In 1908 Southland was involved in some of the first provincial matches in the country when it played a home and away series against Otago. The first game was played at Caledonia Ground in Dunedin on 3 October and used goalposts which were rented from the Otago Rugby Union. The Southland side included Ned Hughes, a former All Black. Otago won the match 11-8. A return match was played at Queens Park, Invercargill on 7 October. Southland was able to win the match 30-14 and draw the series.
In 1998 Southland recorded its first ever win over the West Coast.[1]