The NZ Harlequin Rugby Football Club (Inc.) Hamilton, New Zealand, was formed in the State Fire Office, Hamilton, Waikato, on June 15, 1938.

The NZ Harlequins first team played in Tauranga in 1939. After the war In 1946, there was a meeting of the club and the club stated its aims and objectives as:

• To renew and maintain old friendships of playing days.
• To engage in football free from competition, and for the joy of it.
• To invite promising juniors to play for the club and teach such youngsters the spirit of the game.
• To play friendly games with similar clubs when such can be conveniently arranged.

Many All blacks have played in the New Zealand Harlequins jersey over the years and since the inclusion of the under 17 development programme in 1992, has given a clear development pathway for young up and coming Waikato rugby players.

The annual NZ Harlequins’ under 17 programme has been hailed as an outstanding success since its inception in the early 1990s.

“Every team featured players from smaller country schools and they grabbed their opportunities with relish. It’s the same today.” The progress of youngsters such as Bruce Reihana, who made the first under 17 team, then Mark van Gisbergan, Isaac Boss, Nathan White and Regan King proved the value of giving these players the opportunity to shine.

Annual matches with NZ Area Schools and the NZ Vikings club from Northland have become regular features. A NZ Harlequin camp, supported by the Waikato Rugby Union for approx 40-45 players will be staged at St Paul’s Collegiate.

Since 2013, we have been developing a U13 programme and in 2018 we had our 1st women’s 7s team. In 2019 we have committed to a development programme to help players lead into our first Girls Under16 team.

• U13 Development
• U17 Girls Development
• U17 Boys Development

Supporting the development of our youth rugby in the Waikato.