Waikato Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of rugby league in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The WRL are represented by the Waikato rugby league team. They are currently part of the Upper Central Zone along with Coastline Rugby League and Bay of Plenty Rugby League.
The league was constituted as the South Auckland Rugby League on 28 April 1921.
Taniwharau Rugby League (Huntly) - Davies ParkTurangawaewae (Ngaruawahia) - Paterson ParkNgaruawahia Panthers (Ngaruawahia) - League ParkHamilton City Tigers (Hamilton) - Resthills ParkUnited (Hamilton Hornets/College Old Boys amalgamation) (Hamilton) - Resthills ParkHukanui (Hamilton) - Resthills ParkTaniwharau Rugby League (Huntly) - Davies ParkTurangawaewae (Ngaruawahia) - Paterson ParkNgaruawahia Panthers (Ngaruawahia) - League ParkHamilton City Tigers (Hamilton) - Resthills ParkUnited (Hamilton Hornets/College Old Boys amalgamation) (Hamilton) - Resthills ParkHukanui (Hamilton) - Resthills ParkTe Awamutu Firehawks (Te Awamutu) - Albert ParkFairfield Falcons (Hamilton) - Swarbrick ParkHauraki Tigers (Paeroa)Huntly South Chargers (Huntly) - Davies ParkRangiriri Eels (Maurea)Coast Steelers (Taharoa) - Taharoa DomainOtorohanga Tigers (Otorohanga) - Island ReserveKio Kio Hunters (Maihihi) - Kio Kio United Sports GroundFrankton Albions (Hamilton) - Swarbrick ParkWhatawhata Wolves (Whatawhata)Jaradites Rugby League (Hamilton)Huntly United (Huntly) - Davies ParkCambridge Raiders (Cambridge)Waipa Wildcats (Kihikihi)Thames Wanderers (Thames/Coromandel)Ohinemuri WarriorsWhaingaroa Divers (Raglan)Glen Afton (Glen Afton)Chartwell LionsWaikato club championship winners since 1990:
1990-Turangawaewae def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)1991-Hamilton City Tigers def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Resthills Park, Hamilton)1992-Turangawaewae def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)1993-Hamilton City Tigers 50-10 Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)1994-Turangawaewae 30-23 Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)1995-Turangawaewae 20-15 Taniwharau (Resthills Park, Huntly)1996-Turangawaewae 26-18 Taniwharau (Resthills Park, Huntly)1997-Taniwharau def Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)1998-Turangawaewae 35-18 Hamilton City Tigers (Resthills Park, Hamilton)1999-Turangawaewae 32-22 Hukanui(Davies Park, Huntly)2000-Turangawaewae def Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)2001-Hukanui def Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)Between 2002 - 2007 Waikato aligned itself with Coastlines and the Bay of Plenty to create the Waicoa Bay Championship:
2002-Taniwharau def Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)2003-Turangawaewae def Taniwharau (Davies Park, Huntly)2004-[Ngongotaha def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Puketewhero Park, Rotorua)2005-Turangawaewae def Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)2006-Turangawaewae def Taniwharau (Davies Park, Huntly)2007-Taniwharau 24-18 Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)2008-Taniwharau 40-4 Otumoetai Eels (Davies Park, Huntly)The Waikato club championship resumed in 2009
2009-Taniwharau def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)2010-Hamilton City Tigers 19-12 Taniwharau (Resthills Park, Hamilton)2011- Ngaruawahia Panthers 24-4 Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)2012- Hamilton City Tigers 34-4 Taniwharau (Davies Park, Huntly)WaiCoa Bays Championship resumed in 2011:
2011- Hamilton City Tigers 26-6 Taniwharau (Resthills Park, Hamilton)2012- Hamilton City Tigers 26-12 Ngaruwahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)Bay of Plenty Clubs break away from the competition, Leaving it as The "WaiCoa Championship"
2013- Taniwharau 18-16 Hamilton City Tigers (Resthills Park, Hamilton)2014- Taniwharau 20-18 Otumoetai Eels (Davies Park, Huntly)The Waikato rugby league team has competed in New Zealand Rugby League competitions, notably the Lion Red Cup as The Waikato Cougars and Bartercard Premiership. They were represented in the Bartercard Cup by the Waicoa Bay Stallions a team that represented Waikato, Coastlines and Bay of Plenty.
Brad Clark - (Huntly South) Mebourne Storm, Canterbury Bulldogs
Tawera Nikau - (Rangiriri Eels) *Kiwis, NZ Maoris, Castleford, Cronulla Sharks, Melbourne StormWairangi Koopu - (Taniwharau) *Kiwis, NZ Maoris, NZ Warriors, Melbourne StormTukere Barlow - (Hamilton City Tigers) NZ Maoris, Warrington WolvesMartin Moana - (Huntly South) *Kiwis, NZ Warriors, HalifaxLance Hohaia - (Taniwharau) *Kiwis, NZ Warriors, Kiwis Rugby League World Champion 2008, Saint HelensSam Rapira - (Hukanui) *Kiwis, NZ Warriors, Kiwis Rugby League World Champion 2008Steve Rapira - (Hukanui) NZ Warriors Juniors 2008, North Queensland Cowboys, NZ WarriorsKurt Kara - (Turangawaewae) NZ Warriors Juniors 08' 09', Newtown JetsHerewini Rangi - (Taniwharau) NZ Warriors 2004, Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Australian Bush FootyAoterangi Herangi - (Turangawaewae) NZ Warriors 2004, Wynnum Manly SeagullsJesse Royal - (Turangawaewae, Ngaruawahia Panthers) Penrith Panthers, Newcastle Knights, NZ WarriorsTainui Raihe - (Taniwharau, Hamilton City Tigers) NZ Maoris, Waikato 1998-2000Hekewaru Muru - (Turangawaewae) NZ Maoris, Waikato Rugby LeagueShaun Kenny-Dowall - (Turangawaewae, Ngaruawahia Panthers) *Kiwis, NZ Maoris, Waikato Rugby League, Sydney Roosters, NRL All StarsIsaac John - (Turangawaewae, Pacific Sharks) NZ Warriors, Penrith PanthersSam Perrett - (College Old Boys) Sydney Roosters, Bulldogs, NZ Maoris, NZ KiwisZoram Watene - (College Old Boys) Penrith Panthers u/20's 2007, Winsor Wolves 2009-2012, Auckland Vulcans 2013Malakai Watene-Zelezniak - (College Old Boys) Penrith Panthers u/20's 2008, Winsor Wolves 2011, Auckland Vulcans 2013Dallin Watene-Zelezniak - (College Old Boys) Penrith Panthers u/20's 2013, NSW u18's 2013, Australian Schoolboys 2013Louis Anderson - (Taniwharau) NZ Warriors, Kiwis 2004-06, TongaDonavan Briggs - (Hamilton City Tigers) Cronulla Sharks u/18's 2015/2016 New Zealand Kiwis u/16's 2014Harlan Lawrence Rawiri Collins - (Taniwharau) Manly Sea Eagles u/20s 2015Dylan Rintoul - (College Old Boys) Canterbury Bulldogs u/20s 2013Te Maire Martin - (Turangawaewae)West Tigers u/20s 2014/2015 Penrith Panthers 2016
