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Thames Valley Rugby Football Union

New Zealand regional sport governing body

New Zealand regional sport governing body

FieldValue
clubnameThames Valley
image[[Image:Thames Valley rugby logo.png120px]]
fullnameThames Valley Rugby Football Union
nicknameSwamp Foxes
coloursGold, Red, Black
founded1921
leagueHeartland Championship
groundBoyd Park, Te Aroha
Paeroa Domain, Paeroa
coachweb = http://www.thamesvalleyswampfoxes.co.nz/

Paeroa Domain, Paeroa

The Thames Valley Rugby Football Union (TVRFU) is the governing body of rugby union in the region of Thames Valley in the North Island of New Zealand. Thames Valley Rugby Football Union was founded in 1921 when it broke away from the now defunct South Auckland Rugby Union. The Thames Rugby Union, a sub-union that had remained affiliated with the Auckland Rugby Football Union, eventually joined the Thames Valley Union in 1951.

Their senior representative team competes in the Heartland Championship and plays at Boyd Park, Te Aroha and Paeroa Domain, Paeroa.

History

Rugby has been played in the region since the 1870s and 1880s.

The Ohinemuri Union was founded at Waihi in 1896, and by 1904 this union was named the Goldfields Rugby Union. It consisted of a number of even smaller unions, but was itself a sub-union of the Auckland Rugby Football Union (ARFU), and was therefore not directly affiliated to the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU). Along with a number of other sub-unions, the Goldfields ceded from the ARFU to form the South Auckland Rugby Football Union in 1909.

Several sub-unions split away from the South Auckland Union between 1909 and 1921 to form new independent unions, and in 1921 the Hauraki Plains, Paeroa, Piako, Waihi sub-unions did the same to form the Thames Valley Rugby Football Union (TVRFU). The union was from then on directly affiliated to the NZRU. The Thames sub union, which had remained affiliated to the ARFU up until then, joined the TVRFU in 1951.

On 27 October 2018 Thames Valley won their first Heartland Championship by defeating South Canterbury 17-12 in the Meads Cup Final in Timaru. Thames Valley also won the Meads Cup in 2024 and they were runners up to South Canterbury in 2021.

Thames Valley have yet to win the Lochore Cup.

Clubs

Thames Valley Rugby Football Union is made up of 12 clubs:

  • Te Aroha College Old Boys Rugby And Sports (COBRAS)
  • Coromandel RFSC
  • Hauraki North RFC
  • Mercury Bay Rugby and Sports Club
  • Ngatea Rugby and Sports Club
  • Paeroa Rugby and Sports Club
  • Tairua Rugby and Sports Club
  • Thames Rugby and Sports Club
  • Waihi Athletic
  • Waihou
  • Whangamata Rugby and Sports Club

Thames Valley Club Champions

YearChampionRunner UpScore
1953Patetonga
1954Waitakaruru
1955Waitakaruru
1956Thames United
1957Paeroa Old Boys
1958Thames United
1959Thames United
1960Waihou
1961Waihou
1962Waihou
1963Thames United
1964Thames United
1965Paeroa Old Boys
1966Paeroa Old Boys
1967Paeroa Old Boys
1968Paeroa West
1969Thames United
1970Kerepehi
1971Hauraki North
1972Hauraki North
1973Waihou
1974Waihou
1975Waihou
1976Huimai
1977Paeroa West
1978Paeroa West
1979Te Aroha College Old Boys
1980Paeroa West
1981Paeroa West
1982Paeroa West
1983Paeroa West
1984Paeroa West
1985Paeroa West
1986Paeroa West
1987Paeroa West
1988Paeroa West
1989Thames
1990Paeroa West
1991Waihou
1992Hauraki North & Thames
1993Te Aroha College Old Boys
1994Hauraki North
1995Thames
1996Thames
1997Thames
1998Waihou
1999Hauraki NorthTe Aroha College Old Boys23-11
2000ThamesWaihou20-3
2001Paeroa WestThames15-13
2002ThamesPaeroa West23-13
2003ThamesPaeroa West23-17
2004Hauraki NorthPaeroa West14-8
2005WaihouMercury Bay29-25
2006WaihouWhangamata27-6
2007Hauraki North & WaihouDrawn10-10
2008Paeroa WestWaihou12-8
2009Paeroa WestWaihou25-16
2010Hauraki NorthPaeroa West22-20
2011Paeroa WestHauraki North22-16
2012ThamesTe Aroha College Old Boys13-8
2013Hauraki NorthTairua31-25
2014Te Aroha College Old BoysWaihou31-27
2015Waihou & Mercury BayDrawn22-22
2016WaihouWaihi Athletic29-14
2017Hauraki NorthWaihi Athletic28-27
2018Waihi AthleticThames26-17
2019Te Aroha College Old BoysThames25-23
2020Whangamata Rugby and SportsTe Aroha College Old Boys21-15
2021Mercury BayThames R&S12-10
2022ThamesTe Aroha College Old Boys40-35
2023WhangamataHauraki North33-20
2024Waihi AthleticPaeroa37-19
2025

Championships

Thames Valley won the NPC 3rd division in 1988, 1990 and 1995.

In 2018 the Swampfoxes won their first Meads Cup and they achieved their second in 2024.

Heartland Championship placings

YearPldWDLPFPAPDBPPtsPlacePlayoffsQualSemifinalFinal200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192021202220232024
8404192177−155219thLochore CupLost 15–17 to King Country—
8206147215−6841210thLochore CupLost 3–65 to Poverty Bay—
8107107225−1181511thNo—
8008110237−1274412thNo—
8305158188−403156thNo—
8413229181+483217thLochore CupLost 27–30 to South Canterbury—
8206203263−6031111thNo—
8404153200−371178thLochore CupLost 8–14 to South Canterbury—
8314139135+43179thNo—
8305206255−494169thNo—
8017158324−1661511thNo—
830520917435449thNo—
8503274233418284thMeads CupWon 17-07 against WanganuiWon 17-12 against South Canterbury
8602240163+776301stMeads CupLost 15–20 to Whanganui—
8701291148+1435332ndMeads Cup—Lost 16–35 to South Canterbury
8503247189+587273rdMeads CupLost 15–18 to Whanganui—
8602246220+267313rdMeads CupLost 3–38 to Whanganui—
8602348190+1587313rdMeads CupWon 38-15 against WhanganuiWon 37-29 against Mid Canterbury

There was no Heartland Championship in the 2020 season due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Ranfurly Shield

Thames Valley has never held the Ranfurly Shield. They have challenged for the shield unsuccessfully on 14 occasions; their most recent challenge was a 68–0 loss to Counties Manukau. The Swamp Foxes' following challenge was in June 2016, when they lost 83–13 to Waikato. In 2019 Thames Valley lost 41–21 against Otago in a solid display — at one point leading 13–0 in Wanaka.

Maama Vaipulu (2) Kane Hancy Toni Pulu Karl Ropati Luke Graham Penalty try Jone Koroinsagana Whetu Douglas (2) Atu Moli (2) Latu Talakai Jake Ale Jason Robertson Hame Faiva Sevu Reece Murray Iti Matt Lansdown (3) James Lentjes 45' Ben Miller 52' Aleki Morris 60' Dylan Nel 71' Slade McDowall 80' Faddes (0/1) Cole Berridge (0/1)

All Blacks

Two Thames Valley players have been selected for the All Blacks:

Historical results

Results each year for Thames Valley up to 2005.

1922-49

YEARTEAMWINLOSSDRAWComments
1922HAuckland3-18
1922Waikato3-12
1922HWaikato3-14
1923Waikato6-15
1923HWanganui10-6
1923HAuckland B15-24
1924HWaikato21-6
1924 ***T.Valley/A/NA/Wai v HB/PB/BOP/EC18-9
1925Waikato5-18
1925HKing Country17-9
1925HAuckland B14-5
1926HWaikato6-31
1926King Country6-3
1926Taranaki0-19
1926Wanganui15-11
1926HNorth Auckland0-8
1926Waikato5-39
1926HHawkes Bay B6-13
1927HKing Country
1927Bay of Plenty3-6
1927HWaikato3-17
1927HAuckland B18-17
1927*T.Valley/Wai/BOP/KC v Auck/NA
1928Auckland B8-56
1928HTaranaki3-38
1928Waikato0-25
1929HAuckland B17-12
1929HWaikato11-12
1930Waikato0-30
1930HBay of Plenty6-8
1930Bay of Plenty7-6
1931King Country3-0
1931Poverty Bay3-23
1931East Coast3-5
1931Bay of Plenty5-18
1931HWaikato12-17
1931HAuckland B3-10
1932HKing Country6-29
1932Waikato12-22
1932HNZ Maori XV6-35
1932HBay of Plenty8-17
1932Auckland B3-24
1933King Country11-19
1933HWaikato3-14
1933Bay of Plenty12-8
1933HAuckland B6-8
1933North Auckland15-36
1934Auckland B14-16
1934Waikato12-37
1934HPoverty Bay8-9
1934HTaranaki B9-14
1934HBay of Plenty9-11
1935HWaikato3-30
1935 ***T.Valley/Wai/KC v Auck/NA 16-18
1935HAuckland B14-32
1935HKing Country16-22
1935Bay of Plenty6-20
1935HHawkes Bay Colts XV6-10
1936Auckland B11-39
1936HNorth Auckland19-13
1936King Country8-18
1936Waikato3-30
1936HBay of Plenty9-11
1937HWaikato9-19
1937Bay of Plenty6-30
1937North Auckland9-23
1937HAuckland B21-11
1938Waikato0-26
1938King Country14-32
1938HKing Country0-23
1938Auckland Colts XV11-24
1939King Country3-9
1939HWaikato6-31
1939HTaranaki Colts XV8-27
1939HAuckland Colts XV11-29
1940Auckland Colts XV9-14
1940HBay of Plenty6-9
1940Waikato8-29
1941-44
1945HWaikato7-18
1946HAuckland B6-17
1946Waikato17-0
1947Bay of Plenty3-6
1947HEast Coast
1947HNZ Maori0-26
1947HWaikato
1947Auckland XV14-41
1948HAuckland XV19-21
1948HBay of Plenty
1948Waikato3-22
1948 ***T.Valley/Waikato v BOP/KC17-0
1948Auckland XV0-18
1949Bay of Plenty6-8
1949HAuckland XV6-13
1949HWaikato9-8

1950-59

1959HCounties12-16

1960-69

1969HTONGA12-10

1970-79

1979HN2Poverty Bay15-9NPC - 2nd Division North, 6th

1980-89

1989HN2King Country16-18NPC - 2nd Division, Wooden Spoon

1990-99

1999HN2Bay of Plenty19-25NPC - 2nd Division, 6th

2000-05

Result summaries by year

YearPlayedWonLostDrawForAg
19223030944
192331203145
19241100216
192532103632
1926725038124
192741213349
1928303011119
192921102924
193031201344
193161502973
1932505035127
193351404085
193450505287
1935505045114
193651405081
193741304583
1938404025105
193940402896
194030302352
19451010718
194621102317
194750232076
194840312867
194931202129
195051405276
1951725060105
1952844094104
19538440131131
19541172215488
195511650185150
195683508995
19571063111797
195895319798
195911290121185
1960835087116
1961817061121
196210550105125
1963725039111
196410552133151
1965826058113
196612390148213
19671118275183
1968826076122
1969133100117242
1970927095220
1971927080246
197210181108267
197311470134191
197411110092215
19759270108244
1976164102155262
197710361127196
197812471137263
19791239087226
1980133100115269
1981142120141438
198211470120206
19839270112212
198415771235305
1985927098248
1986143110132380
198711470166255
19881192034297
1989131111118350
1990972027179
199110460161253
1992120120167429
199315690316491
199415780453408
1995161060462465
1996142111217604
1997122100213538
199811560230265
199911470239321
200011380245303
200110451189246
20029180128373
20039360198198
2004918085521
20058260140282

Super Rugby

Thames Valley along with Waikato, Counties Manukau, Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Taranaki and King Country now make up the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. When Super Rugby initially started they were part of the Blues.

References

  1. (28 August 2015). "Regional rugby – Thames Valley rugby". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  2. "History". Thames Valley Rugby Football Union.
  3. Monin, Paul. (13 July 2015). "Hauraki-Coromandel region". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
  4. (1966). "Rugby Football Union – History".
  5. "Te Aroha College Old Boys Rugby Club - The Published Histories of New Zealand Rugby Football".
  6. "The official website for the Coromandel Rugby Club".
  7. "Hauraki North RFC - Home".
  8. "Hauraki North Rugby Club - The Published Histories of New Zealand Rugby Football".
  9. "Mercury Bay Rugby & Sports Club".
  10. "NRSC".
  11. "Paeroa Rugby & Sports - Home".
  12. "Ohinemuri - Paeroa West Rugby and Sports Club".
  13. "Tairua Rugby & Sports Club Inc".
  14. "Thames Rugby & Sports Club".
  15. "Thames Rugby & Sports Club - Home".
  16. "Waihi Athletic Rugby Club - Home".
  17. "Waihou Rugby Club - The Published Histories of New Zealand Rugby Football".
  18. "WHANGAMATA RUGBY & SPORTS CLUB".
  19. "Standings (2006–present)". [[Heartland Championship]].
  20. "Fixtures and Results (2006–present)". [[Heartland Championship]].
  21. (23 October 2010). "Finalists found in Lochore and Meads Cups". [[Newshub (New Zealand).
  22. (31 October 2010). "2010 Lochore and Mead Cups finals wrap". [[Heartland Championship]].
  23. Eade, Shaun. (2 July 2014). "Counties Manukau too strong for Swamp Foxes". [[Stuff.co.nz]].
  24. Pearson, Joseph. (6 June 2016). "Waikato begin Ranfurly Shield defence as expected with thrashing of Thames Valley". [[Stuff.co.nz]].
  25. Pearson, Joseph. (13 July 2019). "Otago battle hard to see off spirited Thames Valley in tough defence of Ranfurly Shield". [[Stuff.co.nz]].
  26. "Kevin Barry".
  27. "Bob O'Dea".
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