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1975 Ngatea Rugby Football Club was formed. Ted Engebretsen is elected president. Ngatea entered a team in the Thames Valley Senior Reserve Grade.
1976 Ngatea had two teams in the Thames Valley Club competition – the senior reserve and a new third grade team. Ngatea senior reserves won against Tairua Rugby Football Club and became known as ‘the unpredictables’.
1977 Senior reserve team won their competition, the McDonald cup, and gained promotion to the TVRFU second division competition.
1978 Ngatea had three teams in the TVRFU Club competition – senior second division, senior third division and the third grade team. The Ngatea RFC third division team and third grade team won the championship.
1979 Ngatea fielded three teams in the Thames Valley RFU competition. The third division team went on to win the comp for the second year in succession. The under 21’s capped off another successful season by winning the TVRFU under 21 competition, also for the second year in succession. In September, construction began on the new club rooms.
1980 The new clubrooms were opened by the then president of the New Zealand RFU, Mr Frank O’Connor. Second division team won their competition and the Leach Memorial Cup and gained promotion to the first division. Third division team won their third consecutive season. Sad losses for the club with the deaths of Phil Buffet, Dave Connors and Pat Hughes.
1981 Ngatea RFC fielded three teams in the TVRFU competition. Senior A team member Irvine Campbell made his Thames Valley RFU debut.
1982 The club entered five teams in the Thames Valley club competition and were the only club in the Thames Valley to do so.
1983 Ngatea RFC remained in the senior A competition throughout the 1983 season, beating rivals Hauraki North to avoid relegation. The team was coached by Pop Taipari.
1984 A whole new coaching regime was introduced at Ngatea RFC with the arrival of Norman Pratt, who was appointed as the senior A team coach. Senior A finished in the top four of the Thames Valley competition over a five year period. A number of Ngatea Senior A players went on to gain representative honours with the Thames Valley RFU team.
1988 One highlight of the season was the under 21s team making it through to the finals. Ngatea senior A team captain Irvine Campbell was appointed the captain of the Thames Valley rep team which went on to win the NZRFU third division title.
1989 Steve Hayward made his Senior A debut for Ngatea RFC in 1989 at the age of 18. He made his Thames Valley debut in 1990 and continued to play for Ngatea for many years.
Steve’s grandfather, Hugh Hayward, was a great supporter of the Ngatea RFC for many years.
His father, Bill, played for and coached Ngatea RFC teams for many years and his son’s, Shaun and Adrian, both play for Ngatea.
His partner, Lorraine was the third division team manager in 2019 and Steve coached the Senior B team, along with Johnny Williams, for several years before Covid-19 put a halt to all club rugby.
The Ngatea domain is now known as the Hugh Hayward Domain in recognition of Hugh’s lengthy service to the club and community.
1990 Ngatea RFC’s Senior A team had a successful season in 1990. Won the first round of the championship and took the Silcock Shield as reward. The Under 21’s also won the first round and the Fowler Cup.
1994 Ngatea Senior A’s had five players representing Thames Valley Swamp Foxes and Irvine Campbell became a TVRFU Centurion representing TVRFU in 100 first class games.
2000 Ngatea RFC celebrated their 25th anniversary. Graeme ‘Scruffy’ Hughes was elected club president and remained in that position for 12 years, supported by wife Sue and mother Faye Hughes.
A valued supporter of the Ngatea RFC Nola Walker was the bar manager and club treasurer for many years.
2004 Ngatea RFC became Ngatea Rugby and Sports Club, and included rugby, netball and hockey.
2005 Senior B team won the Thames Valley Senior B Championship in 2005 and 2006.
2006 Senior B won the Elders Trophy, Leach Memorial Cup and Lawrence Memorial Cup.
2008 Ngatea won the TVRFU Senior B competition and the Lawrence Memorial Trophy.
2009 The Senior B team won the first round and snapped up the Leach Memorial Cup, followed by winning the championship and Lawrence Memorial Trophy again.
2012 Senior B team made it to the finals but were beaten by Thames in a close match. Scruffy stepped down as president to be replaced by Peter Corlett.
2013 The club fielded a Senior B and Senior C team in the TVRFU club competition. At the end of the season Ngatea R&SC was voted Thames Valley Sports Club of The Year.
2014 Ngatea R&SC senior team were competitive and won a couple of games in the Thames Valley senior competition before being relegated to Senior B competition for the second round.
2015 Ngatea fielded a Senior A and a Third Division team and a celebration was held for the 40th reunion of the reforming of the Ngatea RFC.
2016 Ngatea R&SC entered a team in the Senior B competition. The team won the majority of their games and made it through to the McDonald Cup semi-final on a points difference and then won the championship.
2017 – 2018 Club numbers decreased.
2019 Ngatea team made it through to the semi final of the Senior B competition, losing to Paeroa West.
2020 – 2021 Ngatea R&SC struggled for player numbers and also during the pandemic. But between 2020 to 2021, players from Kerepēhi helped to keep the club going. Throughout these tough times, there were games which Ngatea played with only 14 players.
2019 – 2025 Ngatea R&SC has been fortunate to have players come from Kerepehi, such as the Watene whānau, who have made a significant contribution.
2022 – 2023 the Ngatea team took the field in quite a few games with eight Watene whanau on the team sheet.
2024 The establishment of the first women’s rugby team at Ngatea R&SC. The team played in the Thames Valley Women’s competition.
FINAL WORDS
Fifty years have passed since Ngatea Rugby Football Club started up again after many years in recess. There have been many highs, and a few lows during that 50 years. However, the Ngatea RFC and the Ngatea R&SC have kept on going. A credit to all those men and women who have stuck with the club.
