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Story: Rural recreation

Rugby game, 1911

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Rugby game, 1911

By the early 20th century rugby was a popular pastime in most country districts. This game is being played near Taumarunui in the heart of the King Country. One of the teams is the local tribe Ngāti Haua. In many parts of the North Island Māori were keen rugby players.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Price Collection

Reference: 1/2-000204; G

by William Archer Price

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Rural recreation – Small-town sports, 1890–1960, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/17681/rugby-game-1911 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 1 March 2009.