MPRFC has enjoyed a long, rich rugby history.
Starting life as the Merivale Rugby Football Club in 1882. The ‘clubs rooms’ were officially, unofficially, at the Carlton Hotel and having a few pints after each game was the norm. MRFC registered with the Canterbury Rugby Football Union under the navy and white strip and played as MRFC until 1966.
MRFC merged with the Papanui Rugby Club and became Merivale Papanui Rugby Football Club. MPRFC was the dominate club in the NW of Christchurch for most of it’s years. 1972 saw the club brought to it’s current ‘home grounds’ at Nunweek Park in Harewood.
1986 the club decided to return to it’s original name, Merivale Rugby Football Club until, 1996, when an opportunity showed itself in the form of an amalgamation with Lincoln University. The next 12 years, the club played under the name Merivale Lincoln University (Merlins).
2010 has brought them full circle, returning to their glory years and watching history repeat itself. The Merivale Papanui Rugby Club is a self-governed rugby club that has the ability to remain cutting edge and evolve when necessary. MPRFC has seen it’s share of changes, but has always maintained their strength and reputation as the preferred club in the North West.
