True North Statement TO BE THE MOST RESPECTED RUGBY ORGANISATION IN CANTERBURY THROUGH EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP, TEAMWORK, INNOVATION AND PERFORMANCE. Shared Vision CONTINUALLY DEVELOP AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ATTRACTS, FOCUSES AND KEEPS TALENTED PEOPLE INVOLVED WITHIN LINWOOD RUGBY
In the beginning
April 10th 1886, a group of youths gathered at Hagley Park to talk about rugby. They had a training and decided to organise a game for the following week. This event, on this day, began what is now known as the Linwood Rugby Club.
Crying Towel
In 1965 a young halfback playing for Wairarapa against the touring Springboks was presented with a large towel, embossed with a Ranfurly Shield, as part of his rugby gear. The towel became one of Brent Elder's treasures and when he transferred to Canterbury a few years later, he had the towel in his gear bag.
Brent had ideas of playing for the Christchurch Rugby Club and had a run with the squad on the beach. After a few beers, he discovered that his towel was missing.
The following week, he trialed with Linwood and then went out on a scrap metal drive. Apparently, it was the drive which persuaded him to join Linwood. He was impressed by a mob prepared to both socialise over a few beers and get out and earn a few bob.
On the first occasion that Linwood and Christchurch met after that, Christchurch won and the Christchurch loose forward, Roger Mahon, well known as a practical joker, came into the Linwood dressing room and presented the Linwood players with a "crying towel" - which of course, was Brent's missing heirloom.
Since then, the towel has been presented to the loser of the first game each season between the two clubs - a "trophy" which neither side wants to "win".
Linwood All Blacks - click on players name to get their playing stats
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Sandy Kerr, 1896 Sid Orchard, 1896-97 Ted Glennie, 1897 Tom Cross, 1901-04-05 Bernie Fanning, 1903-04 Duncan McGregor, 1903-04-05-06 Fred Newton, 1905, 1906 Alf Fanning, 1913, 1921 Bill Cummings, 1913,1921 Billy Elvy, 1925-26 Wally Argus, 1946-47 Fred Hobbs, 1947 (vice captain) Peter Eastgate, 1952-53 Fergie McCormick, 1965, 1967-68-69-70-71 Tane Norton, 1971-72-73-74-75-76-77 (captain) Terry Mitchell, 1974, 1976 Graeme Bachop,1987-88-89-90-91-92-94-95 Aaron Mauger, 2002-03-04-05 Ben Franks 2008 Owen Franks 2009
Archie McCormick was an All Black in 1925 from Hinds before transferring to Linwood.
Pat Ward, who played for Linwood in the early 1920's, was an All Black in 1928 after transferring to Taranaki.
Charlie Quaid, who played for Linwood and Canterbury in the early 1930's, was an All Black in 1938 after moving to Otago.
Fred Allen played for Linwood from 1937 to 1940. He was a member of the famous Kiwis touring team in 1945, became in All Black in 1946 and captained the All Blacks in 1947 and 1949.
John Ashworth played for Linwood before transferring to Kaiapoi from where he won All Black selection in 1977-78-79-80-81-82-83-84-85.
John Mills, who hooked for Linwood and Canterbury in 1982-83, become an All Black after transferring to Auckland in 1984.