It is impossible to talk about rugby in Auckland without making reference to the “Ponsonby District Rugby Football Club”, as they have been the dominant force since rugby first became organised in Auckland.
We have met this Club of passionate gentlemen during a “Clubrooms Tour” organized by the “New Zealand 2011” Staff during the RWC Pool Phase in Auckland, and we have decided to tell you a bit more about the story of “Ponies”, as they are called and known by most Kiwis since.
Just to give you an idea, William Webb Ellis is supposed to have picked up the ball and ran with it in 1823, while the first game of rugby was played in New Zealand in 1870. It was Nelson College V. Nelson Rugby Football Club (as you should already had learnt some, reading our recent report ).
Ponsonby club established in 1874, some 50 or so years after rugby first began. The club, then, is now 137 years old. As such it is the oldest surviving club in the Auckland Rugby Football Union.
The New Zealand Herald reported that a game was played in the Domain on Saturday June 13, 1874 between Ponsonby and Grafton. Ponsonby won this, their first ever game.
The original Ponsonby colours were black and white hoops. About 1876 two brothers named Harvey arrived in Auckland from England, bringing with them their old school colours – the now famous blue and black hoops.
Ponsonby is also the only club surviving from the foundation of the Auckland Rugby Football Union in 1883. ARFU is now 128 years old, while the New Zealand Rugby Football Union was established in 1892. NZRFU, then, is now 119 years old.
In fact, New Zealand played it’s first international test match in 1903 – against Australia when Ponsonby was already 29 years old. So in effect Ponsonby is older than New Zealand’s regional and national bodies.
The Ponsonby club has produced more all Blacks than any other club except Otago University (they produced 65). Currently 52 All Blacks are on the honours board (see the photo above). Some played elsewhere first. Ponsonby can claim 38 All Blacks who first became All Blacks whilst playing for the club (while Otago 44, only a few more). Our current All Black is Ali Williams.
Morever, Ponsonby won the championship four times before the formation of the Auckland Union. (1877, 1878, 1880, 1882) The banner presented to the champion sides with the years of victory embroided on it, and it is still in the club’s possession.
Later on, they played in and won the first ever ARFU staged game on June 9th 1883, against Grafton. (result Ponsonby 5 – Grafton 0 )
And Ponsonby also won the first ever ARFU championship on the same year, in 1883.
Since then, Ponsonby has won:
– 44 ARFU championships, including the last eight in a row. This is the most by any Auckland club.
– 11 Auckland club championships prior to the Gallaher Shield which began in 1922
– 33 Gallaher Shield Championships (currently 8 in a row – 10 of last 11)
– 4 pre–ARFU championships, 11 pre Gallaher and 33 Gallaher Shields equate to 48 championships.
An interesting fact is that the 1924 ‘Invincibles’ All Black team was unbeaten on their European tour but they were beaten prior to the tour by the Auckland team. And as Ponsonby won the Gallaher Shield that year in 1924, it would be interesting to know how many Ponsonby players were in that Auckland v. All Blacks Match. But. most likely, there were many “Ponies” amongst them.
The club is called the Ponsonby District Rugby Football Club because of the district system introduced in 1891. Ponsonby was so dominant that other teams refused to play them. The District Scheme was introduced whereby a player could only play for a club in the district they lived in. The seven districts were Ponsonby, North Shore, Grafton, City, Newton, Parnell and Suburbs.
Ponsonby Rugby Club – Other important facts and figures
– Ponies has been the nickname and icon for both the Ponsonby Rugby and Ponsonby League clubs for longer than anyone can remember. Both were called ‘ponies’ in newspaper articles as early as 1914. Ponsonby league dates back to 1908.
– the motto of the club is “In Hoc Signo Vinces”. The quote is a Latin rendering of the Greek “Under this sign you will conquerâ€
According to legend, Constantine 1, first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity, adopted this motto just before the Battle of Milvian Bridge against Maxentius on 28th October 312 A.D.
– Most international players produced by a New Zealand rugby club.
– 35 international players on separate honours board.
– 52 All Blacks on the club honours board.
– 42 All Blacks in framed photos.
– 18 Maori All Blacks.
– 12 New Zealand Sevens players.
– 11 women’s representatives.
– 1905 Originals All Blacks team captained by Ponsonby player Dave Gallaher
– 44 junior teams – 12 senior teams – 2 catchment areas: City and Kelston
– 204 jerseys in boxes on ceiling beams
– 88 plaques in between boxes on ceiling beams
– 36 life members in framed photos
– 21 centurions on separate honours board
– 3 NZRFU presidents
– 3 ARFU presidents
– 5 New Zealand selectors
– RWC 2011 players:
Ali Williams (All Blacks), Paul Williams (Samoa), Census Johnston (Samoa), Mahonri Schwalger (Samoa), Soane Tonga’uiha (Tonga), Finau Maka (Tonga), Isitolo Maka (Tonga – coach), Murray Williams (Japan)
* All information, unless otherwise stated, from:
– “Ponsonby Rugby Club – Passion and Pride”, Neazor, Paul, 1999;
– “Rugby, The Pioneer Years”, Turley, Alan