The Geraldine Rugby Football Club was formed in 1898.

The club has a very rich history within the fabric of rugby in New Zealand and is striving to drive that history for the next 100 years.

Geraldine is a snall, vibrant town of 4500 people located in the South Canterbury district, 30km orth an inland of Timaru.  The township is a thriving tourist village set in the heart of Canterbury and on the way to the Mackenzie Basin, Mount Cook, Queenstown, Wanaka and Central Otago.  Expansive walks and trials meander all over the area.

Geraldine attracts many outdoor sporting activities and boasts a 500-strong High School, which specialises in outdoor education.  The town has several industries, including Fonterra and Barker's of Geraldine, And all the associated rural and farm-based businesses, a busy little village with plenty of opportunity across many trades and professions.

The club is an integral part of Geraldine and is very well supported by local businesses.  This keeps the club ticking over, enabling it to offer an environment of which a range of people want to be part.  Rugby is a sport that should be enjoyed by people of all ages and to that end the club boasts a JAB membership in excess of 120 young players through to the age of 14.  Last year, the club's U16 team won the local competition and we would normall have a U18 team as well.  There is a contingent of older supporters who keep an eye on all grades.

Our philosophy over the past decade or more has been to fil our Senior B and Senior teams with local players based on the fact that the club is supported hugely by the local community and, as previously said, local businesses.  But in an era of so many other competing sports and activities, the club is having more difficulty staying with this philosophy.  To that end there was no Senior B team last yea and the very young Senior squad, who were totally committed and absolutely gave it their all,  Were unable to make an impression in the local senior competition.

We are being honest

To that end that is really what this article is about.  The Geraldine Rugby Club wants to sell itself to the wider rugby community of NZ as a destination for quality rugby players too either bring their families to live or, if you are single, come and re-set your life and enjoy what can only be described as an idyllic lifestyle.  Geraldine is the gateway to many work and leisure activities with access to the mountains and sea, many lakes, fishing, hunting, skiing, biking, squash, four-wheel driving and any other sport you can think of.  We have a very good Primary School and High School and a nmber of job opportunities for the right people.  This is a country-based community with a large number of rural businesses that service all variety of farming activities in the area.  Not to mention plumbers, builders, electricians, mechanics, etc.

House prices and rents are also very competitive compared to many other parts of NZ.

If your attitude is right, you can achieve anything.  South Canterbury was Runner-up in the Meads Cup of the Heartland Competition this season just finished, so there is a window to the rest of the rugby world.

If you want to have a chance of playing Rep level rugby for a top Heartland Side, Give us a call.

Grant Norton  021 277 8712

Chris Fisher  027 246 4663