The New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) is the governing body for the sport

Sport

A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...

 of rugby league football

Rugby league

Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

 in New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year

1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand

The 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand was the first international tour of the Great Britain national rugby league team, "The Lions". They played the second ever Ashes series against Australia before travelling to Auckland to take on New Zealand...

.

The NZRL administers the Kiwis, the New Zealand national team

New Zealand national rugby league team

The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...

. Currently they manage the National Zonal Competition

National Zonal Competition

The National 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...

, a seven Zone national competition played at 15s, 17s and Premiers, as well as many age group and school competitions. They have previously managed the now defunct Lion Red Cup

Lion Red Cup

The Lion Red Cup was a New Zealand domestic rugby league competition that ran from 1994-1996 sponsored by brewers Lion Nathan. It was created due to the increase in public awareness of domestic rugby league due to the Auckland Warriors being accepted into the Winfield Cup. The competition was a...

 and Bartercard Cup

Bartercard Cup

The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...

 competitions.

The NZRL is an incorporated society under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908. The current patron of the NZRL is Sir Peter Leitch

Peter Leitch (Mad Butcher)

Sir Peter Charles Leitch, KNZM, QSM, is a New Zealand businessman, also known as The Mad Butcher. Although well known in New Zealand for the chain of butcheries he founded, Leitch is arguably just as well known for his charity, fundraising work and his promotion of rugby league.Born in Wellington,...

, who replaced Helen Clark

Helen Clark

Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...

 in the role in 2011.

History

In April 1910, the New Zealand Rugby League was formed for the purpose of administering the new code in New Zealand and "with the blessing of the Northern Rugby Football Union

Rugby Football League

The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...

, on the condition that the Auckland District would not have the management of the entire game in New Zealand".

Staff

Board

• Scott Carter
  Scott Carter (New Zealand administrator)
  Scott Carter is a New Zealand sports administrator who is currently the chairman of the Rugby League International Federation.-Administration career:Carter grew up in the King Country and attended Auckland Grammar....
  
   (Chairman)
• Ray Haffenden
  Ray Haffenden
  Ray Haffenden is a New Zealand rugby league administrator and former player and coach who served as the New Zealand Rugby League's chairman. He currently serves as the NZRL vice-chairman.-Playing career:...
  
   (Vice Chairman)
• Garry Fissenden
• John Bishop
• Jennifer Rolfe
• Meng Foon
  Meng Foon
  Meng Liu Foon is the current mayor of Gisborne, New Zealand. He is one of a handful of people of Chinese descent to have become a mayor in New Zealand. He is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Māori....
  
  
• Mark Gosche
  Mark Gosche
  Mark James Gosche is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the Labour Party. He was born in Auckland to Samoan parents, and has been active in New Zealand's Pacific Islander community.-Member of Parliament:...
  
  

Staff

• Jim Doyle (CEO)
• Tony Kemp
  Tony Kemp
  Tony Kemp is a former New Zealand rugby league test representative and former coach of the New Zealand Warriors. He currently is a commentator for Māori Televisions coverage of the Auckland Rugby League competition and also serves on the NZRL Board.-Early years:Kemp was born in Whangarei but...
  
   (Football Manager)
• Ruben Wiki
  Ruben Wiki
  Ruben Wiki, ONZM is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative centre-turned-prop forward, he retired with the record for most number of international appearances of any rugby league player in history...
  
   (High Performance Manager)

Zones

Throughout New Zealand, the sport is administered by seven Zones and has fifteen districts and seven Affiliates;
Zones

• Northern (Northern Swords)
• Auckland
  Auckland Rugby League
  The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. 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".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
  
   (Auckland
  Auckland rugby league team
  The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
  
  )
• Counties Manukau (Counties Manukau
  Counties Manukau rugby league team
  The Counties Manukau rugby league team represents the Counties Manukau zone in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. Previously, teams representing Counties Manukau have competed in the Lion Red Cup and Bartercard Cup. They are nicknamed the Stingrays...
  
  )
• Upper Central (Waicoa Bay Stallions
  Waicoa Bay Stallions
  The Waicoa Bay Stallions are a rugby league team that represent the Upper Central Zone in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. This is a vast area that includes Hamilton, Rotorua and Taupo...
  
  )
• Mid-Central (Heartland
  Heartland rugby league team
  The Central Vipers are a New Zealand rugby league team that represent the Mid-Central Zone in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. The draw on players from the Hawkes Bay, Manawatu and Taranaki districts. In 2010 the Central Vipers were known as Heartland....
  
  )
• Wellington
  Wellington Rugby League
  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.- Local Senior Competition :The...
  
   (Wellington)
• Southern (South Island
  South Island rugby league team
  The South Island rugby league team represents the Southern Zone in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. The Zone represented the Southland, Otago, West Coast, Canterbury and Tasman districts. They are nicknamed the Scorpions...
  
  )

Districts

• Auckland Rugby League
  Auckland Rugby League
  The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. 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".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
  
  
• Bay of Plenty Rugby League
  Bay of Plenty Rugby League
  Bay of Plenty Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand...
  
  
• Canterbury Rugby League
  Canterbury Rugby League
  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...
  
  
• Coastline Rugby League
• Gisborne Tairawhiti Rugby League
• Manawatu Rugby League
  Manawatu Rugby League
  Manawatu Rugby League was formed in 1957. They are currently part of the Mid-Central zone along with Taranaki Rugby League.-Kiwi Players:Only one player from Manawatu has ever made the New Zealand Kiwis. This was Kiwi number 456, Dick Uluave, who played two tests in 1979.-National Competitions:In...
  
  
• Otago Rugby League
• Southland Rugby League
• Rugby League Hawke's Bay
• Taranaki Rugby League
  Taranaki Rugby League
  Taranaki Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Taranaki region of New Zealand. The TRL are represented by the Taranaki rugby league team...
  
  
• Tasman Rugby League
• Waikato Rugby League
  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...
  
  
• Wellington Rugby League
  Wellington Rugby League
  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.- Local Senior Competition :The...
  
  
• West Coast Rugby League
• Whangarei City & Districts

Affiliates

• Kiwis Association
• Masters of Rugby League
• Defence Forces
• Māori Rugby League
• Universities and Tertiary Students
• Women's Rugby League
• Pacific Island Rugby League

Legends of League

2010 saw the celebration of 100 years of administration of New Zealand Rugby League. There were also two new additions to the Legends of League.

Don Hammond was Kiwis captain of the 1961 tour of Britain and France. He played 61 matches for the Kiwis including 20 tests. Tom Hadfield

Tom Hadfield (rugby league)

Bernard Thomas "Tom" Hadfield is a New Zealand rugby league player who represented his country in the 1957 and 1960 World Cups and retired as the highest try-scorer in the New Zealand national side's history.-Playing career:...

 played 18 tests for the Kiwis and scored tries in five consecutive tests against Great Britain between 1957 and 1961.

These two additions take the tally to 44 since the Legends of League was introduced in 1995.
1995 Inductees

• Ron Ackland
  Ron Ackland
  Ronald Charles "Ron" Ackland is a New Zealand former rugby league player and coach who represented his country in the 1957 and 1960 World Cups and coached his country in the 1977 World Cup. His nephew, John, also played for New Zealand.-Playing career:...
  
  
• Bert Avery
• Roger Bailey
  Roger Bailey (rugby league)
  Roger Wayne Bailey is a former New Zealand rugby league player and coach who represented his country thirty times between 1961 and 1970. His brother Gary also played for New Zealand while his brother Bob later coached New Zealand and his son David was also a professional player...
  
  
• Tom Baxter
• Mel Cooke
  Mel Cooke
  Melville Lance Cooke is a former rugby league player who represented his country twenty three times between 1959 and 1964.-Playing career:...
  
  
• Cyril Eastlake
  Cyril Eastlake
  Cyril Aston Eastlake was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented his nation in the sport. He captained New Zealand at the 1954 World Cup and also played at the 1960 World Cup.-Early years:...
  
  
• Mark Graham
  Mark Graham (rugby league)
  Mark Kerry Graham is a New Zealand retired rugby league footballer and coach. A back-rower and former captain of the New Zealand national rugby league team, he has been named as the greatest player the country has produced in the century from 1907 to 2006.-Playing career:An Otahahu junior, Graham...
  
  
• Cliff Johnson
  Cliff Johnson (rugby league)
  Clifford Raymond Johnson was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who has been named one of the finest the country produced during the 20th century. An international representative, he played mainly as a prop forward.-Playing career:...
  
  
• Hugh McGahan
  Hugh McGahan
  Hugh Joseph McGahan MBE is a former rugby league footballer and coach who represented New Zealand...
  
  
• George Menzies
  George Menzies
  George Menzies is a New Zealand former rugby league player and coach who represented his country at three World Cups and coached New Zealand at another World Cup.-Playing career:...
  
  
• John Percival
  John Percival (rugby league)
  John Percival was a New Zealand rugby league referee. An international referee, in 1995 Percival was one of the New Zealand Rugby League's inaugural inductions into the "Legends of League".-Domestic career:...
  
  
• Kevin Tamati
  Kevin Tamati
  Kevin Ronald Tamati is a New Zealander former professional rugby league footballer and coach who played for his country and played professionally for Widnes and Warrington in the Forwards...
  
  
• Des White
  Des White
  Desmond Henry "Des" White is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer of the 1950s. A record-breaking goal-kicking fullback, he was named amongst the country's finest players of the 20th century. His total for points scored in all matches for the Kiwis is a record 467...
  
  
• Dennis Williams
  Dennis Williams
  Dennis Arthur Williams is a former New Zealand rugby league international.-Playing career:Williams was a Te Atatu Roosters player in the Auckland Rugby League competition. In 1977 he won the Rothville Trophy as player of the year and in 1980 he was the competitions leading goalscorer...
  
  

2000 Inductees

• Dean Bell
  Dean Bell
  Dean Bell is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer and coach. A New Zealand international representative centre, he played his club football in England, Australia and New Zealand, but most notably with Wigan, with whom he won seven consecutive Challenge Cup finals, a Lance Todd Trophy and a...
  
  
• Lory Blanchard
  Lory Blanchard
  David Lory Blanchard is a New Zealand former rugby league player and coach who represented his country in the 1954 World Cup and coached them at the 1970 World Cup.-Early years:...
  
  
• Travers Hardwick
  Travers Hardwick
  Travers Harry Hardwick was a New Zealand rugby league player and coach who represented his country and coached them in the 1960 World Cup.-Early years:...
  
  
• Karl Ifwersen
  Karl Ifwersen
  Karl Donald Ifwersen was a New Zealand rugby football player who represented his country in both rugby league and rugby union.-Early years:...
  
  
• Charlie McBride
• Bill McLennan
  Bill McLennan (rugby league)
  William "Ginger" Richard McLennan was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented his country in the 1954 and 1957 World Cups.-Playing career:...
  
  
• Cecil Mountford
  Cecil Mountford
  Cecil "Ces" Mountford MBE was a New Zealand rugby league footballer and coach.Mountford was one of ten siblings, he and four of his brothers played rugby league for the South Island whilst Bill Mountford and Ken Mountford played for New Zealand...
  
  
• Maurie Robertson
  Maurie Robertson
  Maurice Hunter Wilson Robertson was a New Zealand rugby league player and coach who represented and coached his country.-Playing career:...
  
  
• Bill Sorensen
  Bill Sorensen
  William Sorensen was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented his country in the 1954, 1957 and 1960 World Cups. His brother Dave also played for the Kiwis as did two of his nephews; Dane and Kurt.-Playing career:...
  
  
• Kurt Sorensen
  Kurt Sorensen
  Kurt John Sorensen is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer of the 1970s, 80s and 90s. He is the brother of fellow Kiwi international, Dane Sorensen, and the nephew of another pair of Kiwi brothers, Bill and Dave Sorensen...
  
  

2001 Inductees

• Albert Baskerville
• Jock Butterfield
  Jock Butterfield
  John Rutherford "Jock" Butterfield was a New Zealand rugby league footballer of the 1950s and 60s who has been named amongst the finest that country produced during the 20th century. A New Zealand international representative forward, he played his club football in various places in New Zealand,...
  
  
• Philip Orchard
• Charlie Seeling
  Charlie Seeling
  Charles Edward "Bronco" Seeling was a New Zealand international rugby football player of the early 20th century. He played in the forwards for the original All Blacks, appearing in 11 tests.Seeling then signed with English rugby league club, Wigan in 1910...
  
  

2007 Inductees

• Roy Christian
  Roy Christian
  Fletcher Roy Christian MBE is a New Zealand retired international rugby league footballer of the 1960s and 1970s. A centre three-quarter, he captained his country in the sport.-Playing career:...
  
  
• Tony Coll
  Tony Coll
  Anthony Peter "Tony" Coll is a New Zealand former rugby league player and coach who represented his country in three World Cups.-Playing career:...
  
  
• Olsen Filipaina
  Olsen Filipaina
  Olsen Orekewa Filipaina is a New Zealand former rugby league player who represented both New Zealand and Western Samoa.-Playing career:Filipaina started his career with the Mangere East Hawks in the Auckland Rugby League competition. He was named the best back in the competition in 1977 before...
  
  
• Gary Freeman
• Scotty McClymont
• Ron McGregor
• Frank Mulcare
• Pat Smith
• Ken Stirling
  Ken Stirling
  Ken Stirling is a New Zealand former rugby league player, coach and administrator who represented his country in the 1975 World Championship.-Playing career:...
  
  
• Lance Todd
  Lance Todd
  Lancelot Beaumont "Lance" Todd was a New Zealand-born rugby league footballer and manager of the early 20th century. As a player he represented his country in 1907 and 1908 and played in England for the Wigan and Dewsbury clubs...
  
  

2008 Inductees

• Albert Asher
  Albert Asher
  Arapeta Paurini Wharepapa, or Albert Asher as he was more commonly known, was a New Zealand dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1890s, 1900s, '10s and '20s...
  
  
• Tawera Nikau
  Tawera Nikau
  Tawera Nuieia Nikau is a former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative forward, he played club football at a number of different clubs in New Zealand, England and Australia during his career, including the Melbourne Storm's victory...
  
  
• Jim Rakutai
• Steve Watene

2010 Inductees

• Don Hammond
• Tom Hadfield
  Tom Hadfield (rugby league)
  Bernard Thomas "Tom" Hadfield is a New Zealand rugby league player who represented his country in the 1957 and 1960 World Cups and retired as the highest try-scorer in the New Zealand national side's history.-Playing career:...
  
  

External links

• Official site