Auckland Rugby League

Auckland Rugby League
Founded	1909[1]
Formerly named	Auckland Rugby League Control Board[1]
Responsibility	Auckland
Headquarters	Rugby League House, 17-19 Beasley Ave, Penrose, Auckland 1061[2]
Membership	Shane Price (Chairman), Catherine Friend (Kuia Kaumatua), Evelyn Brooker (Elected Director), Tony Kemp (Elected Director), Lynne Cameron (Elected Director), Greg Steed (Appointed Director), Karen Gibbons(Elected Director) Brian Mills ( Appointed Director)
Key people	Gary Whittle (President) Greg Whaiapu (Chief Executive)
Competitions	Fox Memorial Premiership
Website	aucklandleague.co.nz
As of 8 December 2009

The Auckland Rugby League^[3] (ARL) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region, including both club and school rugby league. It began in 1910 when the first season of club league in Auckland occurred. The first match was a practice game between Newton Rangers and Ponsonby United at Victoria Park which Ponsonby won 17 to 15.^[4] The first full club season was in 1910.

The Auckland Rugby League was once recognised by England's Northern Rugby Football Union as New Zealand's governing body for the game of rugby league.^[5]

In 2009, the ARL celebrated its centenary.^[1]

Club competitions[]

ARL 1909-2009 centenary logo

Auckland's premier competition is the Fox Memorial Shield. This has been contested since 1910.

For the 2021 season the premier competitions have been initially split into 2 divisions and after a full round robin will break into 3 divisions.

The Fox Memorial Premiership Qualifying competition featured 12 teams: Bay Roskill Vikings, Glenora Bears, Howick Hornets, Mangere East Hawks, Marist Saints, Mount Albert Lions, Northcote Tigers, Otahuhu Leopards, Papakura Sea Eagles, Point Chevalier Pirates, Richmond Bulldogs,and Te Atatu Roosters.

The Fox Qualifying competition featured 7 teams: Manurewa Marlins, Hibiscus Coast Raiders, Manukau Magpies, , Otara Scorpions, Pakuranga Jaguars, and

(comprising East Coast Bays Barracudas and ) initially entered a team but defaulted in round 1 and then withdrew. Ellerslie Eagles and Mount Wellington Warriors entered a combined side but withdrew at the start of the season,

, and Ponsonby Ponies did not enter senior grade men's teams.

After the round robin in each competition the top 8 teams in the Fox Premiership Qualifying competition will compete for the Fox title. The bottom 4 from this competition will join the join the top 4 from the Fox qualifying competition. While the remaining 7 teams will play off in the bottom division.

The winner of the round robin in the Premier One division wins the Rukutai Shield. Other key trophies include the Roope Rooster, which has been competed for since 1915 (it is currently - since 2006 - played under the rule where the home team defends it against visiting sides).

Junior clubs[]

Other clubs only run junior programmes. These include , , & Tuakau, Waiheke Rams and Waiuku.

Clubs[]

Bay Roskill Vikings, East Coast Bays Barracudas, Ellerslie Eagles, Glenora Bears, Hibiscus Coast Raiders, Howick Hornets, , Mangere East Hawks, Manukau Magpies, Manurewa Marlins, Marist Saints, Mount Albert Lions, Mount Wellington Warriors, , Northcote Tigers, , Otahuhu Leopards, Otara Scorpions, Pakuranga Jaguars, Papakura Sea Eagles, , Point Chevalier Pirates, Ponsonby Ponies, Richmond Bulldogs, , Te Atatu Roosters, Tuakau, Waiheke Rams, , Waiuku.

Defunct or merged clubs[]

City Rovers and Newton Rangers merged in the early 1900s. later merged with Point Chevalier to become 'City-Pt Chevalier'. Later the two clubs separated, and then in 2004 City Newton folded, while Point Chevalier have turned their fortunes around and won the Fox Memorial in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018. Ponsonby United and Maritime merged to become Ponsonby-Maritime, they parted ways in 1983 and Ponsonby are still in existence. Navy merged with North Shore to become 'Navy/North Shore'. Other teams to cease as their own entities include Akarana, Avondale, Blockhouse Bay, Eden Ramblers, Eden Roskill, Glen Eden, Glen Innes, Grafton Athletic, Green Lane, Kaipara, Kingsland Rovers, Manukau-Greenlane (which was a merged side), Maritime Football Club, Mt Roskill, Panmure, Parnell, R.V. (a company club of the Harvey & Sons Ltd business which later became a part of the Carter Holt Harvey company), Remuera, University, Wesley, Zora, Western United, Eastern United, Southern Districts and Northern Districts (though the later 4 teams were short lived mergers between clubs in those areas). For the 2018 and 2019 seasons East Coast Bays Barracudas and merged their premier teams to compete as the .

Senior club trophies[]

The Fox Memorial is awarded to the grand final winner in Premier One. In 2018 the first round will feature 12 teams competing for 8 spots in the Fox Premiership. The Fox Championship qualifying competition will feature 13 teams. The top 4 will join the bottom 4 from the 1st division for a round robin, with the top 4 making the 1st division in 2019.

For a list of the major trophies awarded for in Auckland club Rugby League go to Auckland Club Rugby League Trophies (this includes player awards as well as team awards).

Past decade winners:

Roope Rooster[]

In 2006 the Roope Rooster was successfully defended eleven times by the Mt Albert Lions.

National competitions[]

Lion Red Cup[]

When the Lion Red Cup was started in 1994 Auckland was originally represented by four teams. The Auckland City Vulcans, The Waitakere City Raiders, The Counties Manukau Heroes and the North Harbour Sea Eagles. In 1995 the Vulcans were replaced by the Auckland Warriors Colts. In 1996 Auckland City did not compete.

• North Harbour won the competition in 1994 & 1995.
• Counties-Manukau won the competition in 1996 and was runner up in 1994.
• Auckland was runner up in 1995 & Waitakere was runner up in 1996.

Bartercard Cup/Premiership[]

Previously Auckland had a large representation in the Bartercard Cup, in its final seasons before it ceased to run Auckland was represented by the Auckland Lions, Waitakere Rangers, Harbour League, Counties Manukau Jetz and the Tamaki Titans.

• The Mt Albert Lions won in 2002, 2004 & 2005.
• The Hibiscus Coast Raiders won in 2001.
• The Auckland Lions won in 2006 & 2007.

With the folding of the Bartercard Cup, Auckland rugby league team was awarded a place in the new six-team Bartercard Premiership, beginning in 2008. In 2009 the competition was mirrored by Under 18 and Under 16 grade competitions. The competition was replaced by the seven-team National Zonal Competition in 2010. Effectively Auckland club rugby league reverted to its regular form, with the zonal competition representing regional representative teams as in the past.

Representative team[]

Auckland has played against several touring teams over the years though once the Auckland Warriors started playing in 1995 it diluted the standard of the side and they have not played against full international sides in recent years.

Auckland famously beat Australia, England and France in the space of 21 days in 1977. A feat which the New Zealand Warriors commemorated by wearing replica strips in their Round 24 clash with the Manly Sea Eagles on 26 August 2007, when the Warriors won 36–14 in front of a packed Mount Smart Stadium.

Auckland also beat the touring Australian side in 1989 by 26 points to 24 at Carlaw Park.

Auckland represented New Zealand for most years in the Australian midweek competition (see Amco Cup) in the 1970s and 1980s. Central Districts, Canterbury, Wellington, and South Island also fielded teams [1].

Auckland representative sides traditionally wear a blue jersey with a white double 'V', in the same style of the New Zealand national rugby league team jersey but with blue instead of black, this is still the jersey worn by the Auckland Vulcans NSW Cup team (see below).

Auckland Warriors[]

Auckland Rugby League originally owned the Auckland Warriors (now known as New Zealand Warriors) when they were entered into the 1995 Winfield Cup, run by the Australian Rugby League. The club is based at Ericsson Stadium. By 1998 the club had yet to experience any success and so was sold to a consortium including the Tainui tribe.

Auckland Vulcans[]

Auckland Lions Premier League players during at match against St George Illawarra

Run by the Rugby League Development Foundation, the Auckland Vulcans participate in the NSW Cup. In 2007 they were known as the Auckland Lions.

Players Of Note[]

• Manu Vatuvei - NZ Warriors
• Jason Taumalolo -North Queensland Cowboys
• Shaun Johnson - NZ Warriors
• Tuimoala Lolohea - NZ Warriors
• Ruben Wiki - Canberra Raiders
• Sam Kasiano - Canterbury Bulldogs
• Sosaia Feki - Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
• Thomas Leuluai - NZ Warriors
• Ben Henry - NZ Warriors
• Ben Te'o - South Sydney Rabbitohs
• Steve Matai- Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
• Raymond Faitala-Mariner - Canterbury Bulldogs

See also[]

• Rugby league in New Zealand
• List of NRL club owners

References[]

External links[]

• Official site