Welcome to Tamatea Arikinui Rugby Football Club that believes in whanau and family values.

Kia Kaha boys for 2006 season in all grades

"...an outlet for that exciting combination of natural instinct, athletic ability and flair we call Maori rugby."

"......supporters and some players walk through our doors simply to experience our manaaki. Most come because they love the way we play our rugby."
 
Tamatea Rugby was first founded in1903 and went into recess during the years of the war. In 1961 the club came out of recess.

After a lot of fund raising the new clubrooms were built at Waipatu and opened 18 July 1971.

While being well beaten during the early 60's Tamatea hung in there. Then in 1982 under Dick Hawea as coach and Brian Morris as Captain, Tamatea won both the Nash Cup and Maddison Trophy. This was the first time any club in Hawkes Bay had won both trophies in one year.

After 1982 Tamatea struggled on, then in1990 with pressure from some keen ex-students of Te Aute College, Dick Hawea was persuaded to put the coaching hat back on for a very young team registered in the colts grade for that year. In their first year they achieved 10-wins, 2-losses and 3-draws. The following year 16-wins, 1-loss and 2-draws. During the 1990's the top team for the club were struggling to keep their position in the premier grade. This was due to losing players to the top clubs in Hawkes Bay.   
In 2001 the club was still struggling with the Seniors in 2nd division. Damon Bellamy was approached to coach & returned for the 2002 season.  This season was one of the greatest achievements that the club had seen since 1982 with the team going through both rounds undefeated and gaining premier status for 2003. 

In the subsequent 3 years the Club has gone from no junior rugby teams (this having fallen off in the previous three years) to having 9 teams with a total of 140 players. In 2005 eight boys have been selected for the Hawkes Bay Rep Teams in their respective grades.

Over the years a large number of club members have represented the Hastings Sub-union and HB in age-group rugby. The Hastings Ross Shield teams have benefited yearly from boys from Tamatea families. The past 5 years alone has seen at least six cousins from the Harris whanau in the Ross Shield & age-group ranks. Tamatea foundation whanau (too many to mention by name - aroha mai) produce the goods for HB age-group rugby. Before that the fathers of all these boys were there also.

Some of these boys have gone on to represent HB in higher grades such as HB Secondary Schools. [See more about all players on Senior Player Profiles].

Through the decades Senior Tamatea players who have represented Hawkes Bay at Senior level, are:

J.W Nuku
H Keil
A.P White
Brian C Morris
Maurice Timu
Nigel Clapperton
M.P Henderson
Gerald Harris
Jason Robinson
Nui Bartlett
Donovan Nepia
Henare Harris

And therein lies the success of the Tamatea Club , and the up-and-down nature of their competition results over the years. While more financial clubs realise the ability to draft players, attract sponsorship and gain positive publicity, Tamatea often struggles to provide the basic gears for training. However our underlying philosophy of manaakitanga (hospitality) means we have many supporters and some players walk through our doors simply to experience our manaaki.Most come because they love the way we play our rugby.

Still, it is evident that Tamatea's strengths come from a generational pool of talent. Being a whanau-based, pre-dominantly Maori Club it is the generational swing that has the Club oscillate between sheer magic with success on the field and a struggle to stay afloat in leaner times. The Club is also proud to say many other codes are now hosted 'i raro i te kakahu o Tamatea'. This includes a very successful Softball club, Pool & Cricket teams, and Women's Netball.

The glue that binds the Club together and guarantees it's longevity is love of whanau., pride in the kaupapa, commitment to Tino rangatiratanga and the ability to provide an outlet for that exciting combination of natural instinct, athletic ability and flair we call Maori rugby.

In 2003 we reached 100 Years as a Club and many came from around the country and Australia to celebrate the whanau whanui that is Tamatea. It is now 2006 and we continue to celebrate that.