National Competition
Current season or competition:![]() | |
Sport | Rugby league |
---|---|
Inaugural season | 2010 |
Replaced by | Bartercard Premiership |
Number of teams | 4 |
Country | New Zealand |
Holders | Akarana Falcons (2016) |
Most titles | Akarana Falcons (5 titles) |
Website | www.NZRL.co.nz/ |
The National Competition (previously called the National Zonal Competition) is the top-level rugby league competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League. In 2010 the competition replaced the Bartercard Premiership following a Sparc funded review and restructure of the New Zealand Rugby League. Since 2016 the competition has consisted of a four-team national championship and a four-team national premiership with a promotion and relegation between the two divisions.
Trophies and awards[]
Senior teams compete for the Albert Baskerville Trophy, which is named after Albert Baskerville, the organiser of the 1907-1908 All Golds tour. Under-17s compete for the Mark Graham Cup, which is named after Mark Graham, the New Zealand Rugby League player of the century. Under-15s compete for the Nathan Cayless Cup, which is named after Nathan Cayless, the only captain to win the World Cup for New Zealand.
Restructure[]
The competition was reformatted for the 2016 season, with Akarana, Counties Manukau, Canterbury and Wellington competing in a national championship. The Upper Central and Mid-Central zones reverted to district teams with these teams, alongside Northland and the South Island districts, competing in four regional championships. The four regional winners then compete in a National Premiership competition, which play a promotion-relegation match against the last placed national championship side.[1]
Championship teams[]
Team | Current Coach | Home Grounds |
---|---|---|
Akarana Falcons | Steve Buckingham | Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland |
Canterbury Bulls South Island Scorpions |
Andrew Auimatagi[2] | Denton Park, Christchurch Trafalgar Park, Nelson Wingham Park, Greymouth |
Counties Manukau Stingrays | Rod Ratu | Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland |
Wellington Orcas | Mike Kuiti | Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua |
Waikato defeated Wellington in the promotion/relegation match, and will replace them in the 2017 championship.
Season winners[]
Year | Albert Baskerville Trophy | Score | Runner up | Minor Premiers | Wooden Spoon | Score | Premiership winner | Mark Graham Cup (U-17) | Nathan Cayless Cup (U-15) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Auckland | 14 | 6 | Counties Manukau | Auckland | Northern Swords | N/A | Counties Manukau | Counties Manukau | ||
2011 | Auckland Pride | 44 | 34 | South Island | Auckland Pride | Northern Swords | Auckland Pride | Auckland Pride | |||
2012 | Akarana Falcons | 38 | 20 | Counties Manukau | Counties Manukau | Northern Swords | Akarana Falcons | Counties Manukau | |||
2013 | Akarana Falcons | 22 | 12 | Counties Manukau | Counties Manukau | Central Vipers | Counties Manukau | Akarana Falcons | |||
2014 | Canterbury Bulls | 40 | 8 | Waicoa Bay Stallions | Counties Manukau* | Northern Swords | Akarana Falcons | Akarana Falcons | |||
2015 | Counties Manukau[3] | 41 | 10 | Canterbury Bulls | Counties Manukau | Northern Swords | Akarana Falcons | Akarana Falcons | |||
2016 | Akarana Falcons[4] | 32 | 12 | Counties Manukau | Counties Manukau | Wellington Orcas | 14 | 38 | Waikato | Akarana Falcons | Counties Manukau |
2017 | Akarana Falcons | 30 | 4 | Waikato | Akarana Falcons | Wellington Orcas | Bay of Plenty Lakers | ||||
2018 | Akarana Falcons | 51 | 20 | Counties Manukau | Akarana Falcons | Wellington Orcas | |||||
Akarana Falcons | 28 | 10 | Canterbury Bulls | Akarana Falcons | Waikato |
*In 2014 Counties Manukau were disqualified from the final for fielding an ineligible player.
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "NZRL re-launch national competition for 2016". APRL. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- ^ "Auimatagi new Canterbury Bulls coach". 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
- ^ Stingrays romp home in premiership final nzrl.co.nz, 17 October 2015
- ^ "Falcons fly high for premiership crown".
External links[]
- Rugby league competitions in New Zealand