麻豆APP

Charles John Munro statue from the Te Manawatu museum. Author Sheldybett.

Top 10 Amazing Facts About Charles Monro

Rugby arrived in New Zealand with the early settlers from Britain, soon after the country was colonized in 1840. Prior to European settlement, the indigenous M膩ori had invented a similar game called K墨-o-rahi – a fast-paced contact sport played with a woven flax ball. Since then it has occupied a special place in New Zealand鈥檚 social and sporting history, becoming the national sport. The man who takes the honors of this amazing discovery is none other than Charles Monro. He synchronized all these different versions of the game to be played under the same rugby rules.

Here we take you through the journey of Top 10 Amazing Facts About Charles Monro.

Read more here

1. Credited For Introducing Rugby In New Zealand

Rugby Ball.Photo by Edgar Pimenta on

Rugby originated in England and took a while before spreading to other countries in the world. New Zealand is one of the countries that rugby found its way to and the man who takes the honors for this effort is none other than Charles Monro. His efforts paid dividends and within a short time the game had gained popularity the New Zealanders not only loved but they excelled against their Australian neighbors and more established teams like England who had joined the game earlier. This was way back in the 1880s and 90s. If only he could be here to watch the brilliant performance of the undisputed rugby giants. It was not until 1928 that his role in establishing the game in New Zealand was recognized.

Get more interesting stories here

2. He Was The Son Of The Speaker Of The House Of Representatives

Born on 5 April 1851 at Beacroft homestead, Waimea West, near Nelson, Charles came from a political family that exhibited a lot of influence in the community at that time. He was the proud third-born child of a renowned politician and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, David Monro. Before that, the Senior Monro had served on the Nelson Provincial Council.  

3. He Abandoned The Army For Rugby

Army. Photo by Stijn Swinnen on

After attending Nelson College from 1863 to 1865, he proceeded to England where he was destined to get an education that would enable him to join the army. This turned out to be the idea that his father had and the young man did not like it. Nevertheless, he participated in playing football at school according to Rugby School Rules and he excelled.

However, it did not take him long before he abandoned his army ambitions and returned to Nelson in January 1870 and joined the Nelson Football Club, which had been formed two years before. By this time football was being played in a number of schools and communities but under different formations and there was a need to bring uniformity into the game. Due to his love for the game, he was successful in persuading the Nelson club to try out the Rugby School rules. The club approached the headmaster of Nelson College, the Reverend Frank Simmons, himself a graduate of Rugby School, who agreed that the school would also adopt the game. He in turn was given the role of coaching the players on these new rules.

4. He Helped Organize the First Version Of The Game

He brought a lot of vigor and experience of the game to the Nelson club. With it came a spirit to increase competition amongst the players with other teams. They, therefore, requested Monro to arrange a game with a Wellington team. He was able to quickly put together a team largely drawn from old boys of English public schools, and then drew on the influence of Colonial Treasurer Julius Vogel to have the Nelson team brought across on the government steamer. Despite difficulties in finding a suitable ground, the game was finally played at Petone on 12 September 1870. Attendance by a handful of players did not prevent Nelson from winning the game and it also marked the beginning of annual contests between Nelson and Wellington.

Read more here

5. He Was A Gentleman Of Means

Charles was not like any other person in the streets. He was known to be a hardworking young man and a gentleman of means, partly inherited from his rich father. One of his notable assets was a large garden and orchard at Craiglockhart. He also had investments in town sections, farms, and local ventures such as flax mills. He was active in the local A & P show and the horticultural society and was president of the National Game Club in 1908.

6. He Was Also Active In Other Sports

Polo. Photo by Ayush Gupta on

Monro was a founding member and president of the Manawatu Golf Club and retained his enthusiasm as a spectator for polo. He also played croquet at Craiglockhart and enjoyed billiards and snooker at the Manawatu Club, of which he became president in 1896 and a life member in 1929. However, he was not recognized in these sports with the same honor as he is remembered in rugby circles.

7. He Was An Avid Reader

He is not known to have attended any university but is said to have been a lover of books. He read extensively and, with his earlier travels overseas, was a very well-educated and knowledgeable man. Historians have discovered that he was also a regular letter-writer to newspapers, he debated issues as wide-ranging as religion, river protection, house servants, bull-铿乬hting in Spain, and Chinese immigrants.

8. His Craiglockhart Farm Still Stands Up To Today

Farm.Photo by Gozha Net on

As indicated earlier, he was a man of means. In his later life, Charles managed to buy 51 acres across the Manawatu River from the town and built a new home, which he named Craiglockhart. The two-story homestead, completed in 1890, still stands today on the grounds of Massey University. He spent the last 43 years of his life there. As a renowned farmer, he planted hundreds of fruit trees and his orchard became a visitor attraction when in full blossom. He was also renowned for the quality of his plums.

Due to illness, the heavy work of picking, packing, and delivering fruit became too much for him and he decided to lease the orchard out, later selling it. He also built a large glass house for grapevines and made his own wine, apple cider, and plum wine.

9. Charles Never Had The Excitement To Purchase Motor Cars When They Appeared

Despite his richness and ability to afford the finer things in life, Charles did not immediately rush into purchasing motor cars when they appeared in the streets in the early 1900s. An expert horseman, he was content to continue relying on his trusty horse to get about town and take him home from the club. Interestingly, it was at the age of 55 that he learned to ride a pushbike. He was well into his sixties before getting a car and had dif铿乧ulty adapting from a set of reins to a steering wheel and pedals.

Get more exciting stories here

10. He Was Affectionately Referred To As 鈥極ld Plummy Monro鈥� By Many Locals

He came as a migrant in his community and soon established himself as a respected citizen, in his later years. The former orchardist was affectionately referred to as 鈥極ld Plummy Monro鈥� by many locals. Just like his father, he was involved in many local activities, was charitable towards local organizations, and took an interest in local rugby, and boxing.