Rugby league in New Zealand

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Rugby league in New Zealand
Kiwis Team Photo.jpg
New Zealand celebrating their 2008 Rugby League World Cup victory
CountryNew Zealand
Governing body New Zealand Rugby League
National team(s) New Zealand
Nickname(s)Kiwis
First played13 June 1908, Wellington
Registered players24,000 (total) [1]
3,550 (adult)
Clubs142
Club competitions
Audience records
Single match47,363 - 1988 Kiwis vs Australia. Eden Park, Auckland

Rugby league in New Zealand dates to the beginning of the sport in England. New Zealand played an integral role in the history of rugby league football. Of all rugby league nations New Zealand was second only to England to compete in international competition.

Contents

History

A professional New Zealand team was touring England and Australia before it was even considered that there should be a professional league in New Zealand. [ citation needed ] The first makings of a New Zealand rugby football schism, such as seen in other countries was the creation of Albert Henry Baskerville who set out to sign a group of professional rugby players to tour England. Baskerville's team of professional "All Golds", on their way to England, made a stop over in Australia, playing a 3-game series against a professional New South Wales rugby team. [ citation needed ] From there, they went on to England and for the first time, played by the Rugby Football League's rules. On their return home, they stopped over in Australia to play another 10 games against clubs from the newly formed New South Wales Rugby League.[ citation needed ] During the All Gold's tour, their founder, Baskerville fell ill and later died of pneumonia. [ citation needed ] 13 June 1908 saw the first game of rugby league played by the Northern Union's new rules on New Zealand soil; as a benefit match for Baskerville's widowed mother. The first match in New Zealand was played at Wellington on 13 June 1908 before a crowd of nearly 7,000, which saw an exhibition between two teams drawn from the touring side. [ citation needed ] Rugby league had now its sights firmly set on New Zealand, however, the New Zealand Rugby Union's dominance in New Zealand sport, government and business would prove a lot tougher than the unions of Australia or England. The NZRU took it upon themselves to pressure potential converts, officials, sponsors and ground owners into not giving the rugby league upstarts any room to move. The Wellington Rugby Union even went to the length of naming, under false pretenses, famous players in the team lineup for a match at Athletic Park in order to lure interest away from a Northern Union match being played in Petone on the same day. [2] None of this succeeded in stopping the establishment of the game and by 1910 it was being played in Auckland, Taranaki, Rotorua, Nelson, Southland, Wanganui, Marlborough, Invercargill, Hawke's Bay, and South Auckland. The New Zealand Rugby League was formed in 1909 and other provinces joined the league. In the year after that, Auckland Rugby League became the first to start a regular competition. The Auckland League had a full season in 1912, with its headquarters at Eden Park. That same year saw the formation of Wellington's local rugby league competition. In 1913 Henry Thacker set up the Canterbury Rugby Football League, donating the Thacker Shield. [3]

By the early 1990s New South Wales' club competition matches were being broadcast in New Zealand with far greater viewing numbers than that of domestic rugby union. [4] A New Zealand club team, the Auckland Warriors, was added to the top-level Australian Rugby League competition in 1995. Soon after when the Australian Super League war shook the game to its very foundations in that country, the New Zealand Rugby League, along with the governing body in Britain, aligned itself with Super League. The Warriors continued to participate in the National Rugby League competition after many expansion teams were cut and foundation teams merged. In 2001 the club's name was changed to New Zealand Warriors.

In 2005, the New Zealand national side won the Tri-Nations final, beating Australia 24–0. This was the first series defeat of Australia in 25 years and also their equal biggest losing margin. The New Zealand national team won the Rugby League World Cup for the first time in 2008. In 2009, the much-mooted State of Origin-like concept called "Kiwi Roots", which would involve two domestic New Zealand representative teams playing each other, was announced to commence in 2010. [5] but has yet to eventuate.

In 2010 a poll released by UMR Research showed that in Auckland, home of the Warriors, more people were interested in the NRL premiership (33%) than rugby union's ITM Cup (26%). [6] The finals form of the Warriors in 2011 increased the NRL's television audience in New Zealand by 29 per cent that year. [7]

Governing body

The New Zealand Rugby League is responsible for governing of rugby league in New Zealand. The Auckland Rugby League is a partner of the NZRL and is responsible for the governing the sport in the Auckland Region. The premier competition organised by the governing body of rugby league in New Zealand is the National Competition, formed in 2010. Significant former competitions included the Lion Red Cup, run from 1994–96, the Bartercard Cup, run from 2000–07, and the Bartercard Premiership, run from 2008–09.

On a regional level, the sport is administered by seven zones and fifteen districts and has seven Affiliates. [8] [9]

New Zealand based teams also take part in Australian competitions. New Zealand Warriors are the only non-Australian team in the National Rugby League and the New South Wales Cup.

National Competition

The NZRL 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 2019, the competition has consisted of a four-team national premiership and an eight-team national championship (split into North and South Island Conferences) with a promotion and relegation between the two divisions.

Teams playing in Australia

The National Rugby League (NRL) is Australia's top-level competition for the sport of rugby league [10] and the New Zealand Warriors are New Zealand's only team in the NRL; in addition they have a "B team" in the NSW Cup, one of Australia's second tier state competitions. The club also fields a team in the NRL Women's Premiership. [11] Wellington Orcas unsuccessfully bid for a National Rugby League licence in 2006. In May 2022, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo mentioned a second New Zealand team to be an option for a potential 18th NRL Team. [12]

ClubLocationHome GroundTimespan
New Zealand colours.svg New Zealand Warriors Auckland Mt Smart Stadium 1995-present (NRL)
2023-present (NSW Cup)
2018-2020, 2025 (NRLW)

National team

The New Zealand national rugby league team represent New Zealand at rugby league, and are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. They are administered by the New Zealand Rugby League. On 22 October 2008, The Kiwis defeated Australia to win their first Rugby League World Cup. The team's most recent title came in the 2014 Rugby League Four Nations tournament by beating Australia, which brings their Rugby League Four Nations championships total to two. The national team reached the semi-finals of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup where they were knocked out by Australia. The Kiwis are currently the number two ranked rugby league nation (as of December 2022).

See also

Related Research Articles

The New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruben Wiki</span> New Zealand rugby league footballer

Ruben James Wiki is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative centre-turned-prop forward, he retired with the record for most international appearances of any rugby league player in history. As of 2023, he is still the highest capped Kiwi player ever. At club level Wiki played for the Canberra Raiders, winning the 1994 NSWRL Premiership with them before finishing his career with the New Zealand Warriors. He currently works as the NZRL's High Performance Manager and a High Performance Assistant with the New Zealand Warriors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evarn Tuimavave</span> Former NZ international rugby league footballer

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerome Ropati</span> New Zealand rugby league footballer and coach

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Kearney</span> New Zealand rugby league player and coach

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auckland Rugby League</span> The citys administrative body for rugby league

The Auckland Rugby League (ARL) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. Founded in 1909, the ARL has played a central role in the development and promotion of rugby league in Auckland, contributing to the sport's rich history in the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Mannering</span> New Zealand rugby league footballer

Simon Alexander Mannering is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL. A New Zealand international second row forward, who could also play as a centre. He was appointed the New Zealand national team's captain in 2013 and was replaced by Jesse Bromwich in 2016 and was part of the 2008 World Cup-winning Kiwis team. Mannering was a one-club player who played his whole NRL career with the Warriors. With 301 appearances for the Warriors, Mannering is the club's most capped player.

Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand competitions. Previously teams have competed in the Bartercard Cup and Lion Red Cup. The CRL is currently part of the South Island Zone which includes the Tasman, West Coast, Otago and Southland regions.

Wellington Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Greater Wellington region. It is responsible for the local competition of the same name, as well as its representative team, the Wellington rugby league team.

The 2008 New Zealand rugby league season was the 101st season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the inaugural season of the Bartercard Premiership competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. Auckland won the title by defeating the Canterbury Bulls 38–18 in the Grand Final.

The 2009 New Zealand rugby league season was the 102nd season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the second season of the Bartercard Premiership competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Canterbury Bulls won the minor premiership and then the premiership by defeating Auckland 26–20 in the Grand Final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 New Zealand rugby league season</span> Sports season

The New Zealand rugby league season 2010 was the 103rd season of rugby league that was played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the new National Zonal competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The premier teams competed for the Albert Baskerville Trophy, which was won by Auckland when they defeated Counties Manukau 14 - 6 in the Grand Final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pita Godinet</span> Samoa international rugby league footballer

Pita Godinet is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker for the Dapto Canaries in the Illawarra Rugby League.

The 2011 New Zealand rugby league season was the 104th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the National Competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The premier teams competed for the Albert Baskerville Trophy, which was won by the Auckland Pride when they defeated the South Island Scorpions 44 - 34 in the Grand Final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Tuivasa-Sheck</span> New Zealand rugby union player

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The 2014 New Zealand rugby league season was the 107th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the National Competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Albert Baskerville Trophy was won by the Canterbury Bulls.

The 2015 New Zealand rugby league season was the 108th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the National Competition, which was won by the Counties Manukau Stingrays.

The 2016 New Zealand rugby league season was the 109th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the re-formatted National Competition, run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The competition was won by the Akarana Falcons.

Apii Nicholls-Pualau is a New Zealand rugby league and union player. She played for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL Women's Premiership. Primarily a fullback, she is a New Zealand representative.

Onjeurlina Leiataua is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL Women's Premiership. Primarily a second-rower, she is a New Zealand & Samoa representative.

References

  1. ↑ "NZ rugby league out of doldrums". 4 January 2011. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012.
  2. ↑ "Outside Chat". NZ Truth, Issue 170. New Zealand. 19 September 1908. p. 3. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
  3. ↑ "Thacker, Henry Thomas Joynt - Biography" at teara.govt.nz
  4. ↑ Hadfield, Dave (14 July 1992). "League breaks union's power". The Independent. UK: Independent News and Media Limited. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  5. ↑ Brown, Michael (15 July 2007). "League: Kiwi Roots clash part of competitions shake-up". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  6. ↑ NEWSTALK ZB (22 September 2010). "League tops rugby in Auckland: poll". New Zealand Herald . New Zealand: APN Holdings NZ Limited. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  7. ↑ Roy Masters (14 October 2011). "Numbers add up for NRL clubs in pursuit of more cash from rights". The Sydney Morning Herald . Fairfax Media . Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "NZRL zones". New Zealand Rugby League. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  9. ↑ NZRL - Districts
  10. ↑ "Australian NRL - in Wakefield". Archived from the original on 19 October 2007. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
  11. ↑ Newton, Alicia (27 March 2018). "Geographic location the focus as NRL women's teams announced". NRL.com. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  12. ↑ "'An enormous market': NRL boss backs New Zealand for 18th team".

Further reading

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