A Brief History
From those initial 13 members in 1957, the Club has grown , and now has a membership list of 260. This number includes players, coaches, administrators, referees, plus kindred clubs from throughout New Zealand. In other words, people who have made, and who are still making, a large contribution to the game not only here in Canterbury, but also throughout New Zealand.
The focus for members in the early days was about getting out and coaching, arranging invitation games for charities and for provincial trials. As the game changed, and with the advent of professional rugby, so too did the activities and focus of the Club.
Today, the main emphasis is on rugby youth, particularly at second tier levels and their retention in the game, and primary school players.
The Club organizes an annual Fun Day for primary school players (with up to 1000 attending), a three day coaching clinic for 8 to13 year olds, a four day live-in camp at Burnham for 45-50 16 and 17 year olds, and a six match programme for a second tier Under19 representative team who play in the Cantabrian Club colours.
Other features include an Annual Charity Golf Classic, an Annual Club Day Luncheon, involvement with a pre-test Charity Luncheon, and organizing get-to-gethers and re-unions.
The Club rents a 40 seat room in the Hadlee Stand at AMI Stadium, which is available to members.
The Cantabrian Name
Initially the Club had no name, but by the time of the first AGM, 27 March 1957, it had adopted the suggestion of one of the Foundation Members, Pat Vincent - the name Cantabrian. It was an invented name which was not recorded in any dictionary. It is a combination of two words - Cambrian, meaning of Welsh origin, and Cantab an abbreviation for Cantabrigiensis, Latin for Cambridge.
The registration of the Cantabrian Rugby Football Club Inc as an Incorporated Society, does prevent any other rugby club in New Zealand from using the name. In recent times, the media and commentators have used "Cantabrian" as useful shorthand for residents of Canterbury in general and sporting teams in particular. This is in fact incorrect use of the word.
The Cantabrian Monogram
The shield is divided in four sections as follows:
| Top left: | Ship with blue background Representing the town established by the first settlers |
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| Bottom left: | Sheaf of wheat with red background Represents the country on which the prosperity of the province relies |
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| Top right: | A stylized cross with yellow background - a link to Cantab of Cantabrian | |
| Bottom right: | The silver fern with black background represents New Zealand |
