Sport Rugby league Inaugural season 2014 Current Champions Sydney Roosters (2017) | Instituted 2014 Country Australia
New Zealand Current champion Sydney Roosters | |
 | ||
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:
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