West Coast rugby team, 1961

West Coast Rugby team, 1961. Winners of the Rundle Cup and Seddon Shield.

Back row (left to right): J.H. Wood, J.P. Maughan, C.J.P. McPherson, I.N. MacRae, A.J. Lindbom, T.E. Rogers, C.J. Nightingale, D.W. Bergman, E. Thomas, B.L. Ross.

Middle row (left to right): J.F. Pegley (Manager), R. Richardson, S.N. Morton (Captain), M.R. Bunt (President W.C.R.U.), B. Watkin (Vice-President W.C.R.U.), T.N. McAra (Vice-Captain), J.A.L. Wright, E.G. Walker (Coach-Selector).

Front row: (left to right): G.R. Keehan, W.T. Ryall, B.J. Vieceli, C.A. Hibbs, M.W. Gooch, A.J. Goodall, J.M. Eathorne.

There are nearly 40 inter-provincial trophies at stake on the New Zealand rugby calendar of which the Rundle Cup is one of the oldest. The symbol of rugby supremacy on the west coast of the South Island, the West Coast and Buller unions initially competed for the Molloy Cup in 1896 before it was replaced by the Rundle Cup in 1911. Another significant local trophy in the upper South Island is the Seddon Shield, a challenge trophy for representative teams from Buller, Nelson Bays, Marlborough and West Coast. First competed for in 1906 it is named in honour of the former Premier and Coaster Richard John Seddon.