Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League logo
Founded1909[1]
Formerly namedAuckland Rugby League Control Board[1]
ResponsibilityAuckland
HeadquartersRugby League House, 17-19 Beasley Ave, Penrose, Auckland 1061[2]
Key peopleRebecca Russell (Chief Executive)
CompetitionsFox Memorial Premiership

Fox Memorial Championship

Women's Premiership
Websiteaucklandleague.co.nz
As of 9 March 2022

The Auckland Rugby League[3] (ARL) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand including both club, school, and representative league.

History

Auckland first played some unofficial representative matches in 1908 before an organisational body was officially formed on July 19 in 1909 at the Chamber of Commerce on Swanson Street after players had met a week earlier on July 12. North Shore Albions were the first club to form on July 23 and then Ponsonby United, City Rovers, and Newton Rangers were formed over the following days and weeks with many of the players dissatisfied with the Auckland Rugby Union at the time. The first organised club match was played on July 25 between North Shore Albions and City Rovers at Eagleton's Paddock in Epsom with North Shore winning 44-24.[4] The first full club season was played in 1910 and featured 4 teams, Newton Rangers, City Rovers, Ponsonby United, and North Shore Albions.

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.

2023 Senior Competitions and Teams

Fox Memorial Premiership Sharman Cup Womens Premiership
Pt Chevalier Northcote Ōtara Women
Richmond Ōtara Howick Women
Howick New Lynn Manurewa Kowhai Women
Ōtāhuhu Pakuranga Mt Abert Lionesses
Te Atatū Papatoetoe Ōtāhuhu
Papakura Ponsonby City
Marist Ellerslie Taniwharau
Glenora Glenfield
Bay Roskill Hibiscus Coast
Mt Albert Manurewa
Manukau
Māngere East

Clubs

Defunct or merged clubs

City Rovers and Newton Rangers merged in the early 1900s. City Newton Dragons 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 remained. 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' however North Shore ceased to exist in 2009.

Other teams to cease as their own entities include:

Senior club trophies

Fox Memorial

The Fox Memorial is awarded to the grand final winner in the Premiership. In 2022 the 19 competing teams are split into 2 sections. After playing each other the top 6 in each section moved into the Fox Premiership play offs.

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

Past decade winners:

Fox Memorial Roope Rooster Sharman Cup
2012 Mount Albert Lions Howick Hornets Mangere East Hawks
2013 Point Chevalier Pirates Mount Albert Lions Richmond Bulldogs
2014 Point Chevalier Pirates Point Chevalier Pirates Otara Scorpions
2015 Pt Chevalier Pirates Pt Chevalier Pirates Richmond Bulldogs
2016 Papakura Sea Eagles Papakura Sea Eagles Te Atatu Roosters
2017 Glenora Bears Point Chevalier Pirates & Glenora Bears Otahuhu Leopards
2018 Pt Chevalier Pirates Pt Chevalier Pirates & Glenora Bears Bay Roskill Vikings
2019 Howick Hornets Mount Albert Lions & Howick Hornets Manukau Magpies
2020 Not Awarded
2021 Not Awarded
2022 Point Chevalier Pirates Point Chevalier Pirates Northcote Tigers

Roope Rooster

The Roope Rooster is currently held by the Point Chevalier Pirates who went through the 2022 season undefeated in all home challenges.

Year Holders
2018 Glenora Bears, Point Chevalier Pirates
2019 Mt Albert Lions, Howick Hornets
2020 Mungoball East Siders
2021 Point Chevalier Pirates
2022 Point Chevalier Pirates

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.

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 .

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.

Players of note

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "100 year luncheon". Auckland Rugby League. Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
  2. ↑ "Administration Contacts". Auckland Rugby League. Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
  3. ↑ "Auckland Rugby League (Inc) Constitution". Auckland Rugby League. Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2009.
  4. ↑ "City v North Shore/Win for the Shore". Auckland Star. Vol. XL, no. 176. 26 July 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  5. ↑ Press Association (1909-11-01). "Northern league football". The Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 107. New Zealand. p. 11. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
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