East Coast Rugby Football Union

Infobox_esl_club | clubname = East Coast


fullname = "East Coast Rugby Football Union"
emblem = Shield
colours = Blue
founded = 1922
sport = Rugby union
league = Heartland Championship
ground = Whakarua Park
web = [http://www.nzrugbynet.com/nzrfu/Provincial%20Unions/East%20Coast%20RFU/Home.htm/]

The East Coast Rugby Football Union is a constituent union in the New Zealand Rugby Union. It is located on the East Coast of the North Island, based in Ruatoria. It is the smallest Union in New Zealand in the sense of player numbers and population base. Due to the high number of players from the Ngati Porou iwi, the team is nicknamed Ngati Porou East Coast.

The East Coast team play from Whakarua Park, Ruatoria and in the 2006 season are in Pool A of the Heartland Championship. They are seeded 4th qualifiers for the Championship as they finished 9rd in the 2nd division.

History

The East Coast Rugby Football Union was formed in 1922 when they spilt from the Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union.

Ranfurly Shield

East Coast has never won theRanfurly Shield.

East Coast in Super Rugby

East Coast along with Wellington, Taranaki, Wairarapa Bush, Wanganui, Poverty Bay, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu and Horowhenua-Kapiti make up the Hurricanes franchise.

Reputation

The team is renowned for its fight and determination to play hard, as was exhibited in 1999 and 2000 when it won the then Air New Zealand NPC Third Division. Much to the nation's surprise, the Ngati Porou East Coast team, upon their first promotion to the then Air New Zealand NPC Second Division, found itself in the final against Hawke's Bay (2001). However, East Coast was unsuccessful, eventually losing by 6 points.

All Blacks

There have had 2 players selected for the All Blacks whilst playing their club rugby in the East Coast.

* A.C.R Jefferd
* G. Nepia

Clubs

East Coast Rugby Football Union is made up of 11 clubs:
* Hicks Bay
* Hikurangi Sports Club
* Horouta Maori
* Ruatoria City Sports Club
* Ruatoria United
* Tokararangi
* Tokomaru Bay United
* TVC
* Uawa Sports
* Waiapu
* Waima

Championships

East Coast won the 3rd division in 1999 and 2000

Heartland Championship placings

References

External links

* [http://www.nzrugbynet.com/nzrfu/Provincial%20Unions/East%20Coast%20RFU/Home.htm/ Official Site]
* [http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/eastcoastrugbyfootballunion/ East Coast at pitchero.com]