The Tasman rugby league team are 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...

 rugby league

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...

 team that represents the Tasman Rugby League. They have previously been nicknamed the Orcas but in 2010 adopted the Titans nickname. The district was previously known as Nelson/Marlborough.

History

A Nelson-Marlborough side first played as an independent district in 1995, but it was not until the 1997 season that the Tasman name was adopted. In 1998 they won the Central Zone of the National Provincial Competition Second Division

1998 New Zealand rugby league season

The 1998 New Zealand rugby league season was the ninety first season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the National Provincial competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League...

 before losing to Otago

Otago rugby league team

The Otago rugby league team are New Zealand rugby league team that represents the Otago Rugby League. They are known as the Whalers. In the past they have been nicknamed the Storm, the Raiders and the 45er's.-History:...

 in the semi-finals.

In 2000 the team competed in the Mainland Super 10

2000 New Zealand rugby league season

The 2000 New Zealand rugby league season was the ninety third season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the inaugural season of the Bartercard Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League...

 against other South Island district teams and clubs from the 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...

. The Orcas made the final and defeated Hornby 20-0 to win the championship.

In 2001 Tasman won the Rugby League Cup

Rugby League Cup

The Rugby League Cup is a New Zealand rugby league trophy that is currently contested between districts on a challenge basis. The trophy was originally known as the Northern Union Cup...

, defeating Coastline

Coastline rugby league team

The Coastline rugby league team are New Zealand rugby league team that represents the Coastline Rugby League. They have been nicknamed the Mariners.-History:...

. They lost to trophy to Otago

Otago rugby league team

The Otago rugby league team are New Zealand rugby league team that represents the Otago Rugby League. They are known as the Whalers. In the past they have been nicknamed the Storm, the Raiders and the 45er's.-History:...

 in the first game of the 2002 season

2002 New Zealand rugby league season

The 2002 New Zealand rugby league season was the ninety fifth season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the third season of the Bartercard Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League...

.

In 2004 the Orcas defeated the touring Russian national team

Russia national rugby league team

-2008 World Cup Qualifying:In 2006 Russia were involved in Europe Round One, defeating Netherlands national rugby league team and Serbia national rugby league team to finish second and keep their World Cup dream alive. They then went through to Europe Round Two in Europe Pool Two with Ireland and...

 32-16.

In 2010 the Tasman side lost two matches against the West Coast

West Coast rugby league team

The West Coast rugby league team are New Zealand rugby league team that represents the West Coast Rugby League. They have been nicknamed the Chargers.-History:...

, 4-36 and 14-56.

In 2011 Tasman will compete in a South Island home-and-away series against West Coast, Canterbury, Otago and Southland.

Notable players

During the 1990's and early 2000's Tasman were coached by Paul Bergman who later went on to coach Wellington and be an assistant coach of the New Zealand Kiwis. Former internationals Phil Bergman

Phil Bergman

Phil Bergman is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand Māori and played professionally for Paris Saint-Germain in the Super League.-Playing career:...

 (Paul's brother) and Simon Angell

Simon Angell

Simon Alexander Angell is a former rugby league player who represented his country.-Playing career:Angell played for the Canterbury side that bet Auckland in 1993, starting in the second row in the Provincial grand final....

have also represented Tasman.