Wanganui Rugby Union
 |
|
| Nickname(s) | Butcher Boys |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1888 |
| Region | Hurricanes |
| Ground(s) | Cooks Gardens |
| Chairman |
 Jeff Phillips |
| Coach(es) |
Jason Caskey |
| League(s) | Heartland Championship |
| 2016 | 1st (Meads Cup Champions) |
| Official website | |
| www |
|
| Ranfurly Shield | |
| Challenges | 28 |
| Won | 0 |
| Defences | 0 |
The Wanganui Rugby Football Union (WRFU) is the governing body for rugby union in the Wanganui region of New Zealand. The Wanganui Rugby Football Union was formed in 1888.
The Wanganui team play from Cooks Gardens, Wanganui, and have enjoyed much success on the playing field throughout their history. The side are one of the leading provinces in New Zealand purely for the number of Divisional Championships won.
Since the introduction of the National Provincial Championship in 1976, Wanganui have won the 3rd most Provincial Championship titles, with 9 Championships to their name. They sit behind only Auckland (with 16 Championships) and Canterbury (with 13 championships). Both the Taranaki and South Canterbury Rugby Unions sit just behind Wanganui with 8 Provincial Championships each. Further to this, the Wanganui team have played in Heartland Championship Grand Finals in 10 of the last 11 seasons of the Heartland Championship competition (9 in the top tier Meads Cup, and 1 in the second tier Lochore Cup).
The Wanganui team were promoted to the top tier of New Zealand Rugby (the Air New Zealand Cup Division One competition), for the 2010 season. Subsequently, the NZRU later announced another alteration to the NPC format for 2010 and 2011, which meant the Air New Zealand Cup remained a 14-team competition.
The Wanganui Rugby Football Union was formed on 11 April 1888. It then joined the NZRFU as a foundation member in 1892. Wanganui's first official game after affiliation with the NZRFU was against the British and Irish Lions in 1888, a 1-all draw was more than encouraging for the union. In 1913 Wanganui played Australia and won 11-6 and in 1966 (with King Country) they won against touring side, British and Irish Lions 12-6.
Wanganui currently competes in the Heartland Championship, a competition for New Zealand’s amateur and semi-professional provincial unions. Wanganui have won 9 Provincial Championships across all respective divisions, placing the behind only Auckland and Canterbury for the total number of Provincial Championships.
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