Here's some background information on the trophies awarded each year at the Old Boys - University Club's Prize Giving Ball.

Al Keown Memorial Cup - Best Under 21 Player of the Year (All Grades)

First Awarded 1981

A legend of the Wellington College Old Boys Club as well as Wellington rugby, Al Keown is widely considered to be one of the unluckiest players never to pull on an All Black jersey. His rugby career spanned thirteen years, in which time he played 159 first class games, of which 149 were for Wellington, 22 as captain. He was also an All Black trialist between 1972 and 1974 and played for the New Zealand Presidents XV in 1973. Renowned as a genuine clubman, Al Keown once turned down an All Black trial to play an important game for his beloved Old Boys club. Tragically, Al Keown passed away in 1980, aged 31.

Braddock Forde Cup – 85kg player of the year

First awarded 1998

Donated by two prominent club identities, Alastair Forde and Andrew Braddock following the establishment of the club's first 80/80 side.

Alastair has served the club for many years as an administrator, Club Captain for both University and OBU and Premier team manager. He was also a Wellington Rugby Football Union Vice-President in 2000 & 2001.

Andrew, a fine hooker for WCOB in his playing days, has similarly served the club as a coach, Club Captain and administrator over many seasons.

Andrew and Alastair are both life members of the club.

Brown Copeland Cup- Person who best served the club

First awarded 1985

Donated by Mike Copeland of Brown Copeland, Wellington based economists, raconteurs and all round good guys. Mike is a past president of the club and is currently a member of the Wellington Rugby Football Union Board.

Dai Hayward Trophy – Top age grade points scorer

First awarded 1992

Named after the former Wellington College Old Boys Rugby Club stalwart who served in a number of administrative positions over many years. Made a life member of the club in 1991, he also penned the excellent history of the Wellington College Old Boys Club, Follow Up.

Darryl Longley Cup – 85kg Player of the Year

First awarded 1990

Named after a stalwart of the now defunct Cornelius Groat Varsity social team and coach of the University Under 21 B team, who died of an asthma attack in the mid-1980s.

Dr Elliot Memorial Cup –Best Team

First awarded 1927

A former surgeon and long time resident of Kent Terrace, Dr Elliot was the father of Sir Randell Elliot, patron of the Wellington College Old Boys Rugby Club in the 1920s and 1930s.

Frank Scott Trophy- Social Player who serves the club best

First awarded 1977

Frank Scott was a keen rugby player and a rowing stalwart. A senior player in the 1940s and 1950s, he went on to coach several Wellington College Old Boys teams from under 19s through to Senior Ones. This trophy is awarded to the social grade player for qualities as a player, team and club member.

Graham Haggett Cup-Most points in social rugby

First awarded 1983

Graham Haggett was an U21 member of the Wellington College Club in the late 1970’s who died in a diving accident.

Ian Archibald Trophy - Premier Team Player of the Year

First Awarded 1969

A life member of the University Club, Ian Archibald was a lower grade player in the mid-1930s who participated despite the handicap of a hip injury. He later served the club as Secretary between 1954 and 1967. Ian Archibald worked as a Public Accountant, with offices in the Huddart Parker building, the former home of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.

Jackie Ruru Blazer

First awarded 2001

Jackie Ruru’s Blazer. Pocket embroided with the following description:

Victoria College
Wellington
N Z Universities
N Z Maori
1927-34

The jacket was given to a group of social players consisting of the 69'ers and 7ozs by a grand niece, of Jackie Ruru. The group were on a trip to Hawkes Bay and one of the group was wearing sporting apparel that had Jackie Ruru shield regalia on it. A women came up to the group and enquired about it. She was so moved by the legends and traditions of the shield still being played for that she came back to see the group later in the weekend and after consultation with other members of her family, presented the jacket. Jackie Ruru wore it when he played in Wellington for Victoria University.

Jackie Ruru Shield

First Played for:

See 'The Jackie Ruru story'on the History page of the OBU website.

Mike Lorigan Memorial Shield - Top Try Scorer in Social Rugby

First awarded 2001

A flying winger who played for the Teddybears social team, Mike Lorigan was tragically killed in an air accident near Canberra in early 2001. A prolific try scorer, he was also the youngest Senior Press Secretary to have served in Parliament.

MJB (Jock) Hobbs Cup-Coach of the year.

First awarded 2006

A former All Black Captain 1984-86, Wellington Rep in 1987. Coached Victoria University Senior 1 in 1988-1990, New Zealand Universities 1991- 95. Jock was one of the key players in the Canterbury Ranfurly Shield era of the 1980s. He is currently the Chairman of New Zealand Rugby Football Union.

Noel Ryder Cup-Best player first year out of College

First awarded 1959

Noel, or 'Buck' Ryder served as Club Captain for the Victoria University Club in 1957. A lecturer at Victoria University, he died of a brain tumour.

Peter Preston Cup - Best Under 19 Player (All Grades)

First Awarded 1968

Originally awarded to the most improved Colts player competing in end of season games. A talented and skilled sportsman, Peter Preston represented Wellington in three sports - soccer, cricket and rugby. He died in a cricketing accident in 1961

Peter Scott Cup – Most successful off field social team

First awarded 1996

Donated by active Sixty-Niner and the club's Wellington Rugby Football Union delegate, Peter Scott. A city-based dentist, Peter has been associated with the club since the mid-1980s.

Prime Corporation Cup-Un21 grade player of the year.

First awarded 1985

Donated by Prime Corporation a finance company, who in 2006 secured naming rights to the Basin Reserve our home ground.

Sir Richard Wild Cup-Senior One player of the year

First awarded 1981

A former New Zealand Universities captain and secretary of the Victoria University Rugby Club from 1933-1935, Sir Richard Wild was a senior partner at law firm Bell Gully Buddle Weir and served as Chief Justice of New Zealand between 1966 and 1978.

Sisam Cup-Woman’s player of the year

First awarded 2004

The Sisam Cup is named after Peter and David Sisam who are grandsons of a WCOB life member A J Wixon. Peter played for Old Boys-University and coached the women’s team in 2003-04. David played for the premiers from 1996 – 2003 and was treasurer of OBU 1999-2003.

Stephen Robertson Cup-Most improved women’s player

First awarded 2004

A former University/Harlequins Senior player joined the Exec in 1997. Chairman 1999-2004. Established colts academy programme with Al Keown Trust. Grew the 85kg grade through partnership with Onslow Sports Assn, re-branded the club (name and jersey) and established one of the country’s best club websites, along with introducing the club’s first women’s team.

Stu Wilson Cup-The player who best epitomized the spirit of OBU rugby

First awarded 2003

A Wellington College Old Boys Senior 1 player in the 1970’s. Captained New Zealand in 1983. He played 89 games for Wellington and 85 for New Zealand. Once held the All Black record of 19 tries in test matches and scored 104 1st class tries.

Stu is now a rugby comments person for Sky TV.