Wellington Rugby Football Union
Encyclopedia
The Wellington Rugby Football Union (WRFU) is the official governing body of rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

 in the city of Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...

, the capital of New Zealand. Also the cities of Porirua
Porirua
Porirua is a city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand, immediately north of the city of Wellington, with their central business districts 20 km apart. A large proportion of the population commutes to Wellington, so it may be considered a satellite city. It almost completely surrounds...

, Upper Hutt
Upper Hutt
Upper Hutt is a satellite city of Wellington. It is New Zealand's smallest city by population, the second largest by land area. It is in Greater Wellington.-Geography:Upper Hutt is 30 km north-east of Wellington...

 and Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt is a city in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Its council has adopted the name Hutt City Council, but neither the New Zealand Geographic Board nor the Local Government Act recognise the name Hutt City. This alternative name can lead to confusion, as there are two cities in the...

 come under WRFU jurisdiction.It was founded in 1879, making it the second oldest provincial union in New Zealand, with its 125th jubilee celebrated in 2004.

Super Rugby

Players from Wellington who are eligible to play in the Super Rugby generally play for the Hurricanes
Hurricanes (Super rugby franchise)
The Hurricanes are a New Zealand professional Rugby union team based in Wellington that competes in the Super Rugby competition...

, and traditionally contribute the core of the Hurricanes squad. This position is largely due to the Wellington basing of the Hurricanes. Further, Manawatu
Manawatu Rugby Union
Manawatu Rugby Union is the governing body of the sport of Rugby union in the Manawatu rugby province. The Union is based in the city of Palmerston North but has a catchment area from nearby towns in the province, including Feilding, Rongotea, Linton, Bulls, Pahiatua, Dannevirke and...

 and Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay Rugby Union
The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand. The union is based in Napier.-Representative rugby:...

, two Hurricane provinces and prolific talent producers, had long been mired in the second half of the National Provincial Championship, allowing Wellington to lure the better players of these provinces with ease (Christian Cullen
Christian Cullen
Christian Mathias Cullen is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played most of his rugby at fullback for New Zealand , for the Hurricanes in the Super 12, and for Manawatu, Wellington and later Munster at first-class level. He was nicknamed the Paekakariki Express...

 from Manawatu for example). The reorganisation of provincial rugby in 2006 brought all three provinces and Taranaki into the top-level Air New Zealand Cup, now the ITM Cup, but Wellington have maintained their regional dominance.

Since Super Rugby's inaugural season in 1996 the Hurricanes have had positive results. They first reached the semi-finals in 1997 where they lost to the Australian side the ACT Brumbies. After a number of years they started to gain some consistency reaching the finals in four of six years, although falling one game short of the grand-final losing in the semis on both occasions to the Crusaders in 2003 and 2005. The following year in 2006 the Hurricanes reached their first Super Rugby Grand Final where they lost the game 19 - 12 to none other than the Crusaders. A return to finals rugby came in both 2008 & 2009 but again the Canes couldn't reach the grand final, bowing out in the semis yet again.

National Representative Rugby

The senior Wellington representative team, the Wellington Lions play in the ITM Cup, which replaced the National Provincial Championship
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...

 in 2006 as the Air New Zealand Cup. The Lions have won the provincial competition four times since its inception in 1976. The titles came in 1978, 1981, 1986 and most recently in 2000. Their colours are gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...

 and black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...

 as shown on the Lions jersey. The Lions play their home games at the Westpac Stadium
Westpac Stadium
Westpac Stadium, is a major sporting venue in Wellington, New Zealand. Due to its shape and silver coloured external walls, it is colloquially known as The Cake-Tin to the locals and other New Zealanders...

, previously playing at Athletic Park until 1999. Even with an All-Star backline in the late 1990s including Christian Cullen
Christian Cullen
Christian Mathias Cullen is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played most of his rugby at fullback for New Zealand , for the Hurricanes in the Super 12, and for Manawatu, Wellington and later Munster at first-class level. He was nicknamed the Paekakariki Express...

, Tana Umaga
Tana Umaga
Jonathan Ionatana Falefasa "Tana" Umaga, ONZM is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and former captain of the national team, the All Blacks. He played for the Hurricanes starting with the Super 12's inception in 1996 and took over the captaincy in 2003...

, Jonah Lomu
Jonah Lomu
Jonah Tali Lomu, MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union player. He had sixty-three caps as an All Black after debuting in 1994. He is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union. He has had a huge impact on the game...

 and Alama Ieremia
Alama Ieremia
Alama Ieremia is a New Zealand rugby union coach. He is a former Samoan international as well as a former All Black. He was born in Apia, Samoa....

 what was a superb team on paper never lived up to expectations and Wellington became known for its inconsistency. More recently it should be noted however that although the Lions have been unable to win another national title the Wellington side have made it all the way to the grand final in six out of the last seven years, losing to Auckland in 2003, to Canterbury in 2004, to Waikato in 2006, Auckland in 2007, Canterbury again in 2008, and most recently to Canterbury in the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup
2009 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2009 Air New Zealand Cup was the 33rd provincial rugby union competition, the fourth since the competition reconstruction in 2006, involving the top 14 provincial unions in New Zealand. It ran for 15 weeks from 30 July to 7 November...

.

The Wellington Lions' 2009 Air New Zealand Cup season
Wellington in the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup
The 2009 Air New Zealand Cup will be the Wellington Rugby Football Union's 4th consecutive participation in the competition. They are coming off a 2008 placing of 2nd. Last year Wellington lost the final 7-6 at Westpac Stadium. This was after Wellington had won their first nine games including...

 went well, with the side finishing 2nd on the table. They beat Ranfurly Shield
Ranfurly Shield
The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies...

 holders Southland in their semi final, but lost to Canterbury
Canterbury representative rugby union team
The Canterbury representative rugby union team, generally referred to as Canterbury, are the top representative rugby union team under the Canterbury Rugby Football Union in New Zealand...

 in the final at AMI Stadium on the 7th of November

Ranfurly Shield

Ranfurly Shield
Current holder Canterbury
Canterbury Rugby Football Union
The Canterbury Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in a substantial part of the Canterbury region, in the middle of the South Island of New Zealand...

Defences 0
Next Challenge 2010


The Ranfurly Shield
Ranfurly Shield
The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies...

, colloquially known as the 'Log o' Wood', is perhaps the most prestigious trophy in New Zealand domestic rugby. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies. The holding union must defend the Shield in challenge matches, and if a challenger defeats them, they become the new holder of the Shield.

Wellington won the first ever shield challenge winning it from Auckland in 1904 and defended it for 4 matches before losing it back to Auckland in 1905. It wouldn't be until 1914 when Wellington would get the shield back by winning it off Taranaki. This marked the longest time Wellington have held the shield successfully defending it for 15 matches until losing it again to Southland in 1920. They beat Southland a year later to regain the shield before promptly losing to Hawkes Bay after only 2 matches. Wellington held the shield for only one match in 1930 and after losing it to Canterbury they would not regain the shield until 1953. Up until the 1980s Wellington had short stints defending the shield but after losing it to Canterbury in 1982 it was to prove elusive. Wellington suffered 10 unsuccessful challenges for the Ranfurly Shield until they took it off Auckland in 2008, scoring five tries in a 27-0 victory, on the weekend of the Auckland Union's 125th anniversary.

Wellington lost the shield to Canterbury
Canterbury representative rugby union team
The Canterbury representative rugby union team, generally referred to as Canterbury, are the top representative rugby union team under the Canterbury Rugby Football Union in New Zealand...

 on the 29th of August. Losing 36-14 at the Cake-tin. Canterbury then held the shield for 4 defences (over 8 weeks) before losing to Southland on the 22nd of October

International Matches

Wellington has played a number of times against touring international rugby teams. Wellington drew with the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...

 in 1888 and beat them in 1908
1908 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
The 1908 British Isles tour to New Zealand and Australia was the seventh tour by a British Isles team and the fourth to New Zealand and Australia. The tour is often referred to as the Anglo-Welsh Tour as only English and Welsh players were selected due to the Irish and Scottish Rugby Unions not...

, 1930
1930 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
The 1930 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia was the twelfth tour by a British Isles team and the fifth to New Zealand and Australia...

 and 1966
1966 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand
In 1966 the British Lions toured Australia and New Zealand. The Lions won the two test matches against but lost all four internationals against the All Blacks....


. They have also played other international sides such as South Africa on several occasions.

Local Club Rugby

Club rugby is a large part of Wellington rugby. 18 clubs comprise the Wellington union and all contribute at least one team to the club competitions. The premier trophy in Wellington club rugby is the Jubilee Cup, which was won in 2010 by Northern United. Petone are the club with the most Jubilee Cup successes having won the title 22 times.

Years in parenthesis are when the current club was formed, though many are amalgamations of previously extant clubs. Wellington FC has the longest continuous existence of any club in New Zealand.
  • Avalon RFC (1980) (Lower Hutt)
  • College Old Boys-Victoria University
    Old Boys University
    Old Boys University are a New Zealand rugby union club who play in Wellington Rugby Football Union's premier club rugby grade The Jubilee Cup. They were the first holders of the Hardham Cup in 1939 and won it most recently in 2009...

     (1991) (Wellington)
  • Eastbourne RFC (Lower Hutt)
  • Hutt Old Boys-Marist RFC (Lower Hutt)
  • Johnsonville RFC (1900) (Wellington)
  • Marist-St Pat’s RFC (1971) (Wellington)
  • Northern United RFC (1990) (Porirua
    Porirua
    Porirua is a city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand, immediately north of the city of Wellington, with their central business districts 20 km apart. A large proportion of the population commutes to Wellington, so it may be considered a satellite city. It almost completely surrounds...

    )
  • Oriental-Rongotai FC (1969) (Wellington)
  • Paremata-Plimmerton RFC (1959 (Porirua
    Porirua
    Porirua is a city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand, immediately north of the city of Wellington, with their central business districts 20 km apart. A large proportion of the population commutes to Wellington, so it may be considered a satellite city. It almost completely surrounds...

    )
  • Petone Rugby Club
    Petone Rugby Club
    The Petone Rugby Football Club was founded in 1885 and has been the Wellington Premier Champion 39 times between 1895 and 2005. In addition to this, the club has won the Club Championship on 42 occasions between 1922 and 2005...

     (1885) (Lower Hutt)
  • Poneke FC (1883) (Wellington)
  • Rimutaka RFC (1982) (Upper Hutt)
  • Stokes Valley RFC (1949) (Lower Hutt)
  • Tawa RFC (1947) (Wellington)
  • Upper Hutt RFC (1920) (Upper Hutt)
  • Wainuiomata RFC (1946) (Lower Hutt)
  • Wellington FC (1871) (Wellington)
  • Western Suburbs RFC (1983) (Wellington)


  • Wellington club rugby is contested over the following grades:
    • Premier - 12 teams contest the Swindale Shield over the first round. Top 8 go through to the Jubilee Cup round. Bottom 4 go to the Hardham cup round.
    • Senior 1 - 12 teams contest the Harper Lock Shield. Top 4 go through to the Hardham Cup. Remaining 8 contest the Ed Chaney Cup
    • Senior 2 - 12 teams contest the National Mutual Cup. Top 2 go through to the Ed Chaney Cup. Remaining 10 contest the HD Morgan Memorial.

    The proviso with all these grades is that no club can have more than one team in each grade.
    • Senior 3
    • Under 21
    • Under 19
    • Under 85 kilogram restricted
    • Reserves
    • Presidents (over 35's)
    • Women's Premier

    Jersey

    Main sponsor is Vodafone
    Vodafone
    Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...

    . Apparel is supplied by Canterbury of New Zealand
    Canterbury of New Zealand
    Canterbury of New Zealand is a New Zealand-based sports apparel company that focuses on rugby football. The company is named after the Canterbury area in New Zealand where the company started to make knitwear. Other than producing rugby kits, the brand is also known for their rugby protective wear...

    . Other sponsors include:

    Squad

    Squad for the 2011 ITM Cup
    2011 ITM Cup
    The 2011 ITM Cup is the 35th provincial rugby union competition in New Zealand, the sixth since the competition reconstruction in 2006 and the second under the new sponsor of ITM ....

    :
    The 2011 Vodafone Wellington Lions squad is as follows:

    Props
    • Arden David-Perrot
    • Jacob Ellison
      Jacob Ellison
      Jacob Ellison is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who plays for the Hurricanes in the Super 14. He is the younger brother of teammate and utility back Tamati Ellison. Jacob plays the position of prop...

    • Reggie Goodes
    • Neemia Tialata
      Neemia Tialata
      Neemia Stanley Tialata is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. As well as representing New Zealand, he also plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and for Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup when available....

    • Jeffery Toomaga-Allen


    Hookers
    • Dane Coles
    • Motu Matu'u


    Locks
    • Api Naikatini
    • Mark Reddish
    • Jeremy Thrush
      Jeremy Thrush
      Jeremy Thrush is a rugby union lock who played provincial rugby for Wellington Lions and super rugby for the Hurricanes....

       (C)
     

    Loose Forwards
    • Dean Brunsdon
    • Scott Fuglistaller
    • Faifili Levave
      Faifili Levave
      Faifili Levave is a New Zealand professional rugby union player currently playing for the Wellington Lions and the Hurricanes.-Biography:...

    • Serge Lilo
      Serge Lilo
      Serge Lilo is a rugby union player who represents the Wellington Lions in the Air New Zealand Cup and the Hurricanes in the Super 14.-Representative Rugby:...

    • Brad Shields
    • Victor Vito
      Victor Vito
      Victor Vito is the Two Tomatoes Records and Columbia Records album by children's musician Laurie Berkner. It was released in Canada on February 23, 1999, and in the U.S...



    Half Backs
    • TJ Perenara
    • Piri Weepu
      Piri Weepu
      Piri Awahou Tihou Weepu is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays scrum-half for the All Blacks on international level, Wellington Lions in the National Provincial Championship and the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby. He first won national honours against Wales in 2004...

    • Frae Wilson


    Fly Halfs
    • Hayden Cripps
    • Michael Hobbs
      Michael Hobbs
      Major General Sir Michael Frederick Hobbs KCVO, CBE is a former commander in the British Army and now a charity director and Governor of the Military Knights of Windsor.-Military career:...

    • Lima Sopoaga
      Lima Sopoaga
      Lima Sopoaga is a professional rugby union player who represents Wellington in the ITM Cup and the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition.-Early Life:...

     

    Centres
    • Alapati Leiua
    • Charlie Ngatai
    • Conrad Smith
      Conrad Smith
      Conrad Gerard Smith is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He is a midfield back and plays outside centre . He had been in many Taranaki age group teams. He moved to Wellington where he completed an LLB at Victoria University of Wellington...

    • Shaun Treeby
      Shaun Treeby
      Shaun Treeby is a professional rugby union player. He plays his provincial rugby for Wellington in the ITM Cup and is a member of the Highlanders Super Rugby squad.-Provincial Rugby:...



    Wings
    • Hosea Gear
      Hosea Gear
      Hosea Gear is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays for the Highlanders in the Super 15 competition as a wing. He has played six international matches for New Zealand and scored five tries...

    • Julian Savea
      Julian Savea
      Julian Savea is an New Zealand Rugby Union Player who currently plays for the Wellington Lions in the ITM Cup and has represented his country at rugby sevens and at under 20 level. He plays on the wings or at centre.-Career:...

    • Apoua Stewart


    Full Backs
    • Cory Jane
      Cory Jane
      Cory Steven Jane is a New Zealand international rugby union player.He first played for the All Blacks in 2008 and plays as a winger. In 2011 Jane was selected into the Tri Nations team as injury cover...

    • Jason Woodward
      Jason Woodward
      Jason Christopher Woodward is a Wellington Rugby player. He currently plays for the Upper Hutt Premiere team, and has become a regular in the Upper Hutt Times...


    Notable players

    • Jerry Collins
      Jerry Collins
      Jerry Collins is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who formerly played for the national team, the All Blacks in which he was capped 48 times. He now plays for Yamaha Jubilo, in Japanese Top league rugby.-Early career:...

    • Christian Cullen
      Christian Cullen
      Christian Mathias Cullen is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played most of his rugby at fullback for New Zealand , for the Hurricanes in the Super 12, and for Manawatu, Wellington and later Munster at first-class level. He was nicknamed the Paekakariki Express...

    • Lome Fa'atau
      Lome Fa'atau
      Lome Fa'atau is a rugby union player. He currently plays for the Rugby Nice Côte d'Azur in the French Fédérale 1. The speedy winger is recognisable by his traditional Samoan tattoo ....

    • Ross Filipo
      Ross Filipo
      Ross Ami Filipo is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who currently plays for London Wasps in the Aviva Premiership.-New Zealand:...

    • Roy Kinikinilau
      Roy Kinikinilau
      Roy Kinikinilau is a rugby union player who plays for the Ricoh Black Rams in the Top League in Japan. A powerful winger, Kinkinilau is also an accomplished rugby sevens player. Born in Tonga, he represented New Zealand internationally in rugby sevens competitions.-Provincial Rugby:Kinkinilau was...

    • Jonah Lomu
      Jonah Lomu
      Jonah Tali Lomu, MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union player. He had sixty-three caps as an All Black after debuting in 1994. He is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union. He has had a huge impact on the game...

    • Ma'a Nonu
      Ma'a Nonu
      Ma'a Allan Nonu is a professional Samoan rugby union player from New Zealand. Nonu plays for the Wellington Lions in the ITM Cup and the New Zealand All Blacks...

    • Kristian Ormsby
      Kristian Ormsby
      Kristian Ormsby is a New Zealand rugby union player. In his rugby career so far he has played for Counties-Manukau, the Hurricanes, the Chiefs and the New Zealand Maori...

    • Shannon Paku
      Shannon Paku
      Shannon Paku is a New Zealand rugby union player, who has played for the Hurricanes in the Super 14 competition, and for the Vodafone Wellington Lions who play in the Air New Zealand Cup....

    • Semo Sititi
      Semo Sititi
      Semo Sititi is a rugby union footballer in Samoa. He was born in Moto'otua.-Career:He is a flanker and currently plays for Ricoh in Japan, having previously played for Celtic League side Border Reivers and Manu Samoa internationally. He made his test debut in 1999 against Japan in Apia, Samoa...

    • Elvis Seveali'i
      Elvis Seveali'i
      Elvis Seveali'i is a Samoan rugby union footballer. He plays centre and wing for Premiership side London Irish and Manu Samoa internationally. He has previously represented Wellington in the under-19s and under-21s as well as the National Provincial Championship team...

    • Sireli Bobo
      Sireli Bobo
      Isireli Bobo is a Fijian rugby union footballer, currently playing for the Paris club Racing Métro 92 in the Top 14 club competition in France.-Career:...

    • Conrad Smith
      Conrad Smith
      Conrad Gerard Smith is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He is a midfield back and plays outside centre . He had been in many Taranaki age group teams. He moved to Wellington where he completed an LLB at Victoria University of Wellington...

    • Rodney So'oialo
      Rodney So'oialo
      Rodney So'oialo is a New Zealand rugby union player currently playing in Japan for the Honda Heat. Previously, he had been a stalwart for the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby competition, making 101 appearances for the franchise. He also made 62 test appearances for the All Blacks between 2002 and 2009...

    • Neemia Tialata
      Neemia Tialata
      Neemia Stanley Tialata is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. As well as representing New Zealand, he also plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and for Wellington in the Air New Zealand Cup when available....

    • Tana Umaga
      Tana Umaga
      Jonathan Ionatana Falefasa "Tana" Umaga, ONZM is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and former captain of the national team, the All Blacks. He played for the Hurricanes starting with the Super 12's inception in 1996 and took over the captaincy in 2003...

    • Piri Weepu
      Piri Weepu
      Piri Awahou Tihou Weepu is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays scrum-half for the All Blacks on international level, Wellington Lions in the National Provincial Championship and the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby. He first won national honours against Wales in 2004...

    • David Holwell
      David Holwell
      David Holwell is a rugby union fly half who played for Wellington and Northland in the Air New Zealand Cup, ITM Cup and NPC, and for the Hurricanes and Blues in Super Rugby...

    • Cory Jane
      Cory Jane
      Cory Steven Jane is a New Zealand international rugby union player.He first played for the All Blacks in 2008 and plays as a winger. In 2011 Jane was selected into the Tri Nations team as injury cover...

    • Victor Vito
      Victor Vito (rugby player)
      Victor Vito is a New Zealand rugby player/male model who plays blindside flanker for the New Zealand All Blacks. He was a star of New Zealand Sevens, and captained the 2006 New Zealand Under 19 Rugby team...


    External links

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