Auckland Rugby Football Union

""'Rugby team
teamname = Auckland Rugby Football Union

|
founded = 1883
region = Blues
ground = Eden Park
capacity = 50,000
coach = flagicon|New Zealand Shane Howarth
ceo= flagicon|New Zealand Andy Dalton
chairman = flagicon|New Zealand Ken Baguley
league = Air New Zealand Cup
season = 2007
position = Champions
pattern_la1=_white_hoops|pattern_b1=_whitehoops|pattern_ra1=_white_hoops|leftarm1=000080|body1=000080|rightarm1=000080|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=000080
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=|leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF

The Auckland Rugby Football Union (ARFU) is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland isthmus territorial authority, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's senior representative team, the current holders of the Air New Zealand Cup, play their home matches at Eden Park.

History

The ARFU was formed in 1883 and is one of New Zealand's most celebrated provincial sides. Its teams are comprised of players from twenty clubs under the union, which play in the Auckland Club Rugby Championship. Auckland's senior (1st Division) team is the most successful side in the history of New Zealand provincial rugby, having won 15 of 25 national titles. Auckland have also produced a greater number of All Blacks than any other province.

Ranfurly Shield

Auckland have won 152 out of 193 matches defending the Ranfurly Shield, the most coveted prize in New Zealand provincial rugby. Between 14 September 1985 and 18 September 1993, Auckland defended the Ranfurly Shield for 61 consecutive challenges. In the period since the semifinal/final format was introduced to the NPC (predecessor to the Air New Zealand Cup, Auckland competed in 8 of the 14 series, winning all of them. These achievements are all provincial rugby union records.

Representative Rugby

Air New Zealand Cup

Current squad

The current squad is:

Other notable players

* Christian Califano
* Tasesa Lavea
* Brian Lima
* Isa Nacewa
* Brent Ward

References

External links

* [http://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/index.html Official site]