We hope you enjoy this look back as we look forward to many more years of recording the history of Buller Rugby Union.
We acknowledge all the information from the NZ “Rugby Almanack” Series since 1934 and appreciate their hard and dedicated work in providing this detailed history. – Web Admin

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Results

Sat 28 May	2:30 pm	H	Rundle Cup	West Coast	06 - 08	Match Center
Mon 06 Jun	2:30 pm	H	Representative Match	Nelson	06 - 14	Match Center
Sat 11 Jun	2:30 pm	A	Rundle Cup	West Coast	17 - 15	Match Center
Sat 30 Jul	2:30 pm	A	Seddon Shield	Marlborough	27 - 06	Match Center
Sat 03 Sep	2:30 pm	H	Representative Match	Canterbury	05 - 34	Match Center

THE 1966 SEASON:

Buller “plumbed the depths” with five losses in five games; a match was also played at Reefton against West Coast, but is not counted in the official records as it did not comply with the New Zealand Rugby Union’s requirements appertaining to first-class status.

The matches were:

v. West Coast At Westport Lost 6 to 8
v. Nelson At Westport Lost 6 to 14
v. West Coast At Greymouth Lost 15 to 17
v. Marlborough At Blenheim Lost 6 to 27 {Seddon Shield}
v. Canterbury At Westport Lost 5 to 34

The Union was host to the touring British Isles team, a combined West Coast-Buller XV taking the visitors on at Westport. Buller supplied eight of the combined side: T.A.Craddock (Westport White Star), R.T.Dawe (Ngakawau), W.N.Forsyth (Westport), Mason Geddes (Ngakawau), O.H.Nahr (Westport White Star), B.P.Roche (Westport White Star), J. B. Shaw (Westport Old Boys) and Brian Stack (Westport). The combined side also played a match against Marlborough, Nelson & Golden Bay-Motueka, at Motueka, before meeting The Lions, and afterwards went to Christchurch for a match there. J.W.Halsall (Westport) and M.G.Head (Westport) played at Motueka, C.R.F.Carlyon (Westport) being a replacement versus A Canterbury XV.

Brian Stack was a South Island trialist, and also was one of the South Island wings in the Inter-Island match, at Hamilton.

A notable milestone was reached by John Shaw during the season, he reaching his century of first-class matches, when he appeared against British Isles, at Westport. Another interesting visitor to Westport was Doshisha University of Japan. Comprised of past and present students, the side was too good for Buller winning 30-20; the match is not recognized as of first-class rating.

The senior grade this season had‘ six competitors, the four Clubs of the previous year again providing teams, whilst Waimangaroa United Club after an absence of some length, and Karamea Club after a still longer period, also took part.