Alhambra-Union Rugby Football Club

About

Alhambra-Union Rugby Football Club
Closest club to the University.
Premier
Premier II
Senior
Premier Colts
Colts
Juniors
Women

Story

The Alhambra Union Rugby Football Club as we know it today was formed at the end of the 1986 season and first took the field in 1987. The two clubs in the north end of Dunedin had each operated in excess of 100 years and after years of informal discussions it was agreed to merge the clubs.

Union had the numbers but lacked the grounds. After a season of training and playing, the picturesque North Ground was far from a picture. Alhambra had the grounds but was losing numbers after it lost its senior status at the end of 1983.

Alhambra:
Formed in 1884 the club was founded from members of the old Albany Street school who arranged a 'kick around' at Thompson's paddock, now known as Harbour Terrace. At the end of that first season members began clearing bush at Opoho and permission was obtained to play games there in 1885. That same year the club joined the ORFU and was given the colours of red & black. In 1886 it played its first senior game, drawing against Kaikorai.

In 1891 the club had its first taste of success winning the senior and junior banner. The seniors repeated the feat the following season. In the first decade of the 1900s the club enjoyed a purple patch winning the senior banner in 1902 (13 games undefeated), 1905, 1909 and 1910. They were runner-up twice in that period as well.

Union:
The Union Football Club was formed in 1872 after a special meeting on the 24th February 1871 at the Annadale Arms Hotel. This meeting took place after the boys of the Otago Boys High School had played a game against the Dunedin club, which had just been formed.

First reports of the games played by Union appeared in local papers in 1874, although a report on a game played between Dunedin and North Dunedin almost certainly involved the Union club.

The first club resident was Robert Stout who later became Sir Robert Stout. He would go on to be a Provincial Councillor, Prime Minister and later Chief Justice. He would become a long serving patron of the club.

After some tough times in the depression of the 1880s the club won its first senior banner in 1887. It repeated the title again in 1890. Games were played on the North Ground which at that time was surrounded by a picket fence.