Provincial Union Rugby Celebrates Traditional Community Rivalry

Before the New Zealand Rugby Football Union was formed in 1892, Rugby Union in New Zealand was organised around regions which had earlier been administered by their own Provincial Governments. When Provincial Government was abolished in 1876, these regions became known as “Provincial Districts”, comprising Borough and County Councils. Provincial Districts never lost their sense of fierce parochialism, often based on the ethnic traditions and customs of the communities which settled in particular locations around the young country.

Rugby’s “Provincial Unions” of 2019 have their history based on the provinces of these earlier times. Today’s Mitre 10 Cup and Heartland Championship competitions (and the Council's age-group competitions) are built on this historic community tribalism and rivalry.

(Published : 05/08/19)