Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

NRL Auckland Nines

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Sport
  
Rugby league

Inaugural season
  
2014

Current Champions
  
Sydney Roosters (2017)

Instituted
  
2014

Country
  
Australia New Zealand

Current champion
  
Sydney Roosters

NRL Auckland Nines nrlaucklandninesconzwpcontentuploadsnrlnine

Number of teams
  
16 Male 2 Female (2015)

The NRL Auckland Nines (known as the Downer NRL Auckland Nines due to sponsorship) is a rugby league nines competition first held by the National Rugby League at Auckland's Eden Park between 15 – 16 February 2014. The 2014 event was the first of five to be held at Eden Park.

Contents

All sixteen NRL clubs compete in the tournament. Each squad included at least 12 of their top 25 players in their squad, and at least one marquee player. The winner of the tournament received AUD$500,000 with a total prize pool of AUD$2,250,000.

In the first four editions, the competition has had eight different finalists and four different winners, though the 2016 title was later stripped from the Parramatta Eels for breaching the salary cap.

In the 2015 the Kiwiferns and the Jillaroos also competed in a three-game series, with the Kiwiferns winning the series 2-1.

In 2015, the pool names were chosen by a public vote and were: Rangitoto, Waiheke, Piha and Hunua Ranges.

Rules

There are a number of rule variations that are implemented to ensure the games are faster and to ensure fewer delays and stoppages.

The major rule changes that differ from regular NRL games are:

  • Two nine-minute halves with a two-minute half time period.
  • Nine players a side with five unlimited interchange players (six interchanges in 2014).
  • Scrums are only formed after a double knock on, with attacking teams electing which side to feed the ball.
  • No video referee, with one on-field referee, two touch judges and two in-goal judges.
  • Five minute golden try period in qualifying rounds with the match deemed a draw if there is no score, while unlimited golden try for the finals.
  • A tap restart takes place after a 40/20.
  • Five points for a try scored in the bonus zone under the posts, with two point drop kick conversion attempts.
  • The scoring team will have a drop-kick kick-off at the half way mark to restart play.
  • Three minute sin bins (Five in 2014).
  • Five tackles in a set.

    • Results

    Note – The Parramatta Eels were stripped of their 2016 Auckland Nines title due to a breach of the salary cap. The 2016 title was withheld by the NRL rather than awarding it to the runners up.

    Results - Women

    Since the 2015 tournament the Kiwi Ferns and the Australian Jillaroos have played a three match series in the tournament

    References

    NRL Auckland Nines Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA