The main sport that is played is rugby union, being the home ground of the East Coast Rugby Football Union, known as Ngāti Porou East Coast, who play in the Heartland Championship and formerly played in the National Provincial Championship's Second and Third divisions.

Since then it has hosted numerous notable games including two Ranfurly Shield matches in 1997 against Auckland and in 2013 against Waikato.

Whakarua Park also hosted the 1999 NPC Third Division final between East Coast and Poverty Bay in which the Ngāti Porou won 18–15.

The 2000 NPC Third Division saw East Coast defeat Wairarapa Bush 18–17, however they would go on to lose the final at Centennial Park in Oamaru against North Otago.

[2] Ahead of the 2016 Super Rugby season, the Hurricanes prepared during preseason in Ruatoria and Gisborne.