Jaradites Rugby Sports Club

FIRST CLUB

During the latter part of 1987 and in January 1988, 3 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints conceived the idea of starting a rugby league club for boys in the church.

When Lds boys here in the Waikato area left Church College of New Zealand or any other local colleges They would have a sports club to come to run by Adult members of the Church in good standing.

When these boys left to go on their 2 year missions for the same church the club would still be here For them to return to after their missions.

The 3 Lds members were Charles Sunnex,Victor Bracken, and Grenville Bell.

The last time a church team played rugby league was 8 years ago. They were called Church College Old Boys however this clubs decline was due to one family wanting to hold all the key positions and not delegate responsibilities out to others.

At least 3 other rugby league clubs in the Waikato area went the same way.

In order to be a separate entity as a club, it was decided to first play for an existing club namely Frankton Albions. The President of the club at the time was a less involved member of the Lds church Named Nelson Harris who was a good man and he welcomed our players into the club.

They decided as an Lds church rugby league team, to recruit lds boys and all play together for the Frankton Albion Clubs Senior 2 nd team. This was agreed to by the club.

That year of 1988 the team of Lds boys played 12 games winning 11 of them and drawing one. They started off the season with a squad of 35 players but as there was only one team this was reduced to 26 players which was maintained throughout the year.

This team of Lds boys was the only undefeated team in any grade That year of 1988, in the Waikato Rugby League competitions.

During that year of 1988 the Frankton Albions club had only 30 players from 3 Senior teams who Paid their club subscription fees. 26 out of 30 players were from the team which comprised the Lds Boys.

However the team which were all registered with the club as players, received bad news just prior to the playoffs leading to the grandfinal which the team expected to win. They were told that one of their players a Jason Paki was not registered with the Waikato Rugby League and that despite winning all their games they had no points. Jason Paki filled out the clubs registration form like every other player in the team and all were submitted to Carol Lawrence then secretary of the Frankton Albions club. This form was not submitted by the club, and the result being no points for the team.

This news devastated the team of Lds boys and team management and the same 3 who put the team of Lds boys together decided at a meeting among themselves to leave the Frankton Albions rugby league Club and form their own.

Frankton Albions were informed at the clubs annual general meeting of 1988 of the players intentions. This may never have happened if the club secretary had done her job.Those proposing a new club wanted total control over any future rugby league player registration Forms.

Frankton Albions Senior 2nds team of 1988.

1988-FRANKTON ALBIONS SENIOR 2NDS SCORES

Frankton Alb ions         vs         Waikeria Prison        12-2

Frankton Albions          vs         Taniwharau                6-6

Frankton Albions          vs         Cambridge Raiders  78-6

Frankton Albions          vs         Turangawaewae      90-10

Frankton Albions          vs         Waipa                       32-14

Frankton Albions          vs         Hukunui                   18-14

Frankton Albions          vs         Hillcrest Hornets      42-6

Frankton Albions          vs         Taniwharau              20-18

Frankton Albions          vs         Cambridge Raiders   64-4

Frankton Albions          vs         Waipa                        35-0

Frankton Albions          vs         Hukunui                     46-0

Frankton Albions          vs         Hillcrest Hornets     55-6

The first meeting of the proposed rugby league club for Lds boys was held at the home of Victor Bracken on Tuesday 27 th September 1988 at 14 Arawa Street, Frankton.

At this meeting The following church members were voted in to fill the first club positions of the Jaradite Rugby League club. They were as follows:

PRESIDENT - Paisanga Togia

VICE-PRESIDENT - Charles Sunnex

SECRETARY - Julianne Ririnui

TREASURER - Raumati Heke Jnr

SENIOR COACH - Victor Bracken

UNDER 19 COACH - Andre Berryman

ACTIVITIES - Grenville Bell

SCHOOLBOYS - Glen O’Brien

RECRUITER - William Martin

The proposed colours of the new rugby league clubs jerseys were red and white after the English Rugby league club Wigan this was submitted by Charles Sunnex and approved by those present.

Those present at the new clubs first meeting were, Paisanga Togia, Charles Sunnex,Grenville Bell, Raumati Heke Jnr,Julianne Ririnui,Kevin Watene,Glen O’Brien,Andre Berryman,Victor Bracken. Also present was a non-member Henry Lam who was a player.

SECOND MEETING

The second meeting for the proposed rugby league club was held at the home of newly elected club captain Kevin Watene at 63 Winstone Avenue, Fairfield on the 27 th October 1988.

John Gray another Lds church member was confirmed as the Senior 2nds coach for the new club.

The first club constitution was proposed and read by Charles Sunnex. Points in Constitution to be Discussed at next meeting. All club officers given a copy.

Charles Sunnex proposed the full name of the club as Jaradite Rugby League Sports Club Incorporated. This was accepted by those present. Player subscriptions for Seniors were set at $50.00.

CLUB NAME

During the first club meeting held on the 27 th September 1988, a discussion took place among those Present concerning the future name of the new rugby league club.

One of the founders of the club Charles Sunnex suggested because the club was made up mostly of Lds church players and that they wanted to abide by the principles and teachings of the same church that the name would be closely Associated with some facet of the Lds church. He also suggested that one of the clubs goals should be to promote missionary work among sports people.

Charles Sunnex then suggested the name ‘Jaredites’ after the Book of Mormon group which migrated To the Americas 2200 years before the birth of Christ. This name was accepted by those present.

However because all the other clubs playing rugby league in the Waikato was associated with an area, within the competition he further suggested ‘ Hamilton West Jaredites’. This did not appeal to

Those present neither did a further name Western Suburbs Jaredites put forward by Andre Berryman.

Paisanga Togia new President of the Club suggested ‘Jaredites Rugby League Club’. A vote was taken and the 7-3 majority for the latter name ended all discussions.

The letter ‘e’ in Jaredites was later changed to ‘ a ‘ to avoid any contentions or discussions over copyright names associated with the Book of Mormon, thus the club became known as the ‘Jaradites

Rugby League Sports Club. In 1994 the name was changed to ‘TeRapa Jaradites Rugby League Sports Club. This was done as the club wanted to be associated with an area within the competition as all other rugby league clubs were.

During those years the clubs teams consisted of 2 Senior teams, under 18 team, under 16 team, and 6 Junior grade teams.

The club was the youngest club out of 18 clubs in the competition, however the Jaradites was the fastest growing club in the competition area and registered more new players each year then any other club. It rose to become the 3 rd largest rugby league club in the competition.

When rugby league clubs were told to amalgamate with other clubs to make the competition stronger. The Jaradites retained their separate entity when the 18 clubs were finally reduced to only 10.

When the club switched sporting codes in 1998 when they decided to play Rugby Union , the club again changed its name to reflect the new sporting code. The new name was adopted in the year 2000 and today it’s called ‘Jaradites Rugby Sports Club’.

CLUB PROPOSAL

A special day of fast was called for among the Jaradite Rugby League Clubs newly appointed Officers as founding member Charles Sunnex was delegated to go to the Waikato Rugby League’s Annual General meeting to table the application for an behalf of the club on 11th December 1988, when Charles Sunnex tabled the application for club status this was met with a hostile reception from the majority of clubs as the Waikato Rugby League Board had told clubs that no new clubs were going to be given approval to be affiliated to the league as some clubs were struggling then.

Charles Sunnex held his ground, and informed the clubs and the Board of control that the clubs application for status was tabled under the rules and regulations that currently existed under the      sporting codes current constitution. The Chairman Ray Barlow restored the meeting to order and informed all clubs present that the matter would be heard on the 15 th February 1989 at the Waikato Rugby League Boards first meeting.

On the 15 th February 1989, the Waikato Rugby League Board met to decide the application of new proposed club Jaradites. Also sitting on the board was new board member Charles Sunnex who was nominated to the position at the annual general meeting as he wanted to assist in promoting Rugby League in the Waikato area.

He was given permission by Chairman Ray Barlow to table the Application point by point and had prepared and given a copy of the application to each board member Present.

After a round table discussion a vote was taken on the application which went 5-3 in favour of the Club with one board member abstaining to vote.

Waikato Rugby Football League Letter dated 16.02.1989.

Waikato Rugby Football League letter dated 04.04.1989.

Jaradite Rugby League Club’s First Senior Team.

Jaradite Rugby League Club’s Senior Teams Results in 1989.

Jaradite Rugby League Clubs Senior First Team 1989-Losing Grand Finalist.

MONOGRAM

When the matter of a club monogram was raised and what should be depicted on it, many ideas were put forward, but none seemed to fit.

Club President at the time in 1990 was Charles Sunnex who proposed a monogram that would promote missionary work in the community and also to remind Lds members playing for the club the importance of setting a good example of sportsmanship on the field of play.

The monogram was also to depict to Lds club members one of the things they should be doing when not playing rugby league and now rugby and that was to go to the temple or prepare oneself to be worthy to go to the temple and do the sacred work therein.

Thus you have depicted on the monogram the angel moroni on both sides of a temple blowing their trumpets in the temple’s direction indicating ‘Go to it’.

The monogram also depicts the Angel Moroni Standing on gold plates which represent the Book of Mormon a volume of scripture club members are encouraged to share with non-lds players and friends during the rugby season.

This has been the club monogram for the last 20 years. The club carried out their own investigations with the copyright division of the Lds church and there is no breach of any copyrights in relation to the monogram or depiction of the temple.