National Competition

National Competition
Current season or competition:
2014 New Zealand rugby league season
Sport Rugby league football
Inaugural season 2010
Replaced by Bartercard Premiership
Number of teams 7
Country New Zealand
Holders Canterbury Bulls (2014)
Most titles Akarana Falcons (4 titles)
Website [1][2]

The New Zealand Rugby League National Competition[3] (previously called the National Zonal Competition) is the top level rugby league competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The competition replaced the Bartercard Premiership following a Sparc funded review and restructure of the New Zealand Rugby League. Seven teams compete in the competition each representing a Zone. These zones are: Northland, Auckland, Counties Manukau, Upper Central, Mid Central, Wellington and Southern.

Trophies and Awards

Senior teams compete for the Albert Baskerville Trophy which is named after Albert Baskerville, the organiser of the 1907-1908 All Golds tour. Under-17s compete for the Mark Graham Cup which named after Mark Graham, the New Zealand Rugby League player of the century. Under-15s compete for the Nathan Cayless Cup which is named after Nathan Cayless, the only captain to win the World Cup for New Zealand.

Teams

In 2013 the Canterbury Bulls entered the senior competition, replacing the South Island Scorpions. However the Bulls will still represent the entire South Island and the Scorpions will still compete in the under 17 and under 15 competitions.[4]

Team Current Coach Home Grounds
Akarana Falcons Steve Buckingham Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Central Vipers Mike Graham Tikorangi Sports Ground, Waitara
Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North
Cooks Gardens Stadium, Whanganui
Counties Manukau Stingrays Peter Caccioppoli Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Northern Swords Joe Rau Toll Stadium, Whangarei
Arnold Rae Park, Kaitaia
Canterbury Bulls
South Island Scorpions
Mike Dorreen Denton Park, Christchurch
Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Wingham Park, Greymouth
Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions Morgan Kutia Arataki Park, Mount Manganui
Puketawhero Park, Rotorua
Davis Park, Huntly
Wellington Orcas Mike Kuiti Porirua Stadium, Porirua

Season Winners

Year Albert Baskerville Trophy Score Defeated Minor Premiers Wooden Spoon Mark Graham Cup Nathan Cayless Cup
2010Auckland146 Counties ManukauAucklandNorthern SwordsCounties ManukauCounties Manukau
2011Auckland Pride4434South IslandAuckland PrideNorthern SwordsAuckland PrideAuckland Pride
2012Akarana Falcons3820Counties ManukauCounties ManukauNorthern SwordsAkarana FalconsCounties Manukau
2013Akarana Falcons22 12 Counties ManukauCounties ManukauCentral VipersCounties ManukauAkarana Falcons
2014Canterbury Bulls408Waicoa Bay StallionsCounties Manukau*Northern SwordsAkarana FalconsAkarana Falcons

*In 2014 Counties Manukau were disqualified from the final for fielding an ineligible player.

References

External links