Notable former players and administrators include All Blacks coach JJ Stewart, All Blacks player Ron Bryers, New Zealand Juniors player Geoff Neilson and the Crocker family, who represented Whanganui.
The clubrooms at Bulls Domain were built in 1992 and opened in 1993 after the previous clubrooms at a former gospel hall on High St were damaged by fire on Christmas Day 1990.
The celebration of the club’s 150th jubilee is on April 3-5, with more than 200 people associated with the club expected to attend.
There will be guest speakers, live music, catering, exhibition rugby games and more.
Club president John Keay said it was “marvellous” to be able to celebrate 150 years.
“How many people get that opportunity? It has rolled around quicker than we thought, the club has gone from strength to strength,” Keay said.
The Bulls community and club sponsors, multipurpose clubrooms and the club’s inter-generational aspect were reasons it had stood the test of time.
“Farming is inter-generational so we have had grandfathers, fathers and sons that have played for the club,” he said.
“We are a country club and our ethos is that we want to be the best country club.
“We don’t want to be something that we are not; I think that is the foundation of how we get so much support from the community because we are relevant to that community.”
Club facility manager and Senior B team manager Colin Bartlett said the influx of Pacific Islands families and players had contributed to the club’s recent history.
Bartlett said the Pasifika players were “filling the gaps” left by local players.
“When small towns were thriving 30 or 40 years ago, it was all locals but with centralisation of the cities and people going wherever, it is good to have other people come in, like these Pacific Island players,” Bartlett said.
The club’s culture and skilled coaches attracted players from as far away as Palmerston North, Marton and Feilding.
“When you talk to anyone from one of the city clubs that come to play here, they love coming because of the welcome they get, the environment and the good feed after the games,” he said.
“If you’ve got good coaches that know their job and coach well, that brings in and retains players.”
In 2026, Bulls Rugby Club has four senior teams, including a women’s team reintroduced last year for the first time since 2006.
There are also about six junior teams ready for the upcoming season.
Keay said there was a strong emphasis on family and on game days there were often up to 30 children having fun around the club.
“If you’ve got Mum playing netball, Dad playing rugby and the kids running around, then you have got the whole family network in that club,” Keay said.
Being financially sustainable was important for the club, he said.
“Some clubs go down the path of buying players or supporting the players well to get them to come and play.
“I think if a club is looking at spending money, they should spend it on coaches because everyone will benefit from really good coaches.
“If a player can pick up skills for that year, then they can be a better player and they will enjoy their game more.”
Keay said he and the club committee ran Bulls Rugby Club as a business first that supplied sport for the community.
He estimated the club had spent $250,000 on facilities and refurbishments around the clubrooms in the past few years.
The club had “close bonds” with rural farmers who helped out with food, which saved money.
Keay said the freezers were often “chock-a-block” with meat donated by farmers.
Bartlett was looking forward to the Easter weekend action and said it was a milestone worthy of a big celebration.
Tickets will be available up until Easter weekend on the Bulls Rugby Club website.
Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.
