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 1969

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1968

(Founded, 1921; Affiliated, 1922)
Headquarters: Ruatoria.
COLOURS: SKY BLUE

Selectors: Messrs. Moeraki Reedy, W.Goldsmith and Ed. Baker.

A very poor season, culminating in the disastrous match against Counties. All eleven matches were lost, mostly by wide margins. The net was cast. wide for talent, and 39 players represented, of whom eighteen were making their debut.Of the 29 players who appeared in 1967, only sixteen were called on again; T.Taare had moved to Poverty Bay. This all represents a big turnover of 53 representatives in two seasons.

Only one player. Colbert, a useful forward who played both at lock and on the side of the scrum, was present for every match. As well, nine players only appeared in as many as eight matches, and only eleven in half the matches, These were, Gilvray, a sound full-back, but who was also a useful five-eighth; Cross, speedy left winger, and the best back: Manuel, lock: Stewart, prop; Macdonald, again captain. who was a prop and later the hooker; Penetito, a capable No.8; Nepe, side-ranker: Henare, a 1965 representative, prop and new players Haisman, five-eighths or centre and Skudder, first five-eighth. All the remainder played fewer than six matches. Brown had last appeared in 1963, and Waenga and Murphy in 1966, whilst Houkamau had played for Counties in 1967.

The Union undertook a tour of five matches in the early part of the season, culminating with a Ranfurly Shield challenge.

Players 1968

				Position	PL
0277		Busby Brown		Scrumhalf	1
0298		Rangituatini 'Tene’ Henare		Prop	10 (1)
0323		Martin Haua		Winger	5
0336		John Lima Manuel		Loose Forward, Lock	9 (1)
0337		Terence E.R. Murphy		Hooker	2
0365		Te Whakamara 'Mara' Chambers		Hooker	5 (2)
0369		John Thomas Grayson		Centre	4
0381		A.J. 'Arthur' Cross		Centre	10
0382		Kenneth Cambrig Gilvray		Utility Back	10
0383		Robert ‘Bob’ Penetito		Loose Forward	6
0388		Puni Nepe		Flanker	6
0393		Hamish R. ‘Bill’ Stewart		Prop	9
0396		Barry Stuart Colbert		Hooker, Prop	11
0396		Barrie Stuart Colbert		Hooker, Prop	0
0400		Steven Waenga		First Five, Scrumhalf	4
0401		Campbell R.W. Horsley		Centre	3
0403		William Jury Reedy		First Five, Fullback, Winger	1
0404		Ian Hugh MacDonald		Hooker	8
0405		Thomas Poi		Forward	5
0408		John King		Hooker, Prop	1 (1)
0412		T.N. ‘Nick' Henson		Fullback	2
0413		George Fox		Winger	3
0414		Hori K. Houkamau		Hooker	2
0415		W.A.D. ‘Bill’ Nepia		Forward	4
0416		L.Peter Sherriff		Forward	4
0417		David J. Skudder		First Five, Fullback	8 (1)
0418		Michael 'Mick' Tamati		Scrumhalf	4
0419		Simon Frederick Vallance		Forward	1
0420		Murray Noel Haisman		Centre	9 (1)
0421		John T.K. Morice		Centre, First Five	5 (1)
0422		Paul E. Nyman		Forward, Prop	5
0423		Morgan Awarau		Scrumhalf	4
0424		David Para		First Five	3
0425		Rees Wallace Carmichael		Centre	4 (2)
0426		Ross Gerald Hanlen		Hooker, Prop	1
0427		P.K. Smallman		Winger	1
0428		Nicholas Warner Wilder		Fullback	1
0429		l.A. Bourgeous		Prop	1
0430		Brian James Kirk Morrissey		Hooker, Prop	2
0431		William Robert Knox		Lock	1