We hope you enjoy this look back as we look forward to many more years of recording the history of Ngati Porou East Coast Rugby Union. We acknowledge all the information from the NZ “Rugby Almanack” Series from the season’s 1934 through to 2019 and appreciate their hard and dedicated work in providing this detailed history. – Web Admin – Information Sourced from the NZ Rugby Almanack 1954

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1953

(Founded, 1921; Affiliated, 1922)
Headquarters: Ruatoria
COLOURS: SKY BLUE
Selector: Mr. G.S (“Don”) Colbert

Called upon at short notice to  play its Ranfurly shield fixture when Wellington took the trophy from Waikato, East Coast had little time to prepare for the engagement. In the challenge,however, the side was well served forward, and it did seem a pity that the amount of ball collected by the pack was wasted by five-eighths standing flat-footed and not prepared to give a speedy threequarter line opportunities. The Coast pack certainly was energetic, tending occasionally to be rather boisterous in their play, to the exclusion of finer points. Most noticeable of the scrummagers were the captain and lock, McGrannachan – veteran by long playing service, and a fine leader; Shelton, hooker; Paea, a particularly robust breakaway; Peachey, back-ranker; and Dewes, a good front-row prop. The backs generally were not up to the standard of the forwards, and inexperience was evident.

The Union’s only other engagements were two matches with Poverty Bay, each side winning at home.

Thirty-two players were called upon (eighteen played once only), thirteen for the first time. Schofield had last appeared in 1949, Logan in 1950, and Mitchell, Te Rure, Peachey and Walker, each in 1951. Four of the side received an All Black Trial – Paea, Shelton, Tangira and Henare.

Players 1953

				Position	PL
0181		Leo Francis Blane		First Five	2
0185		Ivan Henry Hooper		Flanker	2
0202		William ‘Billy' Lanigan		Centre	2
0208		Quentin Ian ‘Max' Schofield		First Five, Fullback	1
0211		Frederick H.L. Shelton		Hooker	2
0212		Tiaki Atarea ‘Terry' Te Rure		Centre	1 (1)
0218		Bruce Farnie Logan		Flanker	1
0219		Andrew Morehu Pahuru		Prop	2
0221		Walter Materite Peachey		Prop	2
0224		Karere ‘Babbie’ 'Babs' Henare		Loose Forward, Lock	2
0225		P.A. Mitchell		First Five	2
0235		James Wi Hekopa Walker		Flanker	1 (1)
0240		William Tangira		Prop	2
0242		Edward Carrington		Winger	1
0244		Koro M. Dewes		Hooker, Prop	3
0245		Boy Mahue		First Five	1
0247		Albert Smith		Forward	1
0250		Hemara ‘Bo' Kururangi		First Five, Winger	3
0253		Charles Joseph McGrannachan		Lock	2
0254		William Renata Harrison		Centre	1
0255		Darling Moana		Forward, Fullback	1
0256		H.M. 'John' Paea		Flanker, Lock	3
0257		B.T. Pohatu		Forward	1
0258		Tuta Wanui Taare		Scrumhalf	2
0259		A. Waitoa		Forward	1 (1)
0260		Peter H.R. Chrisp		Winger	1
0261		William Gillman Tichborne		Fullback	1
0262		Makarini 'Mack' Fox		First Five, Scrumhalf	1
0263		R.Te Hukarere Maurirere		Scrumhalf	1
0264		Thomas Tamati		Lock	1
0265		Reweti Te R. Green		Winger	1
0266		Thomas Edge		Centre	1 (1)