A celebration of Nelson as "the Birthplace of New Zealand Rugby", the re-enactment of New Zealand's first-ever game of Rugby will be a great occasion.
Tuesday 20th September 2011 - Starting from 11am, Haka 12pm, Re-enactment Kick Off 1pm,
Venue: Botanics Reserve, Milton Street, NELSON
A fun-filled family day with a festival atmosphere at the Botanics Reserve (the 'Birthplace of New Zealand Rugby'), where the re-enactment of New Zealand's first game in 1870 will be staged. See how your favourite game, and the players, looked 140 years ago and get into the heritage theme by dressing up for the day, prizes for the best dressed. Watch the Nelson College boys perform the haka on the Church Steps at the top of Trafalgar Street at 12pm then make your way to the Botanics Reserve to enjoy pre-game entertainment and kick off at 1pm. This will be followed by a procession through the oldest suburb in Nelson, to Trafalgar Park for the Rugby World Cup 2011 match between Italy and Russia.
Brief History
New Zealand is known worldwide as a rugby nation - Charles John Monro a Waimea born (Nelson College Old Boy) is known as “the father of Rugby in New Zealand” he is credited with bringing Rugby Union to our land 141 years ago. In fact he organised the first rugby match which took place in Nelson on 14 May 1870. Four months later he organised the first inter-provincial Rugby fixture in New Zealand between Nelson and Wellington on 12 September, which then became the first annual Rugby match in NZ. The first inter-College Rugby match in New Zealand was played between Nelson College and Wellington College in Wellington in 1876. Wellington won this match, but Nelson won the return match, it is now the oldest annual Rugby match in NZ.
Monro having moved to Palmerston North in 1889, then sent his 3 sons to Wellington College, where they played Rugby against his old Nelson College. When Monro died in Palmerston North in 1933, it is a poignant fact that his 2 main Nelson Rugby Football Club founders and team mates at the first 1870 game, were already buried within only 20 miles of him in Palmerston North. As 19 year old lads they started Rugby together in Nelson in 1870 and all came to rest together in the Manawatu 6 decades later, by when his "little school game" had become our national game and we were world conquerers on all rugby fields.
"To find out more regarding Nelson as the Birthplace of Rugby check out the following links:
Your Accommodation Motel in Nelson New Zealand
or 
Kingsland Court Motel - Tahunanui, NELSON
WHERE YOUR WELCOME IS ASSURED
AND YOUR STAY IS MEMORABLE
