Auckland Rugby League

The Auckland Rugby League (ARL) is the governing body for the sport of Rugby league in the Auckland Region. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".

Club Competitions

Aucklands premier competition is the Fox Memorial Shield, competed for by Premier One teams. This has been contested since 1910. There are two other divisions below the Premier grade, namely the Sharman Cup which is fought for by Premier Two teams and the Phelan Shield, played for by Premier Three teams. The first part of the season consists of the Lion Red Fox Memorial Preliminary Series before sides are graded into the Fox Memorial and Sharman Cup. Grade three teams automatically enter the Phelan Shield. 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, while a Champion of Champions was also awarded from 1925 until recent decades. Since 2006 the Roope Rooster has been contested as a Challenge trophy. For a full list of all past winners go to Auckland Club Rugby League Trophies.

2008 Format

*Lion Red Fox Memorial Preliminary Series (Includes teams to be split into the SAS Sharman Cup); Richmond Rovers, Papakura Sea Eagles, Manurewa Marlins, Glenora Bears, East Coast Bays Barracudas, Marist Saints, Te Atatu Roosters, Otahuhu Leopards, Bay Roskill Vikings, Pakuranga Jaguars, Howick Hornets, Mangere East Hawks, Northcote Tigers, Mt Albert Lions, Ponsonby Ponies, Ellerslie Eagles.
*Madron Masonry Phelan Shield; New Lynn Staggs, Pt Chevalier Pirates, Glenfield Greyhounds, Otara Scorpions, Waitemata Seagulls, Manukau Magpies, Navy/North Shore Albions, Hibiscus Coast Raiders, Papatoetoe Panthers.

Junior Clubs

Other clubs only run junior programmes. These include the Rodney Rams, Pukekohe Pythons & Waiheke Rams.

Defunct or Merged Clubs

City and Newton merged in the early 1900's. City Newton later merged with Pt Chevalier to become 'City-Pt Chevalier'. 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.

Senior Club Trophies

The Fox Memorial is awarded to the grand final winner in Premier One. The Rukutai Shield is awarded to the team in first place at the end of the regular season in Premier One. The Roope Rooster was traditionally a pre-season knockout competition but changed format in 2006 (see below). The Stormont Shield is a champion of champions playoff between the Fox Memorial and Roope Rooster winners. The Kiwi Shield is awarded to the Premier One club with the most points scored from Premiers (x3) and Reserves (x1).

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).

Current Champions

Roope Rooster

In 2006 the Roope Rooster was successfully defended eleven times by the Mt Albert Lions. On the 17 March 2007 they lost it to the Te Atatu Roosters who defended it three times before being defeated by the Richmond Bulldogs. As of 9 June 2007 they have successfully defended it three times.

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 Warriors commemorated by wearing replica strips in their Round 24 clash with the Manly Sea Eagles on the 26th of August, 2007. Happily, 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 representative sides traditionally wear a blue jersey with a white double 'V', in the same style of the New Zealand Kiwis jersey but with blue instead of black, this is still the jersey worn by the Auckland Vulcans NSW Cup team (see below).

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

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.

Bartercard Premiership

With the folding of the Bartercard Cup, Auckland was awarded a place in the new six-team Bartercard Premiership, beginning in 2008.

The Auckland Warriors

Auckland Rugby League originally owned the Auckland Warriors when they were entered into the Winfield Cup (Confusingly run by another ARL, 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.

The Auckland Vulcans

Run by the Rugby League Development Foundation, the Auckland Vulcans participate in the NSW Cup. In 2007 they were known as the Auckland Lions.

External links

* [http://www.aucklandleague.co.nz/ Official site]

ee also

* Rugby League in New Zealand
* Bartercard Cup
* New Zealand Rugby League
* National Rugby League
* New Zealand Warriors
* New Zealand Rugby League