150th Celebrations: Queen's Birthday 2020

Join us to celebrate 150 years of rugby and fellowship

In 2018 we celebrated the 150^th year since the birth of the Club, known at the time as the Nelson Football Club. The Club played a hybrid form of the game — a mixture of Association football and Melbourne Rules football (now known as Australian Rules Football).

In 1870 Charles Monro introduced the club to rugby as we know it today and the club formally adopted the name Nelson Rugby Football Club and the first rugby game ever played was between Nelson and Nelson College at the Botanical Reserve in Nelson City.

We are extremely proud of our history and heritage as New Zealand's oldest rugby club and are planning to celebrate the occasion in style.

There will be a number of events this year, with the 150^th celebration planned for Queens Birthday weekend June 2020.

Provisional Programme

Friday 29/5/2020

Muster & Nibbles

Register at the club rooms, check out our visual displays and catch up with friends.

Saturday 30/5/2020

Rugby was the winner on the day

Support our teams playing rugby during the day, join us for lunch and then enjoy the 150^th dinner in the evening.

The Bs will be playing Collingwood for the Brydon-Strange Cup, an important piece of silverware that acknowledges the close relationship between the two clubs and the contribution the Brydon and Strange families have made to both clubs and to rugby in the region.

As there is no junior rugby scheduled for this day the juniors will have a family fun day, with an intraclub competition and lunch.

In the evening we will dine in style at the Rutherford Hotel and be entertained by the great Sir Graham Henry.

Sunday 31/5/2019

Parade & Photos

Join the parade and be part of our team photo. After the photo meet at the Clubrooms for lunch and catch up with friends.

Are you interested in attending our 150th celebration?

To help us with planning the weekend can you please complete the expression of interest form.

We are trying to reach as many people connected with the club as possible - please share this link with other members of the Nelson Rugby Football Club family.

Keep an eye on this page and our Facebook page for events and dates. We will also be sending out 150th email updates.