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. As well as a senior men's team there are also Auckland representative teams throughout the various age groups such as under 15s, under 17s, under 19s and under 21s.

Not to be confused with Auckland Warriors.

Auckland
Club information
Nickname(s)Akarana Falcons
Founded1908
Current details
Ground(s)
CoachSteve Buckingham
CompetitionNational Competition
Records
Premierships1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016
Minor premiership2010, 2011
Rugby League Cup1910–21, 1924–26, 1928–29, 1950–59, 1960, 1961, 1964–68, 1986–89, 1991, 1995–96, 2008–09, 2012–present

Under the new zone scheme introduced in 2010 the Auckland team represents North, East and West Auckland while South Auckland is represented by the Counties Manukau rugby league team. The zone team is named the Akarana Falcons.[1]

History

Auckland played its first game on 24 August 1908 when they took on Wellington at Victoria Park, Auckland in the first provincial game of rugby league in New Zealand.[2]

The 1920 Great Britain Lions tourists were defeated by Auckland before going on to win all three of their Test matches against New Zealand.[3]

In 1975 when the French national team was in New Zealand for the World Series, they played a match against Auckland on 13 June and lost 3–9 at Carlaw Park in front of 10,000.[4] Auckland also participated in the Amco Cup in the 1974–1980 and 1984–1985 seasons. They came within one match of the 1975 Amco Cup final, but lost to eventual champions, Eastern Suburbs Roosters. On the New Zealand leg of the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia, Auckland defeated the tourists 30–14. Auckland also beat the touring Australian side in 1989 by 26 points to 24 at Carlaw Park. Auckland also hosted the 1992 touring Great Britain Lions.

Auckland had played against several touring teams over the years, though once the Auckland Warriors started playing in the 1995 ARL Premiership it diluted the standard of the representative side, and they have not played against full international sides in recent years. Auckland beat Australia, England and France in the space of 21 days in 1977. A feat which the Warriors commemorated by wearing replica strips in their clash with Australian club Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in round 24 of the 2007 NRL season on 26 August 2007. The Warriors won 36–14 in front of a packed Mount Smart Stadium.

Current Auckland teams
Auckland zone in 2010

The Akarana Falcons participate in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. This team represents the Hibiscus Coast Raiders, Richmond Bulldogs, Mt Wellington Warriors, Ponsonby Ponies, Glenora Bears, Ellerslie Eagles, Mt Albert Lions, Te Atatu Roosters, Bay Roskill Vikings, Northcote Tigers, Marist Saints, East Coast Bays Barracudas, Pt Chevalier Pirates, Waitemata Seagulls, Glenfield Greyhounds, New Lynn Stags and the Waiheke Rams.[5]

Colours
Auckland Lions Premier League players during at match against St George Illawarra in 2007

Auckland representative sides traditionally wear a blue jersey with a white double 'V', in the same style of the New Zealand national rugby league team jersey but with blue instead of black, this is still the jersey worn by the Auckland Vulcans NSW Cup team.

  • The Traditional "V" jersey
  • 2009 Centennial jersey

Results

New South Wales results

Record versus touring teams

1919

1920

  • Auckland 24 Great Britain 16

1935

1935

  • Auckland 7, Great Britain 9 (Carlaw Park)

1946

  • Auckland 18, Australia 36 (Carlaw Park)

1949

  • Auckland 18, Australia 36 (Carlaw Park)

1953

  • Auckland 4 Australia 26 (Carlaw Park)

1954

  • Auckland 5 Great Britain 4

1955

  • Auckland 17 France 15

1960

  • Auckland 14 France 5

1961

  • Auckland 13 Australia 8 (Carlaw Park)

1962

  • Auckland 46 Great Britain 13

1965

  • Auckland 2 Australia 18 (Carlaw Park)

1969

  • Auckland 15 Australia 14 (Carlaw Park)

1971

  • Auckland 15 Australia 14 (Carlaw Park)

1974

  • Auckland 11 Great Britain 2

1975

  • Auckland 6 Australia 17 (Carlaw Park)
  • Auckland 9 France 3 (Carlaw Park)

1977

  • Auckland 19 Australia 15 (Carlaw Park)
  • Auckland 17 France 0
  • Auckland 14 Great Britain 10

1980

  • Auckland 7 Australia 21 (Carlaw Park)

1981

  • Auckland 20 France 10

1985

  • Auckland 10 Australia 50 (Carlaw Park)

1988

  • Auckland 30 Great Britain 14

1989

  • Auckland 26 Australia 24 (Carlaw Park)

1990

  • Auckland 24 Great Britain 13

Other matches

1949, Auckland Colts 16 Australia 30 (Carlaw Park)

1984, Auckland 16 Great Brittian 14 (Carlaw Park)

See also

References
  1. Auckland nzrl.co.nz
  2. John Haynes From All Blacks to All Golds: Rugby League's Pioneers, Christchurch, Ryan and Haynes, 1996. ISBN 0-473-03864-1
  3. John Coffey & Bernie Wood (2008). 100 Years: Māori Rugby League, 1908–2008. New Zealand: Huia Publishers. p. 73. ISBN 9781869693312. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  4. Clarkson, Alan (13 June 1975). "Canterbury's bid for Mills". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 13. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
  5. Auckland Zone Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Auckland Rugby League
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