Ex-Chief Isaac Boss said Ruakura RFC is a great idea to reconnect with former players.
Former King Country coach and 2026 Hautapu head coach Isaac Boss is one of many rugby lovers across the Waipā and King Country to be excited by the new Ruakura Rugby Football Club.
Manager Kent Currie is amped for the new Ruakura Rugby Football Club initiative. Photo: Jesse Wood
Ruakura RFC is Super Rugby’s first kindred club, under the umbrella of the Chiefs. It won’t field teams.
They have a ready-made clubroom at the Ruakura Campus and Squash Club, complete with honours boards and memorabilia.
Ōhaupō-raised longtime Chiefs employee Kent Currie was given the opportunity to be club manager.
“Ruakura RFC is something we’ve put together to ensure that when people do their time with the Chiefs, they then graduate into our club and have a connection with the Chiefs forever,” Currie said.
“We’ve got over 100 members now. The majority of them being former players. They’ve all bought into the concept of rekindling old friendships, getting together, telling a few stories and creating new friendships within the Chiefs family.”
Former players, coaches, team management, staff, board members and shareholders receive a complimentary legacy membership, while 250 foundation memberships are available for the wider public.
After a soft launch pre-Christmas, former players and staff members including Boss, Sam Cane, Aaron Cruden, Richard Kahui, Liam Messam, Sir Wayne Smith and Nathan White have signed up.
“A lot of people have made some pretty important decisions throughout our history and it’s important that we don’t forget those people,” Currie said.
“The players earn the right to represent the Chiefs. The coaches are the same and it’s no different for any of the staff that are in the office. A lot of them come through club and provincial union administration.”
Chiefs player 94, Boss represented the franchise 21 times across 2001, 2003 and 2004.
He said Ruakura RFC is a good way to engage the past players.
“The Chiefs have evolved over the years. Coming from its early days in the ‘90s to what it is now, you can almost feel disconnected sometimes,” Boss said.
“It’s really cool that the Ruakura RFC is going to keep us all connected.
“We had such great times together in the past. There aren’t many things where you get an excuse to catch up and see everyone from those days.”
Ruakura RFC have their first event this weekend, tying in with the Chiefs v Crusaders clash in Hamilton.
“It has its own little identity which is pretty cool,” Boss said.
“It’s another great avenue for us to keep that old camaraderie going because there’s less and less opportunities to do that these days.”
University of Waikato pro vice-chancellor management and former New Zealand Rugby Board member Jennifer Kerr is one of the club’s board members.
Memorabilia on the walls will help give former players a sense of belonging. Photo: Supplied
Born-and-bred at Ōpārau, Kerr still has a strong connection with the King Country.
“My Dad played for Waitete in Te Kūiti. When I was a New Zealand Rugby Board member 2020-2022, the first game I attended before NPC was always Waitete playing at home,” Kerr said.
“I think the kindred club provides a great forum for people who have been involved in Chiefs and Chiefs Manawa rugby to reconnect.”
Currie said it’s an opportunity to keep the alumni connected, while inspiring the next generation and giving back to the community game.
“We want to be seen to be supporting the community game in some way, shape or form – giving back to the game that we love,” Currie said.
The unique turquoise colour is inspired by the Huka Falls. Photo: Supplied
As an example, Pirongia Rugby Sports Club is celebrating 150 years this year.
“We want to support them, whether that’s an auction item or something like that,” Currie said.
“Or I’d love to go to Ōhaupō Rugby Sports Club and help with a fundraising function that’s going to help their junior players. Or why not go to Hautapu and celebrate all the Chiefs that have gone through the club?
“Or we could go to the King Country and celebrate Paul Mitchell, Dion Mathews, Cortez Ratima and Josh Lord.
“A lot of these Chiefs are household names. Not only are they iconic names of Chiefs rugby and New Zealand rugby but they’re actually just humble New Zealanders.
“They like giving back to their community where they’ve come from. Part of what this club is about is creating a platform for that.”
Ex-Chief Isaac Boss said Ruakura RFC is a great idea to reconnect with former players. Photo: Hautapu Sports Club
