The
King Country Rugby Football Union was formed in 1922, by the amalgamation of the first
King Country Rugby Union (which was renamed as the
Taumarunui Sub-union in 1922) along with the
Ruapehu Sub-union in
Ohakune (founded 1908),
Maniapoto Sub-union in
Te Kūiti (1907) and
Ōhura Sub-union (1920). These were joined by
Ōtorohanga Sub-union in 1927,
Kawhia in 1926 (founded 1920) and
Kaitieke in 1933 with the
Taupō Sub-union transferring from the
Hawkes Bay Rugby Union in 1987. The
Ruapehu Sub-union returned to its original parent union the
Wanganui Rugby Union in 1970. The originally named
King Country Rugby Union was formed in 1905 by the Manunui, Matapuna,
Oio and Kakahi rugby clubs. In 1907, the newly formed
Taumarunui rugby club replaced Oio. This was the second attempt to establish a
Rugby Union in the middle of the North Island, as in 1920 the Rangatiki,
Taihape,
Ruapehu sub-unions (all affiliated to the
Wanganui Rugby Union), and the King Country Union (affiliated to South
Auckland) had applied for affiliation as the Main Trunk Union. However, this was declined after the
Wanganui Rugby Union objected to the loss of their country players. In those early years
King Country representative games were held in
Te Kūiti,
Taumarunui and
Raetihi or
Ohakune.
Ōtorohanga was first used for a representative game in 1939 with representative games also being hosted in
Tokaanu (1966) and
Tūrangi (1967). In later years
King Country played home games at
Piopio,
Maihiihi, and
Waitomo.
King Country played in light
blue and
green until 1949 when it switched to maroon and
gold hoops. In 1980, a maroon jersey with gold collar and cuffs was adopted. The current strip has been used since 1994.
King Country has made 22 challenges for the
Ranfurly Shield over the years without success but having come close at times, going down to
Taranaki in a hard fought game 11–15 in 1958. In 1969 they came even closer when good mates
Colin Meads and
Kel Tremain were the respective captains,
King Country storming back from 6–19 at half time in a torrid second half before going down 16–19. A well-known challenge took place in 1988 against
Auckland at Rugby Park in
Te Kūiti when “Boris the Boar” mysteriously got onto the field and camped in the
Auckland 22 for much of the second half. With the 2020 Heartland Championship cancelled due to Covid-19, the Rams played three First-Class Fixtures against some of their traditional Heartland Rivals. King Country lost their first match against
Wairarapa-Bush in the inaugural Meads-Lochore Scroll Fixture (18–22). They won their second fixture versus
East Coast (34–22) and in their final game they became holders of the Sir Colin Meads Memorial log beating
Whanganui 16–11 in Taumarunui. This game was also Carl Carmichaels 100th first-class game. == Clubs ==