Waikato Rugby League
Encyclopedia
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
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 Coastlines Rugby League and 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...
.
History
As the South Auckland Rugby League, the Rugby League was constituted on 28 April 1921.Premier Division
For 2010 they have an 8 team Premier Competition run alongside the 8 team Premier Reserve Grade Competition.- Taniwharau Rugby League (Huntly)- Davies Park
- Turangawaewae (Ngaruawahia) - Paterson Park
- Ngrauawahia Panthers (Ngaruawahia) - League Park
- Hamilton City Tigers (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
- Hamilton Hornets (Hamilton) - Enderley Park
- Hukanui (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
- College Old Boys (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
- Te Awamutu Firehawks (Te Awamutu) - Albert ParkAlbert Park, Te AwamutuAlbert Park is a cricket and rugby league ground in Te Awamutu, Waikato, New Zealand. The first recorded cricket match held on the ground came in 1980 when Midlands played Bay of Plenty in the 1980/81 Hawke Cup...
Defunct Clubs
- Frankton Albions
- Whatawhata Wolves
- Fairfield Falcons
- Jaradites
- Huntly United
- Cambridge Raiders
- Waipa Wildcats
- Thames Wanderers
- Ohinemuri Warriors
- Whaingaroa Divers
- Glen Afton
Past Winners
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)
- 1994-Turangawaewae 30-23 Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)
- 1995-Turangawaewae 20-15 Taniwharau (Resthills Park, Huntly)
- 1996-Turangawaewae 26-18 Taniwharau (Resthills Park, Huntly)
- 1997-Taniwharau def Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)
- 1998-Turangawaewae 35-18 Hamilton City Tigers (Resthills Park, Hamilton)
- 1999-Turangawaewae 32-22 Hukanui(Davies Park, Huntly)
- 2000-Turangawaewae def Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)
- 2001-Hukanui def Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)
Between 2002 - 2007 Waikato aligned itself with Coastlines and the Bay of Plenty
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...
to create the Waicoa Bay Championship:
- 2002-Taniwharau def Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)
- 2003-Turangawaewae def Taniwharau (Davies Park, Huntly)
- 2004-Ngongotaha ChiefsNgongotaha ChiefsThe Ngongotaha Chiefs are a New Zealand rugby league club. They are from Ngongotaha in the Bay of Plenty. In 2000 and 2001 they competed in the Bartercard Cup but now they compete in the Bay of Plenty Rugby League competition.-Notable players:...
def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Puketewhero Park, Rotorua) - 2005-Turangawaewae def Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)
- 2006-Turangawaewae def Pikiao Warriors (Davies Park, Huntly)
- 2007-Taniwharau 24-18 Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)
The Waikato club championship resumed in 2008:
- 2008-Taniwharau def Otumoetai Eels (Davies Park, Huntly)
- 2009-Taniwharau def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)
- 2010-Hamilton City Tigers 19-12 Taniwharau (Resthills Park, Hamilton)
National Competitions
The Waikato rugby league team has competed in New Zealand Rugby LeagueNew Zealand Rugby League
The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....
competitions, notably the 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...
as The Waikato Cougars and Bartercard Premiership. They were represented in the 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...
by the 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...
a team that represented Waikato, Coastlines and Bay of Plenty
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...
.
Players Of Note
- Tawera NikauTawera NikauTawera 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...
- (Rangiriri Eels) *Kiwis, NZ Maoris, Castleford, Cronulla Sharks, Melbourne Storm - Wairangi KoopuWairangi KoopuWairangi Koopu is a professional rugby league player for the Pt Chev Pirates in New Zealand. Koopu primarily plays in the second row, although he also can play in the centres.-Early years:...
- (Taniwharau) *Kiwis, NZ Maoris, NZ Warriors, Melbourne Storm - Tukere BarlowTukere BarlowTukere Barlow is a former New Zealand rugby league player who played for Warrington and represented the New Zealand Māori.-Playing career:In 1993 Barlow played for the Hamilton City Tigers, who won the Waikato Rugby League grand final. He was also selected to play for Waikato...
- (Hamilton City Tigers) NZ Maoris, Warrington Wolves - Martin MoanaMartin MoanaMartin Moana is a former professional rugby league footballer who was an international representative and played club football in England and New Zealand.-Early years:...
- (Huntly South) *Kiwis, NZ Warriors, Halifax - Lance HohaiaLance HohaiaLance Hohaia is a New Zealand rugby league player, he currently plays for St Helens RLFC. In 2008 Hohaia was a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team.-Early years:...
- (Taniwharau) *Kiwis, NZ Warriors, Kiwis Rugby League World Champion 2008 - Sam RapiraSam RapiraSam Rapira is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors. His usual position of choice is at prop-forward...
- (Hukanui) *Kiwis, NZ Warriors, Kiwis Rugby League World Champion 2008 - Steve RapiraSteve RapiraSteve Rapira is a New Zealand professional rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition. He plays in the Second Row...
- (Hukanui) NZ Warriors Juniors 2008, North Queensland Cowboys - Kurt Kara - (Turangawaewae) NZ Warriors Juniors 08' 09'
- Herewini RangiHerewini RangiHerewini Rangi is a New Zealand rugby league coach and former player who played one match in the National Rugby League. He was a hooker/back rower who could also kick goals.-Early years:...
- (Taniwharau) NZ Warriors 2004, Australian Bush Footy - Aoterangi Herangi - (Turangawaewae) NZ Warriors 2004, Queensland Cup Rugby League
- Jesse RoyalJesse RoyalJesse Te Ahukaramu Royal is a former professional rugby league player from New Zealand who played for the Newcastle Knights and New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League. Jesse Royal's position of choice was as a prop....
- (Turangawaewae, Ngaruawahia 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-DowallShaun Kenny-DowallShaun Kenny-Dowall is a professional rugby league footballer for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League competition. He primarily plays in the centres.-Early years:...
- (Turangawaewae) *Kiwis, NZ Maoris, Waikato Rugby League, Sydney Roosters - Isaac JohnIsaac JohnIsaac John is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer currently signed with the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats of the English Super League...
- (Pacific,Tokoroa) NZ Warriors