Rugby was first played in the Tomarata area in 1915, when it was played by local bushman in a Ryans Rd paddock, this lasted for two seasons and then went into recess due to the war. This team played under the name of Eastern United and remerged in the early 1920’s and were unbeaten during the 1925 season.
In 1926, the club was renamed ‘United’ and played on a Mr Bert Williams’s farm until 1935, when the club again went into recess. The year 1926 is recognized by todays Tomarata RFC as the inaugural year of the clubs formation. The club reformed again in 1939, but the playing venue changed, this time to play at Tomich’s farm near the Forest Reserve School – the club was still known as United. The club again went into recess from 1941 – 1944 only to resurface for the 1945 season as the Tomarata RFC, and continued to play at the Forest Reserve site until 1949. Club colours of this era were a dark blue playing strip with black shorts. Albert Burnan became the club President in 1947, a role he would hold for the next twenty straight years, along with Ron Braddick who would coach the side for a large part for the next seventeen seasons. Some names from the 1920’s and 1930’s include, Les Simspon, Albert Pook, Albert Anderson, Pat Heywood, Roy Heywood, Bill Powell, Eric Vipond, George Grey and Dan Rice. Some names from the late 1930’s until 1950 include Albert Burnan, Lew Simpson, the Connelly Bros, Jack George, Alan Pool, Bill Erb, Gordon and Ted Wilson, Jim McKenzie, Les Came, Noel Vipond, Alf Bell, Bun and Jock Worthington, Alf Ansell, and the Fishlock Bros – Ean, Ern and Syd.
Between 1950 and 1955, the clubs venue was a paddock on Mick Greys farm, near the current site of the rugby club, and from 1955 to 1964, the club played from a site on Bill Logue’s farm, with his cowshed used as changing shed and a trough as washing facilities. During this period the club won the triple crown of Rodney rugby, the EL Smith Trophy, the Govan Wilson Trophy and also the Becroft Trophy. The year of 1962 saw the club become an Incorporated Society. Names from the1950’s and 60’s include, Des Wooley, Jim Beecher, Ken and Bob Burrows, Ron and Des Braddick, David Burnan, Noel Dunning, Les Glacier, George Davis, Mick Grey, Syd Muffit, Tony Tomas, Ray Francis, Ben Thomas, George Henson, Lester Radcliffe, the Gubb Bros, Bill Manuel, Brian Dunning (the Northland cricketer), the Fishlock Bros, Terry Blakey, the Greenwood Bros, Henry Te Paa, Stan Williams, Fred Langham, Don Petrie, Laurie Richards, Brian Otway, Harry McIntrye, George Bradshaw, and the Came Bros – Morrie and Alan.
A donation of land by Les Simpson and Miss Shannon in 1964 and some land manouvering with Mick Grey saw the club obtain its current fields of today, to become the only Rodney rugby club that owns its own land and buildings. The clubrooms were completed in 1966, and were officially opened by the NARFU President of the day.
The 1970’s saw the club regularly field two senior sides during a strong period of rugby within Rodney. During this period, club player Lloyd Roberts became the first player of the club represent North Auckland, becoming a team regular on the wing, and playing against the British Lions and also in North Aucklands Ranfurly Shield tenure in the late 70’s. Longtime club stalwart Harry McIntyre was also the NARFU President during this period.
The 1980’s saw numbers fluctuate and with the formation of the North Harbour union, the Rodney competition disappeared, and by 1989 Tomarata was again in recess, due to the advent of the Rodney Districts side, a combination of Wellsford, Port Albert and Tomarata. This did not work out for Tomarata and by 1991, the club again fielded a senior side in its own name, playing in the North Auckland, Northern Wairoa competition or the third division of the Northland Southern Districts competition, primarily as a single team country rugby club up until the present day. The millennium saw the installation of flood lights on the main ground. 2001 saw the club celebrate its 75th Jubilee with a weekend of Tomarata rugby celebration.
Player of the Year 2004 Rene Ranger, who played all his junior rugby with the club, went on to become a Northland RFU regular, as well as gaining selection for the Auckland Blues. Current President Alec McQuarrie is in his twenty-third season as either the President or Vice President of the club who along with Paddy Atkins and the late Peter McIntyre gave more than twenty years service as club administrators. Alec McQuarrie would also have to go close to being the clubs most capped player, having played for the club for more than twenty seasons at senior level.
Tomarata RFC life members are:
Albert Burnan, Harry McIntyre, Ron Braddick, Bert Heywood, Doug McIntyre, Howard Willcocks, Paddy Atkins and Laurie Atkins
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