Marking 150 years of NZ rugby history
Tributes have been paid to the founders of rugby in New Zealand to commemorate 150 years of the game in the country.
Three men from Nelson credited with establishing the code in New Zealand are buried in cemeteries in Manawatu¯ and the New Zealand Rugby Museum held small gatherings at each grave on Thursday.
May 14, 1870, was the day the first game of rugby was played in New Zealand, in Nelson.
Alfred Drew’s grave is at Terrace End Cemetery, Charles Monro is buried at Kelvin Grove Cemetery and Robert Tennent at the Gorge Cemetery near Woodville. Family, rugby historian Clive Akers, Rugby Museum director Stephen Berg, New Zealand Rugby board member Farah Palmer and Palmerston North City councillor Billy Meehan attended the gatherings.
A wreath and a leather rugby ball were laid at Drew’s grave.
Drew’s great grandson Chris Drew, of piti, was at the ceremony. ‘‘Because my dad passed a way a couple of years ago, he never passed on those these little pieces of history and to learn it now, that we have such a connection to rugby, it’s really cool to be engaged with that now.’’
Chris Drew said it was special his great grandfather was one of the first to get people to try a new sport.
Alfred Drew was from Nelson, but moved to Whanganui for his work as a jeweller.
He brought rugby to Whanganui, and it spread to Manawatu¯.
‘‘People expect rugby players to be big, burly hard men from a farming background. [Alfred Drew] was an organist at church and a jeweller.’’
Palmer also paid tribute to Alfred Drew.
‘‘Without people like Alfred, who decided to try and play a game that potentially wasn’t something everyone was familiar with, we’re now lucky that rugby is our national sport ...
‘‘It’s always good to think about our whakapapa, our history and those who have gone before us.’’
Akers said the three former Nelson footballers each made their way in life before settling in Manawatu¯.
‘‘Monro has been credited as the founder of rugby in New Zealand, but it is more appropriate to credit him for introducing the game and as co-founder.’’
Early in 1870 Monro returned from England, where he had played rugby.a¯
He joined the Nelson club and suggested the players try rugby rules, after they had played a mix of soccer and Victorian rules.
Alfred Drew was the club chairman and captain, and Tennent the secretary-treasurer and player.
They both supported the idea and the first game took place between the club and Nelson College.