Charles John Monro

File:New Zealand Rugby Museum - statue.JPG

Memorial in front of New Zealand Rugby Museum, Palmerston North

Charles John Monro (sometimes, erroneously, Munro) (5 April 1851 – 9 April 1933) is credited with introducing rugby union to New Zealand.

Biography

Monro was born on 5 April 1851 in Waimea West, near Nelson. He was the 4th son of New Zealand politician Sir David Monro and his wife Dinah.

Monro attended Nelson College from 1863 to 1865. He became familiar with the sport of rugby at Christ's College Finchley near London, which he attended from 1867 to 1869, playing in its 2nd XV.

He introduced the game under the 1868 rules of rugby and with the new Gilbert oval ball to the Nelson Football club in 1870. The first game was played between Nelson College "The Gown" and Monro's club "The Town" at the Botanics ground at 2pm on 14 May 1870.

Four months later Monro's commitment to establishing rugby in New Zealand was such that he organised, selected, coached the Wellington team, played for Nelson and also refereed the first game on the North Island at Petone on 12 September 1870.

In 1889, Monro purchased land in Fitzherbert, Palmerston North.

He died in Palmerston North in 1933, and was buried at Kelvin Grove Cemetery.