Nickname(s) Akarana Falcons Coach Steve Buckingham | Founded 1908 Competition National Competition | |
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Ground(s) Mount Smart Stadium
Cornwall Park, Auckland Premierships 1965, 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 | ||
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.
Contents
- History
- Current Auckland teams
- Colours
- New South Wales results
- Record versus touring teams
- Other matches
- References
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.
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.
The 1920 Great Britain Lions tourists were defeated by Auckland before going on to win all three of their Test matches against New Zealand.
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. 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 the 26th of August, 2007. The Warriors won 36-14 in front of a packed Mount Smart Stadium.
Current Auckland teams
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.
Colours
Auckland representative sides traditionally wear a blue jersey with a white double 'V', in the same style of the New Zealand Kiwis jersey but with blue instead of black, this is still the jersey worn by the Auckland Vulcans NSW Cup team.
New South Wales results
Record versus touring teams
1919
1920
1935
1935
1946
1949
1953
1954
1955
1960
1961
1962
1965
1969
1971
1974
1975
1977
1980
1981
1985
1988
1989
1990
Other matches
1949, Auckland Colts 16 Australia 30 (Carlaw Park)
1984, Auckland 16 Great Brittian 14 (Carlaw Park)