Rugby Southland
| Union | New Zealand Rugby Union |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Southland Stags |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Location | Invercargill, New Zealand |
| Region | Highlanders |
| Ground(s) | Rugby Park Stadium (Capacity: 20,000) |
| Coach(es) | Hoani MacDonald |
| Captain(s) | Brayden Mitchell |
| Most caps | Jason Rutledge (138) |
| Top scorer | Simon Culhane (976) |
| League(s) | Mitre 10 Cup Championship |
| 2016 | 6th |
| Official website | |
| www |
|
Rugby Southland is the provincial rugby union who govern the Southland Region of New Zealand. Their headquarters are at Rugby Park Stadium in Invercargill, which is also the home ground of the union's professional team, the Southland Stags who compete in the Mitre 10 Cup Championship Division and challenge for the Ranfurly Shield.
Despite their proud history, no Southland team has ever won the top division of the New Zealand National Provincial Championship since organised competition began in 1976. However, they have won the NPC second division title five times and held the Ranfurly Shield seven times, most recently in 2011 where they defended the shield twice before losing it to Taranaki. Southland also plays for the Donald Stuart Memorial Shield against rivals Otago in what is the longest tenured provincial rivalry in New Zealand first-class rugby, with 229 matches.
Founded in 1887 after splitting from Otago, Southland and its former stablemate went on to forge what is New Zealand’s longest inter-provincial rugby rivalries. The two sides have played more games against each other than any other representative teams in New Zealand. They played their first game against Otago, losing in a close affair. The Southland region already had strong club rugby teams with Invercargill competing in the Dunedin based competition. The Invercargill club had already produced two All Blacks. They were outside back, Henry Braddon and wing forward, James O'Donnell. In 1885 these two players were recognised as Otago All Blacks as they played their rugby for neighbouring province.
It was not until 1896 when Southland hooker, Nisbet McRobie was selected in the New Zealand team to play Queensland. The side won 9-nil and it was McRobie's only game in the 'black jersey', however he occupies a special place in Southland Rugby history as the provinces first of over 50 All Blacks. Billy Stead became the provinces first test All Black in 1903 and also captained the All Blacks 12 times.
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