History
Birth of Kaikorai Club 1883
Histories of clubs invariably rely on the early written records of the organization or on memories of people who were about at that time. Unfortunately, in Kaikorai's case many of these early records were stolen in the 1970s so that almost complete reliance has had to be placed in the histories written for our 5oth and 75th celebrations.
Rugby in the 1880s became better organized with the formation of the Otago Rugby Football Union in March 1881. The clubs involved in this inaugural meeting were; Dunedin Union, Otago Boy's High School, Dunedin Normal School, Dunedin Zingari, Dunedin Montrose, Montecillo, Orokanui College, Oamaru and Invercargil. By the end of the 1887 season this number had grown to 27 affiliated clubs with Kaikorai being one of them.
We are not told who our forefathers are, but we know that in 1880-81, a number of boys used to kick a ball around in an area at the bottom of Flagstaff.
When the suggestion to form a club was made, those youthful enthusiasts responded in number and the Kaikorai Rugby Club came into being in 1883 under the chairmanship of a prominent member of the local business community, Mr R Chisholm, Mr G A Williamson was appointed the first Secretary.
At this first meeting, apart from the decision to form and play as an organised team, the club colours were also chosen which were to remain unchanged until the white strip was added in the 1970s.
The club, although officially formed, was not affiliated to the ORFU and in the first year (1883) played any unaffiliated club with which they could get a game. Home ground in those early days was near Wakari School. Their record for a fledgling club was impressive, losing only one game in that season.
1884 - 1899 The Blue and Blacks - Premiers on the Hill
The club's affiliation with the ORFU and entry of a junior team into the junior competition was the highlight of the 1884 season. The team fielded was much that same as in the previous year with Rob Douglas named captain.
The years 1885 and 1886 were building years. The team remained in the junior competition but the signs were there of the great team that would eventuate in the next few years. Coaching was almost non-existant; the team surviving on co-operation between players. It should be pointed out that at this time rugby was still very much an "individual" type game - the running and passing only being introduced following the tour of the British team under Stafford in 1888. A forwards main asset being considered to be bulk and the ability to dribble the ball at the toe. Any player with these attributes was much sought after.
1887. The team came of age and was entered in the senior competition. According to reports of the time the team acquitted themselves well and provided themselves worthy of being in the higher grade.
1888 saw the Kaikorai team put things together and win the premiership under captain Dave Torrance. The winning of the competition and the wins in subsequent years were in part attributable to the visit of Stoddards team in that year. The Stoddards (a British team) introduced the famous passing game from the scrum and of course Kaikorai and Alhambra especially at the time copied this game and introduced the passing game.
1888 had set the seal on the club's future. It had already, in the space of only 4 years, won the premiership and had produced a New Zealand representative and 5 Otago representatives.
The next year, 1889, saw a repeat of the previous seasons good form with another win in the premiership. Perhaps due to the retirement of many of the older players, wins in the premiership were denied to the club for the next few years. It being 1893 before the club again took possession of the ORFU Championship Flag. This was the start of a golden period in the club's history as they were to retain the championship title through the years 1893 - 99, runners up in 1900 and winners again in 1901.
Reference: Centennial 1884 - 1984 Book, Editor "B E Panting"
