1887 Southland Rugby Representative Team - First Southland Team.

The team:
Back Row - J. McNaughton (Riverton), R. Mentiplay (Pirates), H. H. Lee (Riverton), R. Harper (Pirates), A. Galbraith (Pirates), V Ekensteen (Pirates).
Second Row - J. C. Colbeck (President), I. Jenkins (Star), A. Morgan Capt (Invercargill), A. Hutcheson (Gore), R. McRobie (Pirates), S. Russell (Invercargill).
Front Row - H. Lillicrap (Pirates), P. Cuff (Star), W. Hawke (Pirates), A. Tapper (Pirates), F. Wallace (Gore).


The first Southland team was selected in 1887, the year The Southland Rugby Football Union was formed.
Five of the clubs, Invercargill, Pirates, Star, Riverton and Gore were affiliated to the Otago Rugby Union , or to put it in the terms of the day, were recognised by the Otago Rugby Union.  Matches were played between the Dunedin and Invercargill clubs, and occasional Southland players were selected to play for Otago.
Dissatisfaction of the way Southland players were treated saw Southland breaking away and becoming their identity.