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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	Dene Biddlecombe (Chairman), Catherine Friend (Deputy Chairman), Evelyn Brooker (Elected Director), Rob Hellriegal (Appointed Director), Susanne Martin (Appointed Director), Wallace Dumper (Elected Director), and Wayne Urquhart (Elected Director).
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.

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.^[4]

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

Club competitions

For a full list of all past winners go to Auckland Rugby League club trophies.

For a full list of all Fox Memorial Grand Final winners go to Fox Memorial Grand Finals.

ARL 1909-2009 centenary logo

Auckland's premier competition is the Fox Memorial Shield, competed for by Premier One teams. This has been contested since 1910. There is a division below the Fox Memorial named the Sharman Cup which is fought for by Premier Two teams. The winner of the Sharman Cup is promoted to the Fox Memorial for the following season, which the last placed team from the Fox Memorial is relegated.

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), while a Champion of Champions was also awarded from 1925 until recent decades.

Junior clubs

Other clubs only run junior programmes. These include Kaipara Lancers, Rodney Rams, Pukekohe Pythons & Tuakau, Waiheke Rams and Waiuku.

Clubs

Bay Roskill Vikings,
East Coast Bays Barracudas,
Ellerslie Eagles,
Glenfield Greyhounds
Glenora Bears,
Hibiscus Coast Raiders,
Howick Hornets,
Kaipara,
Mangere East Hawks,
Manukau Magpies,
Manurewa Marlins,
Marist Saints,
Mount Albert Lions,
Mount Wellington Warriors,
New Lynn Stags,
Northcote Tigers,
Northshore/Navy,
Otahuhu Leopards,
Otara Scorpions,
Pakuranga Jaguars,
Papakura Sea Eagles,
Papatoetoe Panthers,
Point Chevalier Pirates,
Ponsonby Ponies,
Pukekohe Pythons
Richmond Bulldogs,
Rodney Rams,
Te Atatu Roosters,
Tuakau,
Waiheke Rams,
Waitemata Seagulls,
Waiuku.

Defunct or merged clubs

City and Newton merged in the early 1900s. City Newton later merged with Pt Chevalier to become 'City-Pt Chevalier'. Later the two clubs separated again, and since then City Newton folded in 2004, while Pt Chevalier have turned their fortunes around and won the Fox Memorial in 2014. Ponsonby and Maritime merged to become Ponsonby-Maritime (now known simply as Ponsonby Ponies). Navy merged with North Shore to become 'Navy/North Shore'. Other teams to cease include Grafton, Devonport, Western United, Eastern United, Southern Districts and Northern Districts. For the 2018 season East Coast Bays Barracudas and Glenfield Greyhounds have merged their premier teams to compete in the Sharman Cup.

Senior club trophies

The Fox Memorial is awarded to the grand final winner in Premier One. In 2015 it is a two-round, 10 team Premiership culminating in a top 4 play-off series. The Sharman Cup is awarded to the winner of the 'second division'. In 2015 it will be competed for by 15 teams and played over 18 weeks, culminating in a top eight play-off series.

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).

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 has had a large representation in the Bartercard Cup, however 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 the competition in 2002, 2004 & 2005.


• The Hibiscus Coast Raiders won the competition in 2001.


• The Auckland Lions won the competition 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. Television]]. 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

References

External links

• Official site