HISTORY OF MILLERS FLAT RUGBY TOURNAMENT

Millers Flat Rugby Club - Established 1902

A small town of a few hundred people, a school, hall, pub, baths, garages, tennis courts, transport company and bulk fertiliser depot and three rugby fields - 125 kms from Dunedin - on the boundary (almost) of Central and West Otago - 59 km’s from Alexandra - is issuing a challenge:

ARE WE THE SMALLEST RUGBY CLUB IN NZ? - THE WORLD?

Our senior club went into recession in 1975 but the junior club - still playing in the club colours of blue and black hoops (same as that big club in Auckland - what’s it called Pon…?) is still going.  

The club is run through the school - 1996 - 3 teachers and 43 children and in 2023 - 2 teachers and 26 children.  We play in the West Otago competition often joining teams with the neighbouring club in Roxburgh or teams as far away as Omakau!

This tournament has been going almost as long as the club.  It was once run by the senior club and attracted so many teams from senior to bantams that the format had to be changed and the junior tournament was passed over to the Primary Schools Sports Association which still runs it today.  We have been running through two world wars and our tournament was only cancelled in the year we all had COVID!

The club was founded in 1902, although games were played back in the 1890’s when “the blue bridge” was being built.  In those days we wore the colours of the Kaikorai Club in Dunedin - Black, Blue and white - the white has now been dropped and we wear black shorts.

The club hosts Saturday Rugby in rotation with other West Otago Clubs and also hosts the West Otago 7 Aside and annual county school persons tournament featuring rep teams from Vincent, South Otago, West Otago to make up teams Dunedin Metropolitan. Our 7 Aside tournament has hosted up to 800 - 1000 children (I suppose we should say that some of those are netballers) and the country tournament hosts 3 grades and approximately 240 players, all vying for rep honours in the mighty Otago - the big O - colours.

The support from our school and community is fantastic.  A well oiled machine that comes together in tremendous fashion to provide entries, draws, team communication, fields, scoring and lots of food including a famous hot Jimmy's Pie or two!

And - or so what - do we have any All Blacks?? Apparently C.J. Oliver 1935, played for Millers Flat and became an All Black after he left the club (obviously due to the experience at Millers Flat)  The “old timers” tell me he wasn’t good enough to play for Millers Flat in those days.

But remember, the great Richard Knight - Otago Captain - 170 games for Otago and All Black trialist.  He came up through the junior club, as did Chisthom Lunn and Graeme Smith both Otago players, and - Geremy Lester and Brent Lawson - NZ Area Schools reps we just keep on providing our kids with a springboard to enjoyment.  

Our motto is - enjoy your rugby - win if you can - have fun.

P.S.  Challenge 2 - are we the only primary school still running club rugby in N.Z.?

And do you know something - being involved really is a bonus.  Watching children smile on the paddock - even when they are not involved in “the game” even when they are not winning - even when they are cold - (it’s minus 6c here today) even when - even when - BUT they still get their pie and drink after.  (You know our club is financed by catering - new jerseys - flags - balls - goal post covers etc etc. a big thanks to Mums and Dads).

Our club may not be the smallest but I give you this challenge “We are the best”.

A Special Note - Also associated with our club are the netball teams.  We are very proud of our netball teams who are an integral part of our club.