) Allen 1896-1901,  A.L. Humphries 1897, H.L. Abbott 1905-06, T.N. Wolfe  1961-1968, R.J.  Fraser 1979
|
|-
|Stratford RFC
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|Spotswood College Old Boys RFC
|1964
|
|
|
|
|-
|Waimate  RFC (Manaia)
|1886
|
|
|
|
|}
== Players ==
=== Taranaki Bulls ===
{{for|the side that represents Taranaki Rugby Football Union in the Bunnings NPC|Taranaki (National Provincial Championship)}}
Taranaki RFU has several teams under its control, one of note is the Taranaki Bulls who compete in New Zealand's national [[rugby union]] competition the [[Mitre 10 Cup]]. Their top professional team, the Bulls is coached by [[Willie Rickards]] and co-captained by lock [[Mitchell Brown (rugby union)|Mitchell Brown]] and midfielder [[Teihorangi Walden]].<ref name="2015 Port Taranaki Bulls ITM Cup Squad Announced">{{cite web | url=http://trfu.co.nz/TRFU/News/2015-Port-Taranaki-Bulls-ITM-Cup-Squad-Announced | title=2015 Port Taranaki Bulls ITM Cup Squad Announced | work=Taranaki Rugby | date=17 July 2015 | access-date=17 July 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721020412/http://trfu.co.nz/TRFU/News/2015-Port-Taranaki-Bulls-ITM-Cup-Squad-Announced | archive-date=21 July 2015 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Their traditional colors are amber and black hoops with white shorts, with [[Canterbury of New Zealand]] being the main manufacturer. They are also sponsored by proud Taranaki firm Yarrows the Bakers.
=== Taranaki Whio ===
Taranaki Whio is the women's representative side that was reintroduced in 2018 to compete in the [[Farah Palmer Cup]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.trfu.co.nz/newsarticle/67157 | title=Port Taranaki Whio name squad and prepare for Farah Palmer Cup | publisher=Taranaki Rugby | date=14 August 2018 | access-date=10 September 2020}}</ref> The 2020 squad for the Farah Palmer Cup is coached by former Taranaki men's representative [[Brendan Haami]]. The squad consists of 29 players, they are; Leah Barnard, [[Gayle Broughton]], Sharee Brown, Tiana Davison, Freedom Edmonds, Chelsea Fowler, Tachelle Gardiner, Natale Haupapa, Iritana Hohaia, Kaya-Rose Kahui, Donia King, Alicia Manuirirangi, Kelsyn McCook, Victoria McCullough, Hannah McLean, Danielle Muggeridge, Paige Neilson, Jaymi Ngaia, Kate Parkinson, Chloe Sampson, Brooke Sim, Lyn Smith, Jalana Smith, Kate Thomson, Catriona Tulloch, Aliene Wallis, Sharniqua Weston-Jacobson, Nicole Whittle, Sarah Winter.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.trfu.co.nz/newsarticle/94719?newsfeedId=694504 | title=Port Taranaki Whio 2020 Team Preview | publisher=Taranaki Rugby | date=30 August 2020 | access-date=10 September 2020}}</ref>
=== Notable players ===
Taranaki has produced 83 men's [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] internationals to date.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.trfu.co.nz/TRFU-1/All-Blacks | title=Taranaki All Blacks | publisher=Taranaki Rugby | date=10 September 2020 | access-date=10 September 2020}}</ref> Below is a [[list of New Zealand national rugby union players]] along with their number and year of debut in brackets.
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
*[[Alfred Bayly]] <small>(35 - 1893)</small>
*[[Alan Good]] <small>(42 - 1893)</small>
*[[James Lambie (rugby union)|James Lambie]] <small>(27 - 1893)</small>
*[[Walter Bayly]] <small>(48 - 1894)</small>
*[[Hugh Good (rugby union)|Hugh Good]] <small>(50 - 1894)</small>
*[[Daniel Hughes (rugby union)|Daniel Hughes]] <small>(51 - 1894)</small>
*[[Lewis Allen (rugby union)|Lewis Allen]] <small>(56 - 1896)</small>
*[[Donald Watson (rugby union)|Donald Watson]] <small>(65 - 1896)</small>
*[[Arthur Humphries]] <small>(73 - 1897)</small>
*Bill Wells <small>(75 - 1897)</small>
*[[Hugh Mills (rugby union)|Hugh Mills]] <small>(80 - 1897)</small>
*[[Bernard O'Dowda]] <small>(88 - 1901)</small>
*[[William Spiers Glenn|Billy Glenn]] <small>(111 - 1904)</small>
*[[Frank Glasgow]] <small>(117 - 1905)</small>
*[[Jimmy Hunter]] <small>(118 - 1905)</small>
*[[Simon Mynott]] <small>(120 - 1905)</small>
*[[Jimmie O'Sullivan]] <small>(122 - 1905)</small>
*[[Harold Abbott (rugby union)|Harold Abbott]] <small>(130 - 1905)</small>
*[[Jack Colman (rugby union)|Jack Colman]] <small>(142 - 1907)</small>
*[[Donald Cameron (rugby union, born 1887)|Donald Cameron]] <small>(150 - 1908)</small>
*[[Jack Stohr]] <small>(165 - 1910)</small>
*[[Henry Dewar (rugby)|Henry Dewar]] <small>(175 - 1913)</small>
*[[Mick Cain (rugby union)|Mick Cain]] <small>(187 - 1913)</small>
*[[Charles Brown (rugby union)|Charles Brown]] <small>(192 - 1913)</small>
*[[Reg Taylor (rugby union)|Reg Taylor]] <small>(202 - 1913)</small>
*[[George Loveridge]] <small>(206 - 1913)</small>
*[[Edward Roberts (New Zealand cricketer)|Edward Roberts]] <small>(207 - 1913)</small>
*[[Alfred West]] <small>(225 - 1920)</small>
*[[Richard Fogarty]] <small>(230 - 1921)</small>
*[[Charles Kingstone]] <small>(231 - 1921)</small>
*[[Harold Masters]] <small>(254 - 1922)</small>
*[[Percy Hickey]] <small>(264 - 1922)</small>
*[[Handley Brown]] <small>(290 - 1924)</small>
*[[Gus Hart]] <small>(293 - 1924)</small>
*Davy Johnston <small>(318 - 1925)</small>
*[[Jack Walter (rugby union)|Jack Walter]] <small>(312 - 1925)</small>
*[[Pat Ward (rugby union)|Pat Ward]] <small>(335 - 1928)</small>
*[[Alfred Kivell]] <small>(375 - 1929)</small>
*[[Ray Clarke (rugby union)|Ray Clarke]] <small>(390 - 1932)</small>
*[[Arthur Collins (rugby union)|Arthur Collins]] <small>(391 - 1932)</small>
*[[Jack Sullivan (rugby union)|Jack Sullivan]] <small>(428 - 1936)</small>
*[[Roy Roper]] <small>(515 - 1949)</small>
*[[George Beatty (rugby union)|George Beatty]] <small>(517 - 1950)</small>
*[[Maurice Cockerill]] <small>(522 - 1951)</small>
*[[Peter Burke (rugby union)|Peter Burke]] <small>(534 - 1951)</small>
*[[Noel Bowden]] <small>(544 - 1952)</small>
*[[Ross Brown (rugby union)|Ross Brown]] <small>(572 - 1955)</small>
*[[Roger Urbahn]] <small>(598 - 1959)</small>
*[[Kevin Briscoe]] <small>(599 - 1959)</small>
*[[John McCullough (rugby union)|John McCullough]] <small>(603 - 1959)</small>
*[[Terry O'Sullivan (rugby union)|Terry O'Sullivan]] <small>(612 - 1960)</small>
*[[Roger Boon]] <small>(616 - 1960)</small>
*[[Neil Wolfe]] <small>(620 - 1961)</small>
*[[John Major (rugby union)|John Major]] <small>(643 - 1963)</small>
*[[Brian Muller]] <small>(656 - 1967)</small>
*[[Murray Wills]] <small>(661 - 1967)</small>
*[[Alan Smith (rugby union)|Alan Smith]] <small>(667 - 1967)</small>
*[[Bill Currey]] <small>(671 - 1968)</small>
*[[Ian Eliason]] <small>(706 - 1972)</small>
*[[Alistair Scown]] <small>(710 - 1972)</small>
*[[Ash Gardiner]] <small>(728 - 1974)</small>
*[[Graham Mourie]] <small>(757 - 1976)</small>
*[[John McEldowney (rugby union)|John McEldowney]] <small>(768 - 1976)</small>
*[[Dave Loveridge]] <small>(791 - 1978)</small>
*[[Murray Watts (rugby player)|Murray Watts]] <small>(793 - 1979)</small>
*[[Kieran Crowley]] <small>(848 - 1983)</small>
*[[Bryce Robins (rugby union, born 1958)|Bryce Robins]] <small>(863 - 1985)</small>
*[[Bull Allen (rugby union)|Bull Allen]] <small>(933 - 1993)</small>
*[[Gordon Slater (rugby union)|Gordon Slater]] <small>(968 - 1997)</small>
*[[Andrew Hore]] <small>(1019 - 2002)</small>
*[[Chris Masoe]] <small>(1059 - 2005)</small>
*[[Jason Eaton]] <small>(1063 - 2005)</small>
*[[Scott Waldrom]] <small>(1085 - 2008)</small>
*[[Jarrad Hoeata]] <small>(1109 - 2011)</small>
*[[Beauden Barrett]] <small>(1115 - 2012)</small>
*[[Charlie Ngatai]] <small>(1141 - 2015)</small>
*[[Waisake Naholo]] <small>(1142 - 2015)</small>
*[[James Broadhurst]] <small>(1144 - 2015)</small>
*[[Seta Tamanivalu]] <small>(1148 - 2016)</small>
*[[Scott Barrett (rugby union)|Scott Barrett]] <small>(1155 - 2016)</small>
*[[Jordie Barrett]] <small>(1159 - 2017)</small>
*[[Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi]] <small>(1174 - 2018)</small>
*[[Angus Ta'avao]] <small>(1175 - 2018)</small>
*[[Tupou Vaa'i]] <small>(1188 - 2020)</small>
*[[Pita Gus Sowakula]] <small>(1201 - 2022)</small>
{{div col end}}
== Personnel and statistics ==
=== Seasonal record ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align: center"
|-
! Year
! Pos.
! Division
! {{Tooltip| GP | Games played}}
! {{Tooltip| W | Games won}}
! {{Tooltip| L | Games lost}}
! {{Tooltip| D | Games drew}}
! {{Tooltip| PTS | Competition points}}
! Captain
! Head coach
|-
| [[2006 Air New Zealand Cup|2006]]
| 11th
| N/A
| 9
| 3
| 6
| 0
| 16
| [[Paul Tito]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Kieran Crowley]]
|-
| [[2007 Air New Zealand Cup|2007]]
| 8th
| N/A
| 11
| 4
| 7
| 0
| 23
| rowspan="3" | [[Tony Penn]]
|-
| [[2008 Air New Zealand Cup|2008]]
| 8th
| N/A
| 11
| 4
| 6
| 1
| 23
| rowspan="2" | Adrian Kennedy
|-
| [[2009 Air New Zealand Cup|2009]]
| 8th
| N/A
| 13
| 6
| 6
| 1
| 28
|-
| [[2010 ITM Cup|2010]]
| 5th
| N/A
| 13
| 9
| 4
| 0
| 42
| rowspan="3" | [[Craig Clarke]]
| rowspan="8" | [[Colin Cooper (rugby union)|Colin Cooper]]
|-
| [[2011 ITM Cup|2011]]{{efn|group="Title"|name=2011 Ranfurly Shield|Taranaki won the Ranfurly Shield in 2011. It was their fifth tenure and defended it seven times.}}
| 3rd
| Premiership
| 10
| 7
| 3
| 0
| 31
|-
| [[2012 ITM Cup|2012]]
| 4th
| Premiership
| 11
| 7
| 4
| 0
| 33
|-
| [[2013 ITM Cup|2013]]
| 6th
| Premiership
| 10
| 3
| 7
| 0
| 14
| [[Kane Barrett]]
|-
| [[2014 ITM Cup|2014]]{{efn|group="Title"|name=2014 ITM Cup Premiership|Taranaki won the ITM Cup Premiership in 2014. It was their first time winning a first division title.}}
| 1st
| Premiership
| 12
| 9
| 2
| 1
| 38
| [[James Marshall (rugby union)|James Marshall]]
|-
| [[2015 ITM Cup|2015]]
| 4th
| Premiership
| 11
| 6
| 5
| 0
| 32
| [[Charlie Ngatai]]
|-
| [[2016 Mitre 10 Cup|2016]]
| 2nd
| Premiership
| 11
| 7
| 3
| 1
| 37
| [[Mitchell Crosswell]]
|-
| [[2017 Mitre 10 Cup|2017]]{{efn|group="Title"|name=2017 Ranfurly Shield|Taranaki won the Ranfurly Shield in 2017. It was their sixth tenure and defended it five times.}}
| 1st
| Premiership
| 11
| 8
| 3
| 0
| 42
| Charlie Ngatai
|-
| [[2018 Mitre 10 Cup|2018]]
| 7th
| Premiership
| 10
| 2
| 8
| 0
| 13
| Mitchell Crosswell
| rowspan="3" | [[Willie Rickards]]
|-
| [[2019 Mitre 10 Cup|2019]]
| 5th
| Championship
| 10
| 4
| 6
| 0
| 18
| rowspan="2" | [[Mitchell Brown (rugby union)|Mitchell Brown]]
|-
| [[2020 Mitre 10 Cup|2020]]{{efn|group="Title"|name=2020 Ranfurly Shield|Taranaki won the Ranfurly Shield in 2020. It was their seventh tenure but failed to defend it.}}
| 4th
| Championship
| 11
| 4
| 7
| 0
| 24
|-
| [[2021 Bunnings NPC|2021]]{{efn|group="Title"|name=2021 Championship title|Taranaki won the Bunnings NPC Championship Division in 2021, however weren't promoted.}}
| 1st
| Championship
| 10
| 10
| 0
| 0
| 39
| Mitchell Brown & [[Teihorangi Walden]]
| Neil Barnes
|-
| colspan="100%" style="text-align:center;" | <small>The table above shows the Taranaki RFU men's team progression throughout the professional era.<br />Source: [https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/npc/taranaki New Zealand Rugby History]<br />{{notelist|group="Title"}}</small>
|}
=== List of centurions ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align: center"
|-
! Pos.
! Name
! Year
! Primary position
! Games played
|-
| 1
| [[Kieran Crowley]]
| 1980–1994
| [[Fullback (rugby union)|Fullback]]
| 199
|-
| 2
| [[Ian Eliason]]
| 1964–1981
| [[Lock (rugby union)|Lock]]
| 222
|-
| 3
| [[Andy Slater (rugby union)|Andrew Slater]]
| 1989–2001
| [[Lock (rugby union)|Lock]]
| 183
|-
| 4
| [[Gordon Slater (rugby union)|Gordon Slater]]
| 1991–2005
| [[Prop (rugby union)|Prop]]
| 174
|-
| 5
| [[Kevin Barrett (rugby union, born 1966)|Kevin Barrett]]
| 1986–1999
| [[Lock (rugby union)|Lock]]
| 167
|-
| 6
| [[Bryce Robins (rugby union, born 1958)|Bryce Robins]]
| 1980–1992
| [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]]
| 147
|-
| 7
| [[Dave Loveridge]]
| 1975–1986
| [[Scrum-half (rugby union)|Half-back]]
| 123
|-
| 7
| [[Murray Watts (rugby player)|Murray Watts]]
| 1978–1985
| [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]]
| 123
|-
| 9
| [[Tony Penn]]
| 1999–2009
| [[Prop (rugby union)|Prop]]
| 117
|-
| 10
| [[Shane McDonald (rugby union)|Shane McDonald]]
| 1991–2000
| [[Hooker (rugby union)|Hooker]]
| 116
|-
| 11
| [[Bull Allen (rugby union)|Bull Allen]]
| 1988–1996
| [[Prop (rugby union)|Prop]]
| 110
|-
| 12
| Warren Bunn
| 1979–1989
| [[Prop (rugby union)|Prop]]
| 109
|-
| 13
| Dwight Murfitt
| 1984–1993
| [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]]
| 106
|-
| 14
| [[Graham Mourie]]
| 1975–1982
| [[Flanker (rugby union)|Flanker]]
| 104
|-
| 14
| Felix O'Carroll
| 1975–1983
| [[Hooker (rugby union)|Hooker]]
| 104
|-
| 14
| Lindsay Thomson
| 1983–1991
| [[Lock (rugby union)|Lock]]
| 104
|-
| 17
| Ross Elmes
| 1980–1989
| [[Prop (rugby union)|Prop]]
| 103
|-
| 17
| Kerry Eynon
| 1991–2000
| [[Centre (rugby union)|Centre]]
| 103
|-
| 19
| [[Ian Eliason]]
| 1975–1981
| [[Lock (rugby union)|Lock]]
| 102
|-
| 20
| [[Colin Cooper (rugby union)|Colin Cooper]]
| 1979–1987
| [[Number 8 (rugby union)|Number 8]]
| 100
|-
| 20
| [[Paul Tito]]
| 1997–2006
| [[Lock (rugby union)|Lock]]
| 100
|-
| colspan="100%" style="text-align:center;" | <small>The table above shows the Taranaki RFU men's centurions from 1975.<br />Source: [https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/npc/taranaki New Zealand Rugby History]<br />Updated: 11 September 2020</small>
|}
=== List of top try-scorers ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align: center"
|-
! Pos.
! Name
! Year
! Primary position
! Tries scored
|-
| 1
| [[Kieran Crowley]]
| 1980–1994
| [[Fullback (rugby union)|Fullback]]
| 64
|-
| 2
| [[Bryce Robins (rugby union, born 1958)|Bryce Robins]]
| 1980–1992
| [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]]
| 59
|-
| 3
| [[Murray Watts (rugby player)|Murray Watts]]
| 1978–1985
| [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]]
| 57
|-
| 4
| [[Shayne Austin]]
| 1998–2009
| [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]]
| 48
|-
| 5
| [[Charlie McAlister]]
| 1983–1987
| [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]]
| 36
|-
| 6
| Dwight Murfitt
| 1984–1993
| [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]]
| 33
|-
| 7
| Tony Arnold
| 1983–1987
| [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]]
| 32
|-
| 8
| [[Bull Allen (rugby union)|Bull Allen]]
| 1988–1996
| [[Prop (rugby union)|Prop]]
| 28
|-
| 9
| [[Andre Taylor]]
| 2010–2013
| [[Fullback (rugby union)|Fullback]]
| 27
|-
| 10
| [[Seta Tamanivalu]]
| 2012–2018
| [[Centre (rugby union)|Centre]]
| 26
|-
| colspan="100%" style="text-align:center;" | <small>The table above shows the Taranaki RFU men's top 10 try-scorers from 1975.<br />Source: [https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/npc/taranaki New Zealand Rugby History]<br />Updated: 11 September 2020</small>
|}
=== List of top point-scorers ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align: center"
|-
! Pos.
! Name
! Year
! Primary position
! Points scored
|-
| 1
| [[Kieran Crowley]]
| 1980–1994
| [[Fullback (rugby union)|Fullback]]
| 1,723
|-
| 2
| [[Daryl Lilley]]
| 1993–2003
| [[Fullback (rugby union)|Fullback]]
| 777
|-
| 3
| [[Jamie Cameron]]
| 1992–1999
| [[Fly-half (rugby union)|First five-eighth]]
| 614
|-
| 4
| Stephen Davidson
| 1975–1982
| [[Fullback (rugby union)|Fullback]]
| 588
|-
| 5
| [[Marty McKenzie (rugby union)|Marty McKenzie]]
| 2014–2017
| [[Fly-half (rugby union)|First five-eighth]]
| 392
|-
| 6
| [[Mark Urwin]]
| 1997–2003
| [[Fly-half (rugby union)|First five-eighth]]
| 361
|-
| 7
| [[Willie Ripia]]
| 2008–2010
| [[Fly-half (rugby union)|First five-eighth]]
| 317
|-
| 8
| [[Jason Holland (rugby union)|Jason Holland]]
| 1997–1998
| [[Fly-half (rugby union)|First five-eighth]]
| 259
|-
| 9
| [[Bryce Robins (rugby union, born 1958)|Bryce Robins]]
| 1980–1992
| [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]]
| 258
|-
| 10
| Kelvin Mahon
| 1985–1993
| [[Fullback (rugby union)|Fullback]]
| 247
|-
| colspan="100%" style="text-align:center;" | <small>The table above shows the Taranaki RFU men's top 10 point-scorers from 1975.<br />Source: [https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/npc/taranaki New Zealand Rugby History]<br />Updated: 11 September 2020</small>
|}
==References==
<references />
==External links==
* [http://www.trfu.co.nz Official Site]
* [http://www.TaranakiRRA.com Taranaki Referee Associations website]
*[http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/node/14832 Taranaki rugby] (NZHistory.net.nz)
{{NPC}}
{{s14chiefs}}
{{Rugby union in New Zealand}}
[[Category:Rugby union teams in New Zealand]]
[[Category:New Zealand rugby union governing bodies]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1889]]
[[Category:1889 establishments in New Zealand]]