Ralph Kelly Darling

Surname:

Darling

First names:

Ralph Kelly

Clubs:

Old Boys

Provincial teams:

North Otago 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
NZ Heartland XV 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

Provincial captain:

North Otago 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016 Co, 2017

Biography:

2007: Sub - 1 game
2008: Sub - 6 games
2009: Prop [1], Sub [4] - 5 games
2010: Prop [9], Sub [2] - 11 games
2011: Prop [9], Sub [1] - 10 games - 1 try (5 pts)
2012: NZ Heartland XV: Prop [1], Sub [2] - 3 games
2012: Prop - 9 games - 1 try (5 pts)
2013: NZ Heartland XV: Prop - 2 games - 1 try (5 pts)
2013: Hooker [1], Prop [9] - 10 games - 2 tries (10 pts)
2014: Hooker [8], Prop [2] - 10 games - 3 tries (15 pts)
2015: NZ Heartland XV: Sub - 3 games
2015: Prop - 10 games
2016: NZ Heartland XV: Prop - 3 games - 1 try (5 pts)
2016: Hooker [1], Prop [8] - 9 games - 3 tries (18 pts)
2017: NZ Heartland: Prop - 1 game
2017: Prop - 9 games - 1 try (5 pts)
2018: NZ Heartland: Sub - 2 games
2018: Prop - 9 games - 2 tries (10 pts)
2019: Prop [9], Sub [1] - 10 games - 6 tries, 1 DG (33 pts)
2019: NZ Heartland: Prop [2], Sub [2] - 4 games
2020: Prop - 1 game
2021: Prop [1], Sub [4] - 5 games - 1 try (5 pts)

Sub Total: Prov: 115 games (106 pts): Others: 18 games (10 pts)

Total: 133 games (116 pts)

Endorsement

It gives me great pleasure to write this character reference about this website. There would not be a person in this country who doesn’t know that rugby is the national game of New Zealand. The passion runs deep and the profile and exposure of the sport is without peer. A fair chunk of our heroes come from the game and nothing affects the mental psychology of the people more than rugby. Not even politics.

Because of this rich feeling, discussions in society are often based around the game and on the players involved. Memories tend to play tricks on people. They can fade and forget and get things muddled up. For nearly 90 years New Zealand rugby enthusiasts have been superbly served by the Rugby Almanack. It remains the definitive source of information from each season despite the advancement of technology.

However, we must accept that technology has advanced and like rugby, we therefore need to embrace the good that comes with that change. www.rugbyhistory.co.nz is the best rugby history site that is available. It provides comprehensive records of the All Blacks, all the Super rugby sides and most impressively of all, places a large emphasis on the national provincial competition, which remains such a crucial part of the fabric in New Zealand.

Kery Geertson’s dedication to this growing rugby treasure can not be denied. It continues to grow, mature and impress. To paraphrase the late, great Terry McLean www.rugbyhistory.co.nz should be stored as a favourite website for every rugby lover; it provides facts and fairness and hours of one of life’s greatest pleasures – browsing.

Grant Hassall
Wannabe Rugby Historian
New Plymouth

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