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A century of grassroots rugby, community spirit and player development will be celebrated at the Tomarata Rugby Club next month.
For 100 years, the small but resilient club has nurtured young talent and fostered strong connections across generations. At the heart of its legacy is a thriving junior programme that has produced notable players such as former All Blacks Rene Ranger and Simon Parker, as well as Aimee Lenssen, who went on to play in Auckland.
The club’s junior system has long been regarded as a cornerstone of its success. With mixed teams up to the under-13 level, Tomarata Rugby Club has built an inclusive and supportive environment that prioritises participation and development.
“Play hard, play fair, and most of all have fun” remains the guiding philosophy, immediate past president Michelle Keast says.
Many of today’s senior players first pulled on a Tomarata jersey as juniors, a testament to the club’s enduring culture. Despite challenges over the years, including periods where older age groups had to move to other clubs due to limited team numbers, the club has remained committed to providing opportunities for youth.
Keast says a dedicated group of coaches, managers and administrators continues to sustain the junior programme. Though smaller in size, the current cohort is described as “an amazing bunch,” carrying forward the club’s proud traditions.
Recent years have seen exciting developments for Tomarata’s young players. In 2023, junior teams travelled to Taupō for the Global Games Rugby Tournament for the first time, broadening their exposure beyond the local Rodney Ōtamatea competition. The club has also actively invited teams from Takapuna, Silverdale and Ruawai, while travelling further north to ensure players gain valuable match experience.
Tomarata’s under-11 team has also made its mark at the Mahurangi Rugby Invitational Tournament, winning the Sportsmanship Award two years in a row. That achievement earned players a memorable Blues experience in Auckland, where they formed a tunnel for professional players, enjoyed match-day hospitality, and met stars such as Beauden Barrett.
Club officials say the recognition reflects the values instilled at a grassroots level.
“Winning sportsmanship shows who we are as a club. It’s about respect, teamwork and enjoyment of the game.”
Historically, the club has gone to great lengths to ensure participation, including providing transport for players when needed. At its peak, Tomarata fielded up to eight junior teams across grades from under-7 to under-13.
Looking ahead, the club continues to adapt to changing circumstances. This season, with no local competition available for under-12 players, a team will compete in the North Harbour J2 competition, while under-7, under-9 and under-11 teams remain in the local league.
Changes to the competition structure have also seen a shift to Friday night games, allowing children involved in other Saturday sports to take part in rugby. The move proved successful last year, though it highlighted the need for improved lighting at the Tomarata grounds – upgrades that are already underway ahead of the new season.
Most fervent supporter
Mentioned in the 1982 Port Albert Football Club’s centenary booklet was that back in the early 1930s Port Albert’s Jack Western had some relatives in Tomarata – Mr & Mrs Dan Rice. He recalls that the couple would ride on horses to all the rugby matches wherever their beloved United boys were to play. No-one dared stand next to Mrs Rice on the sidelines barracking against ‘her’ team … and if they did … watch out! She would hook them with her umbrella.
Packed centenary programme
A full weekend of festivities are planned to celebrate the club centenary.
Celebrations will start on Friday, May 8, at 5.30pm with a junior sub-union rally, bringing together young players from Wellsford, Mangawhai, Eastern and Tomarata. Children from Under-7 through to Under-11 grades will take part, followed by a prizegiving ceremony.
The evening will continue with a mix-and-mingle event from around 7.30pm, offering former players, supporters and visitors a chance to reconnect. Attendees are expected from across the North Island, with several past players also travelling from Australia to join the occasion.
Saturday’s programme will centre around the official centenary lunch, beginning at 11am. The event will be hosted by MC Craig Couling, with guest speakers lined up to reflect on the club’s long and storied history.
Following the lunch, attention will shift to the field for a showcase of Golden Oldies rugby, featuring a rematch of games played during the recent Wellsford Rugby Club centenary.
At 2.30pm, Tomarata’s senior side will face off against a local Barbarians team in what promises to be a highlight of the weekend.
The traditional hangi will be served at 5pm, with attendees invited to share memories and stories. Celebrations will continue into the evening with a dance.
The weekend will conclude on Sunday with an informal morning tea, providing a final opportunity for photographs and farewells.
The clubhouse will remain open throughout the weekend, serving as a central hub for the festivities.
Immediate past president Michelle Keast said the club’s enduring strength lies in its deep community roots.
“Tomarata is more than a rugby club because it’s as much about community as it is about sport,” she said. “It’s our sense of family and connection that has kept us going through all the ups and downs.”
Several club legends are expected to attend at various points during the celebrations, including Brian Pool, Rodney Woodcock, Lloyd Roberts, Doug McIntyre and Tom Jackson.
With a packed schedule and strong turnout anticipated, the centenary promises to be both a celebration of rugby and a tribute to the people who have shaped the club over the past 100 years.
Long serving coach remembered
In 1978, Ron Braddick was in his last season as senior coach, having first guided the club’s team for close on 30 years. In his final year, he was coaching alongside Eddie Brown, with Ron Ferriman as the captain.
Martin Braddick remembers that his father Ron was a vocal coach loitering up and down the sideline often haranguing the referee – so much so that Martin felt that if Ron tried those antics these days, he would be given his marching orders.
Lloyd Roberts recalls that on game day, Braddick would always turn up wearing a tie, and one aspect of his coaching philosophy, which was ahead of his time, was to encourage running the ball and to counter-attack.
A feature of the 1978 year was that Tomarata could give the top sides a real run for their money, but make hard work of it against the lower ranked teams. The Northern Advocate reported that Tomarata winger Dick Maude was the big improver for the season and scored the match winning try that saw Tomarata upset Omaha.
However, it was the other winger Dennis Busbridge who was one of Northland province’s most prolific try-scorers that year in provincial wide club competition statistics. Morris Heywood
