East Coast Rugby Union
| Nickname(s) | Ngati Porou East Coast |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1922 |
| Location | Ruatoria |
| Region | Hurricanes |
| Ground(s) | Whakarua Park (Capacity: 3,000) |
| Chairman |
 Campbell Dewes |
| Coach(es) |
Wayne Ensor Troy Para |
| Captain(s) |
Sam Parkes
|
| League(s) | Heartland Championship |
| 2015 | 12th |
| Official website | |
| www |
|
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 Ngati Porou East Coast team home ground is Whakarua Park, Ruatoria. Ngati Porou East Coast were recently holders of the Meads Cup, defeating Wanganui 29-27 at Whakarua Park on 27 October 2012.
The East Coast Rugby Football Union was formed in 1922 when they split from the Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union.
East Coast has challenged for the Ranfurly Shield seven times losing heavily on each occasion.
East Coast along with Wellington, Wairarapa Bush, Wanganui, Poverty Bay, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu and Horowhenua-Kapiti make up the Hurricanes Super Rugby region.
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 were unsuccessful, eventually losing 27-30.
There have had 2 players selected for the All Blacks whilst playing their club rugby in the East Coast.
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Wikipedia