Roller Mills Rugby 1925-2019
Compiled by Mike McCarthy
Celebrating 100 Years of Roller Mills Rugby — 1925 to 2019
For nearly a century, the Roller Mills Rugby Tournament stood as one of New Zealand’s most iconic youth rugby competitions. First played in 1925 after the Northern Roller Milling Company donated the original shield, the tournament quickly became the second‑oldest provincial rugby competition in the country — surpassed only by the Ranfurly Shield.
Over 95 years, Roller Mills became the proving ground for thousands of young players across the northern provinces. Many went on to become household names, including Sir Colin Meads, Sir Michael Jones, Grant Fox, Kieran Read, Sonny Bill Williams, and Don Clarke.
This website is dedicated to preserving the full history of the tournament — the teams, the players, the coaches, the photos, the results, and the stories that shaped generations of rugby in New Zealand.
Although the tournament ended in 2019 following changes to youth rugby pathways, its legacy lives on here. Explore the archives, relive the memories, and celebrate the young athletes who wore their provincial colours with pride.