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Canterbury Rugby League

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Canterbury Rugby League Inc
Club information
Nickname(s)CRL
Founded1912; 112 years ago (1912)
Current details
Ground(s)

Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand competitions. Previously teams have competed in the Bartercard Cup and Lion Red Cup. The CRL is currently part of the South Island Zone which includes the Tasman, West Coast, Otago and Southland regions.

Club Competition

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Eight teams currently compete in the Pat Smith Trophy Premiership;

  • Celebration Lions
  • Eastern Eagles (formerly Aranui)
  • Halswell Hornets
  • Hornby Panthers
  • Linwood Keas
  • Northern Bulldogs
  • Papanui Tigers
  • Riccarton Knights
  • Woolston Rams
  • Shirley Hawks
  • Sydenham Swans
  • Addington Magpies
  • Burnham Chevaliers
  • Ashburton Barbarians
  • Rolleston Warriors


The winner is awarded the Smith Trophy, which dates back to 1913.

History

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Foundation

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The organisation was founded on 13 July 1912 at a meeting that included William Moyle, Robert Brunsden, New Zealand representative Charlie Pearce and David McPhail, who had played with St. Helens and Wigan.[1] A.E. Hooper was elected chairman on 17 July and would serve in that position until 1922. Henry Thacker, a mayor and MP, was the first president of the CRL and served from 1912 until 1929.[2] He donated the Thacker Shield in 1913.

Canterbury first played on 7 September 1912 at the Show Grounds against Wellington. Ernie Buckland scored the first rugby league try in Canterbury as Wellington prevailed 5–4.[1] The first local club competition was held in 1913, with four clubs participating. Addington was founded on 31 January 1913, Sydenham one week later on 7 February, Linwood on 12 March and on 14 March St. Albans was formed. The first Canterbury Rugby League Annual General Meeting was held on 31 March 1913.[1]

Touring teams

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In 1955 Canterbury defeated the touring French side 24–12.[2] They defeated Great Britain 18–10, in 1990.

Glory Years

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The early nineties saw a regional Canterbury side that included many future stars. The side was coached by Frank Endacott and included players such as captain Mark Nixon, Mike Culley, Quentin Pongia, Aaron Whittaker, Justin Wallace, Terry Hermansson, Brent Stuart, Paul Johnson, Whetu Taewa, Logan Edwards, Brendon Tuuta, Simon Angell and Mike Dorreen. With the creation of the Lion Red Cup however, many moved franchises and eventually ended up in Australia or England.

Lion Red Cup

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In the Lion Red Cup, from 1994 to 1996, Canterbury was represented by the Christchurch City Shiners and the Canterbury Country Cardinals.

Team Season Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Position Finals
Cardinals 1994 22 15 2 5 615 410 205 32 Fourth Lost preliminary final
Shiners 1994 22 6 0 16 358 630 −272 12 Eleventh N/A
Cardinals 1995 22 9 2 11 446 448 −2 20 Tenth N/A
Shiners 1995 22 12 1 9 455 419 36 25 Sixth N/A
Cardinals 1996 22 6 1 15 365 555 −190 13 Tenth N/A
Shiners 1996 22 3 0 19 360 643 −283 6 Last N/A

Bartercard Cup

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The Canterbury Bulls competed in the Bartercard Cup from 2000 to 2007, winning the title in 2000 & 2003. They were the only franchise from the South Island and the only franchise to play in every season.

Season Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Position (Teams) Finals
2000 22 15 0 7 658 525 133 30 Second (Twelve) Champions
2001 22 14 1 7 882 489 393 29 Third (Twelve) Defeated in Preliminary Final
2002 16 5 0 11 386 531 −145 10 Tenth (Twelve) N/A
2003 16 13 0 3 648 370 278 26 Minor Premiers (Twelve) Champions
2004 16 9 0 7 562 374 188 18 Fifth (Twelve) Defeated in Elimination Play-off
2005 16 11 0 5 543 388 155 22 Second (Twelve) Runners Up
2006 18 13 0 5 583 376 207 26 Second (Ten) Runners Up
2007 18 12 0 6 659 430 229 24 Third (Ten) Defeated in Preliminary Final

Bartercard Premiership

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The Canterbury Bulls competed in the 2008 and 2009 Bartercard Premiership, winning the 2009 competition.

The Canterbury side was again coached by Brent Stuart and Dave Perkins. Former Kiwis assistant coach and Bartercard cup winning Phil Prescott returned as the director of coaching.[3] The Canterbury U16s and U18s sides were involved in curtain raiser matches before the Senior home games.[4]

Rugby League Park

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Canterbury Rugby League had a long-term lease on Rugby League Park which was formerly known as the Addington Showgrounds.[5]

In 2011 due to the Christchurch earthquake the Grand stands became too dangerous to inhabit and Canterbury Rugby League were displaced until 2019 when in conjunction with the Christchurch City council, Rugby League purpose-built facilities were built at the Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub and will be officially opened on 23 February 2019 with an exhibition match between the NZ Warriors and the Canterbury Bulls.

Notable Juniors

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Aranui Eagles

Halswell Hornets

Hornby Panthers

Linwood Keas

Northern Bulldogs

Papanui Tigers

Riccarton Knights

Burnham Chevaliers

Sydenham Swans

References

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  1. ^ a b c Coffey, John. Canterbury XIII, Christchurch, 1987
  2. ^ a b Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League ISBN 1-86971-090-8
  3. ^ Bulls score Prescott The Press, 13 May 2008
  4. ^ Canterbury happy with six-team series The Press, 1 April 2008
  5. ^ Article: Rugby League Park needs fence[dead link] The Press, 24 June 1998
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