Glenfield Rugby Union and Sports Club Inc
Glenfield Rugby Union and Sports Club Inc. was formed in the late 1960s. Four men and their families, some affiliated with Northcote Rugby, met with the then secretary of the Auckland Rugby Union, Link Warren.
With the support of the Auckland Rugby Union, a new club was formed known as the Glenfield Rugby Football Club.
The original club was located on Archers Road, currently home to the Glenfield Rovers Football club. Two or three years would pass before the North Shore City Council would provide new grounds to the club being constructed out of strawberry fields at Kaipatiki Road.
Glenfield Rugby club was awarded senior status by the Auckland Rugby Union in 1973. From 1974 to 1984 Glenfield fielded a senior team in the Auckland Rugby Union third division. The Glenfield Grizzlies Presidents grade side was also formed in 1975 by club stalwarts Glen "Bungy" Williams,Ken Cooksley,the late Ted Wilson,and the late Roy Doddrell. In 1985 the Glenfield Grizzlies team had the honour of playing at Twickenham in London,England.Glenfield club members refer to it as "the game that made Twickenham famous".
From 1985 to 2019 Glenfield have played in the Senior A division of the North Harbour Club rugby competition.Since 2019 Glenfield now only fields a team in the North Harbour Senior Reserves competition. In 1986 Mark Hellyer was the first provincial player to be selected from Glenfield to play for the newly formed North Harbour Rugby Union. In 1987 Glenfield changed their colours from rust jerseys and blacks shorts to Red and White jerseys with black shorts.Glenfield now plays in Red, Black and white hoops .
In 1989 Walter Little was the first All Black to be selected from the Glenfield club. Little went onto play for the New Zealand All Blacks from 1989 to 1998. Walter played 55 tests for the All Blacks. Walter Little also shares the record for most games played for North Harbour alongside Ron Williams who played for the Northcote club. Walter's son Michael also represented Harbour from the Glenfield club and now plays his rugby in Japan. Michael was the second father son combination to be selected for Harbour alongside Frano and Jacob Botica from the North Shore club
Glenfield has been North Harbour Senior A club rugby runners up twice 2000 and 2006. Glenfield has won 2 Under 21 Championships,1987 and 2008. Glenfield has also won a Senior C Championship in 1992 when they defeated Northcote at Onewa Domain.
Mark Hellyer still holds the record for most Senior games played for Glenfield with 243 games.
Colours: Red, white and black jersey, Black shorts, Blacks socks with red and white bands
North Harbour Championships since 1985:
North Harbour Under 21's 1987,2008.
North Harbour Senior C 1992.
North Harbour Premiership Runners up 2000, 2006.
North Harbour Senior 1sts Runners up 1997.
Rivalries with other rugby clubs
Though overshadowed by the success of their neighbouring clubs such as Northcote,Takapuna and East Coast Bays Glenfield has good rivalries with their neighbours, in particular the Northcote-Birkenhead Rugby club.
Glenfield v Northcote
Glenfield verses Northcote has always been classed as a friendly and respectful rivalry between the 2 clubs. Northcote were instrumental in helping to start the Glenfield club as a junior feeder club in 1969.
To many this rivalry would be seen as a "Derby of contrasts" as Northcote have established themselves as a North Harbour club rugby powerhouse winning numerous titles across all grades.
Glenfield and Northcote have met in 3 Under 21 Championship finals Glenfield winning in 1987,Northcote winning in 2002 and 2003.
Glenfield and Northcote have also met in 3 Senior C finals between in 1990,1991,1992 with Northcote winning in 1990,1991 and Glenfield winning in 1992. The North Harbour Senior C competition trophy is named the Ted Wilson Cup after the late Glenfield rugby club stalwart and GRFC Life member Ted Wilson.
Glenfield v North Shore
The Frazer King Memorial trophy is played for between Glenfield and North Shore. Frazer was a North Harbour referee who passed away suddenly whilst refereeing a premier game between Glenfield and North Shore at Devonport Domain in 1985.
Glenfield v Marist North Harbour
The Birkenhead Transport has been played for between Glenfield and Marist North Harbour since 1989. The fact Glenfield and Marist are yet to win a North Harbour Premiership adds a lot of intense rivalry and colour to the games between the 2 clubs. The often games are often very close in scorelines between the 2 teams.
Glenfield v Mahurangi
When Mahurangi RFC joined the Harbour club comp in 1989 Glenfield was their first game.This is classed as a traditional game for Mahurangi as Glenfield is the first club they played in the Harbour club competition.
Glenfield v Takapuna
Glenfield v Takapuna is one of North Harbour rugby's many suburban rivalries.Though when it comes to success both clubs are at opposite ends of the scale.Takapuna is by far the most successful North Harbour club winning 12 Harbour premierships.In the Auckland club comp days Takapuna was a regular team in the Auckland top division winning 2 Gallaher shields, where as Glenfield played in the Auckland third division and were often on the end of some rather unflattering scorelines.Glenfield has met Takapuna 2 times in the North Harbour premiership final with Takapuna winning both times.Glenfield ended Takapuna's famous 2 year winning streak in 2001.Glenfield beat Takapuna in 2015, a game which was also Jeremy Hikuroa's 200th game for the Glenfield Premiers.
Glenfield v Waitakere City
Glenfield plays an annual pre season fixture each year with Auckland club Waitakere City.
Notable players
All Black 1989 - 1998 North Harbour 1988- 2000Mark Mayerhofler - Blues Rugby, North Harbour,
Chris Mayerhofler- NZ Maori All Black
Horace Lewis - NZ Maori All Black
Nicky Little -Fijian International
Lawrence Little-Fijian International
Francis Latu- Tongan International
Issi Tuivai-Tongan international
Stephen Doherty-Cook Islands representative
Chas Ferris - NZ Maori coach
Glenfield Rugby Club Centurions
Richie Campbell -
Wayne Gardener -
Mark Hellyer -
Colin Newman -
Steve Roiall -
Lee Maihi -
Neil Kennedy -
Tony Keepa -
Issi Tuivai -
Craig Lawrence -
Myles Ferris -
Haydn Ferris -
David 'Doc' Van Praagh -
Jason Matthews -
Stephen Doherty -
Chris Mayerhofler -
Alan Linstrom-
Adriaan Ferris -
Richard Shaw -
Manu Faiva -
Metu Egelani -
Brett Ingham -
Jeremy Hikuroa-
Tanimo Samoa -
Shea Turner -
Paul Turner -
Baden Woodman -
Premier coaches 1985 -
1985-
1986-
1987-Bert McLean
1988-Lindsay Ellery/Richard Curtis
1989-Lindsay Ellery/Richard Curtis
1990-Lindsay Ellery/Richard Curtis
1991-Chas Ferris
1992-Chas Ferris
1993-Chas Ferris
1994-Chas Ferris
1995-Lindsay Ellery/Richard Curtis
1996-Lindsay Ellery/Richard Curtis
1997-Tony Keepa/Neil Kennedy
1998-Tony Keepa/Neil Kennedy
1999-Tony Keepa/Neil Kennedy
2000-Haydn Ferris/Steve Eskrigge
2001-Haydn Ferris/Steve Eskrigge
2002-Tony Keepa/Lindsay Ellery
2003-Tony Keepa/Lee Maihi
2004-Walter Little/Mark Hellyer
2005-Walter Little/Mark Hellyer
2006-Walter Little/Mark Hellyer
2007-Ray "Jr" Wells/Brett Ingham
2008-Ray "Jr" Wells/Brett Ingham
2009-Ces Jack
2010-Ces Jack
2011-Ces Jack
2012-Walter Little/Jeremy Hikuroa
2013-Walter Little/Jeremy Hikuroa
2014-Walter Little/Jeremy Hikuroa
2015-Walter Little/Jeremy Hikuroa
2016-Jeremy Hikuroa/Edwin Smith
2017-Jeremy Hikuroa/Edwin Smith
2018-Jeremy Hikuroa/Edwin Smith