Old Boys

The Manukau Rovers Old Boys Assn currently have 47 financial members and meet on the first Sunday of every month with the Annual General Meeting being held in February annually.

When the present day club was relocated in 1972 to Williams park in Mangere the old Rowe St clubrooms were gifted to the Old Boys as their headquarters. The clubrooms were ably managed by our Patron Les Murdoch MBE until the building was purchased for use as a Kohanga Reo. The Old Boys moved to their current location in the Dungeon of the clubrooms at Williams Park and continue to support the present day club in many endeavours.

The Old Boys began a tradition when they visited the Moerewa Bowling club in 1962 and this trip has continued on an annual basis for the past 40 odd years. Sadly the trip in 2007 was the last as the Moerewa Bowling club has ended as many other clubs have with a lack of members and funds. So many good memories deserve better.

The old guard of the Old Boys are our Patron, Les Murdoch MBE, Dave Hetherington and our treasurer for the last 27 years Mr Emil Olderhaver. Dave Hetherington was born in 1919 and began playing for Manukau in 1926 for the Under 7 team. He continued playing for Manukau until 1939 when he was asked to play for the senior team.In 1941 the Manukau seniors played in the Gallaher Shield competition and drew with Ponsonby in the last game of the round. They had to play the Army team in the final for the shield and the Army team was loaded with current All Blacks and they won the final. Dave was the captain of the Manukau team and never played competition rugby for the club again. He is a founding member of the Old Boys resurected after the second world War.

"where passion is rugby"