The Prebbleton Rugby Club, located in Prebbleton, New Zealand, is a long-standing and successful rugby club with a rich history. Established in 1919 as the Prebbleton-Halswell Rugby Club, it has since grown and evolved to become the thriving club it is today. Offering a genuine and enjoyable country atmosphere, the club aims to provide the best and most modern training facilities available to its members.
The club is proud of its facilities, which are situated at the Prebbleton Reserve. The clubrooms boast four changing rooms with showers and an excellent weight training facility. There is also a large social area that overlooks the number one field, complete with a modern kitchen and large flat-screen TVs. In addition, the club has three full-size rugby fields, three junior fields, and a full range of training equipment, all of which are fully lit for night rugby and training.
The Prebbleton Rugby Club offers a range of teams to cater to players of different skill levels and age groups. These teams include Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, Colts, Women's premier, Golden Oldies, and all grades in the Junior Club. The club has a strong tradition of producing representative players, with over 50 Ellesmere and 20 Canterbury Country representatives in 2002. Notably, the club has also produced two Crusaders players, Joe Maddock and Peter Borlase, as well as five NPC players.
The club's vision is to provide the necessary resources, support, and encouragement to enable all players, coaches, and administrators to reach their full potential. They strive to be the top club in the Ellesmere Sub Union and consistently produce winning teams in all competitive grades. Additionally, the club aims to enhance and promote the values of playing rugby for Prebbleton. With highly motivated coaches and managers for all teams, the club is committed to providing every player with the opportunity to reach their full potential, whether at a social or representative level.
The Prebbleton Rugby Football Club has a rich and storied history. Formed by the local school headmaster AF McMurtie and local resident Herb Prebble in 1919, the club initially played under the Prebbleton-Halswell banner in the Ellesmere competition. Over the years, the club faced challenges and changes, including disputes with Halswell administrators and a temporary cessation of the team. However, the club persevered and revived in the early 1930s, playing in the Christchurch Competition before returning to the Ellesmere Competition in 1936.
Since then, the club has enjoyed success, including winning the 1st grade competition for the first time within four years of its re-establishment.
Overall, the Prebbleton Rugby Club offers a welcoming and inclusive environment for rugby enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. With its outstanding facilities, strong team structure, and commitment to player development, the club is dedicated to promoting the values of rugby and ensuring the continued success of its members on and off the field.