Waikato Rugby League
Waikato Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of rugby league in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The WRL are represented by the Waikato rugby league team. They are currently part of the Upper Central Zone along with Coastline Rugby League and Bay of Plenty Rugby League.
History
The league was constituted as the South Auckland Rugby League on 28 April 1921.[1]
Current domestic teams
Premier Division clubs 2014
- Taniwharau Rugby League (Huntly) - Davies Park
- Turangawaewae (Ngaruawahia) - Paterson Park
- Ngaruawahia Panthers (Ngaruawahia) - League Park
- Hamilton City Tigers (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
- Hamilton Hornets/College Old Boys (amalgamated) - United (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
- Hukanui (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
Premier Reserve Division clubs for 2014
- Taniwharau Rugby League (Huntly) - Davies Park
- Turangawaewae (Ngaruawahia) - Paterson Park
- Ngaruawahia Panthers (Ngaruawahia) - League Park
- Hamilton City Tigers (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
- Hamilton Hornets/College Old Boys (amalgamated) - United (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
- Hukanui (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
- Te Awamutu Firehawks (Te Awamutu) - Albert Park
- Fairfield Falcons (Hamilton) - Swarbrick Park
Division One clubs for 2013
- College Old Boys (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
- Huntly South Chargers (Huntly) - Davies Park
- Rangiriri Eels (Maurea)
- Hauraki Tigers (Paeroa)
- Coast Steelers (Taharoa) - Taharoa Domain
- Otorohanga Tigers (Otorohanga) - Island Reserve
- Te Awamutu Firehawks (Te Awamutu) - Albert Park (promoted to Premier Reserve Division)
- Fairfield Falcons (Hamilton) - Swarbrick Park (promoted to Premier Reserve Division)
Defunct clubs
- Kio Kio Hunters (Maihihi) - Kio Kio United Sports Ground
- Frankton Albions
- Whatawhata Wolves
- Jaradites Rugby League
- Huntly United
- Cambridge Raiders
- Waipa Wildcats
- Thames Wanderers
- Ohinemuri Warriors
- Whaingaroa Divers
- Glen Afton
- Chartwell Lions
Past winners Premier grades
Waikato club championship winners since 1990:
- 1990-Turangawaewae def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)
- 1991-Hamilton City Tigers def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Resthills Park, Hamilton)
- 1992-Turangawaewae def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)
- 1993-Hamilton City Tigers 50-10 Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)[2]
- 1994-Turangawaewae 30-23 Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)[3]
- 1995-Turangawaewae 20-15 Taniwharau (Resthills Park, Huntly)[4]
- 1996-Turangawaewae 26-18 Taniwharau (Resthills Park, Huntly)[5]
- 1997-Taniwharau def Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)[6]
- 1998-Turangawaewae 35-18 Hamilton City Tigers (Resthills Park, Hamilton)[7]
- 1999-Turangawaewae 32-22 Hukanui(Davies Park, Huntly)[8]
- 2000-Turangawaewae def Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)[9][10]
- 2001-Hukanui def Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)
Between 2002 - 2007 Waikato aligned itself with Coastlines and the Bay of Plenty to create the Waicoa Bay Championship:
- 2002-Taniwharau def Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)[11]
- 2003-Turangawaewae def Taniwharau (Davies Park, Huntly)
- 2004-Ngongotaha Chiefs def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Puketewhero Park, Rotorua)[12]
- 2005-Turangawaewae def Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)[11]
- 2006-Turangawaewae def Taniwharau (Davies Park, Huntly)
- 2007-Taniwharau 24-18 Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)[13]
The Waikato club championship resumed in 2008:
- 2008-Taniwharau def Otumoetai Eels (Davies Park, Huntly)[14]
- 2009-Taniwharau def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)[15]
- 2010-Hamilton City Tigers 19-12 Taniwharau (Resthills Park, Hamilton)[16]
- 2011- Ngaruawahia Panthers 24-4 Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)
- 2012- Hamilton City Tigers 34-4 Taniwharau (Davies Park, Huntly)
WaiCoa Bays Championship resumed in 2011:
- 2011- Hamilton City Tigers 26-6 Taniwharau (Resthills Park, Hamilton)
- 2012- Hamilton City Tigers 26-12 Ngaruwahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)
Bay of Plenty Clubs break away from the competition, Leaving it as The "WaiCoa Championship"
- 2013- Taniwharau 18-16 Hamilton City Tigers (Resthills Park, Hamilton)
- 2014- Taniwharau 20-18 Otumoetai Eels (Davies Park, Huntly)
National competitions
The Waikato rugby league team has competed in New Zealand Rugby League competitions, notably the Lion Red Cup as The Waikato Cougars and Bartercard Premiership. They were represented in the Bartercard Cup by the Waicoa Bay Stallions a team that represented Waikato, Coastlines and Bay of Plenty.
Players of note
Brad Clark - (Huntly South) Mebourne Storm, Canterbury Bulldogs
- Tawera Nikau - (Rangiriri Eels) *Kiwis, NZ Maoris, Castleford, Cronulla Sharks, Melbourne Storm
- Wairangi Koopu - (Taniwharau) *Kiwis, NZ Maoris, NZ Warriors, Melbourne Storm
- Tukere Barlow - (Hamilton City Tigers) NZ Maoris, Warrington Wolves
- Martin Moana - (Huntly South) *Kiwis, NZ Warriors, Halifax
- Lance Hohaia - (Taniwharau) *Kiwis, NZ Warriors, Kiwis Rugby League World Champion 2008, Saint Helens
- Sam Rapira - (Hukanui) *Kiwis, NZ Warriors, Kiwis Rugby League World Champion 2008
- Steve Rapira - (Hukanui) NZ Warriors Juniors 2008, North Queensland Cowboys, NZ Warriors
- Kurt Kara - (Turangawaewae) NZ Warriors Juniors 08' 09', Newtown Jets
- Herewini Rangi - (Taniwharau) NZ Warriors 2004, Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Australian Bush Footy
- Aoterangi Herangi - (Turangawaewae) NZ Warriors 2004, Wynnum Manly Seagulls
- Jesse Royal - (Turangawaewae, Ngaruawahia Panthers) Penrith Panthers, Newcastle Knights, NZ Warriors
- Tainui Raihe - (Taniwharau, Hamilton City Tigers) NZ Maoris, Waikato 1998-2000
- Hekewaru Muru - (Turangawaewae) NZ Maoris, Waikato Rugby League
- Shaun Kenny-Dowall - (Turangawaewae, Ngaruawahia Panthers) *Kiwis, NZ Maoris, Waikato Rugby League, Sydney Roosters, NRL All Stars
- Isaac John - (Turangawaewae, Pacific Sharks) NZ Warriors, Penrith Panthers
- Sam Perrett - (College Old Boys) Sydney Roosters, Bulldogs, NZ Maoris, NZ Kiwis
- Zoram Watene - (College Old Boys) Penrith Panthers u/20's 2007, Winsor Wolves 2009-2012, Auckland Vulcans 2013[17]
- Malakai Watene-Zelezniak - (College Old Boys) Penrith Panthers u/20's 2008, Winsor Wolves 2011, Auckland Vulcans 2013[18]
- Dallin Watene-Zelezniak - (College Old Boys) Penrith Panthers u/20's 2013, NSW u18's 2013, Australian Schoolboys 2013[18]
- Louis Anderson - (Taniwharau) NZ Warriors, Kiwis 2004-06, Tonga
- Donavan Briggs - (Hamilton City Tigers) Cronulla Sharks u/18's 2015, New Zealand Kiwis u/16's 2014,
References
- ↑ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.74.
- ↑ Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1993, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1993. p.p.160-163
- ↑ Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1994. p.p.174-175
- ↑ Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1995, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1995. p.190
- ↑ Muru, Patterson play crucial roles in grand final triumph Waikato Times, 23 September 1996
- ↑ Waikato clubs to clash in pre-season tournament Waikato Times, 11 March 1998
- ↑ Turangawaewae again wear league premiership crown Waikato Times, 7 September 1998
- ↑ Turangawaewae trounce grand final challengers Waikato Times, 18 October 1999
- ↑ Tigers taking on league champs Waikato Times, 11 September 2000
- ↑ Rugby league action hots up Waikato Times, 27 April 2001
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Grand final a fitting end for tangi teams Waikato Times, 25 August 2006
- ↑ League clubs ready for battle Waikato Times, 9 April 2005
- ↑ Taniwharau win championship after enthralling encounter Waikato Times, 27 August 2007
- ↑ Tigers stand in way of Taniwharau's four-peat Waikato Times, 19 July 2010
- ↑ Panthers too good for Taniwharau Waikato Times, 29 March 2010
- ↑ Richens, Matt (26 July 2010). "Finally Tigers bag prize". Waikato Times. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
- ↑ NSWRL.com, Aucklandvulcans.co.nz
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 NSWRL.com
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