The NZRL Men's National Competition (previously called the National Zonal Competition) is the top-level rugby league competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League. In 2010 the competition replaced the Bartercard Premiership following a Sparc funded review and restructure of the New Zealand Rugby League. Since 2019, the competition has consisted of a four-team national premiership and an eight-team national championship (split into North and South Island Conferences) with a promotion and relegation between the two divisions.

NZRL Men's National Competition
Current season or competition:
2022 New Zealand rugby league season
SportRugby league
Formerly known asBartercard Premiership
Instituted2010
Inaugural season2010
Number of teams12
Country New Zealand
Holders Akarana Falcons (2022)
Most titles Akarana Falcons (9 titles)
Websitewww.NZRL.co.nz/
Broadcast partnerSky Sport

Trophies and awards

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Senior teams compete for the Albert Baskerville Trophy, which is named after Albert Baskerville, the organiser of the 1907-1908 All Golds tour. Under-17s compete for the Mark Graham Cup, which is named after Mark Graham, the New Zealand Rugby League player of the century. Under-15s compete for the Nathan Cayless Cup, which is named after Nathan Cayless, the only captain to win the World Cup for New Zealand.

Structure

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The competition was reformatted for the 2016 season, with Akarana, Counties Manukau, Canterbury and Wellington competing in a national championship. The Upper Central and Mid-Central zones reverted to district teams with these teams, alongside Northland and the South Island districts, competing in four regional championships. The four regional winners then compete in a National Premiership competition, which play a promotion-relegation match against the last placed national championship side.[1]

From 2019, this changed again, with a 4-team Premiership and 8-team, two conference (North and South Island) Championship contested.

NZRL Premiership Teams

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Team City/Region Current Coach Home Grounds
  Akarana Falcons Auckland Steve Buckingham Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
  Canterbury Bulls Christchurch Andrew Auimatagi[2] Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub, Christchurch
  Counties Manukau Stingrays South Auckland Rod Ratu Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
  Waikato Mana Hamilton FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton

NZRL Championship Teams

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Team City/Region Current Coach Home Grounds
North Island Conference
  Auckland Vulcans Auckland Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
  Mid-Central Vipers New Plymouth Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
  Upper Central Stallions Tauranga & Rotorua Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
  Wellington Orcas Wellington Mike Kuiti Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua
South Island Conference
  Aoraki Eels South Christchurch Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub, Christchurch
  Otago Rugby League Dunedin Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
  Southland Rams Invercargill Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill
  West Coast Chargers Greymouth Wingham Park, Greymouth

Season winners

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Year Premiership Championship Juniors
Albert Baskerville Trophy Score Runner up Minor Premiers Wooden Spoon Championship winner Score Championship Runner-Up Mark Graham Cup (U-17) Nathan Cayless Cup (U-15)
2010   Auckland 14-6   Counties Manukau   Auckland   Northern Swords N/A N/A N/A   Counties Manukau   Counties Manukau
2011   Auckland Pride 44-34   South Island   Auckland Pride   Northern Swords   Auckland Pride   Auckland Pride
2012   Akarana Falcons 38-20   Counties Manukau   Counties Manukau   Northern Swords   Akarana Falcons   Counties Manukau
2013   Akarana Falcons 22-12   Counties Manukau   Counties Manukau   Central Vipers   Counties Manukau   Akarana Falcons
2014   Canterbury Bulls 40-8   Waicoa Bay Stallions   Counties Manukau*   Northern Swords   Akarana Falcons   Akarana Falcons
2015   Counties Manukau[3] 41-10   Canterbury Bulls   Counties Manukau   Northern Swords   Akarana Falcons   Akarana Falcons
2016   Akarana Falcons[4] 32-12   Counties Manukau   Counties Manukau   Wellington Orcas   Waikato   Akarana Falcons   Counties Manukau
2017   Akarana Falcons 30-4   Waikato   Akarana Falcons   Wellington Orcas   Bay of Plenty Lakers
2018   Akarana Falcons 51-20   Counties Manukau   Akarana Falcons   Wellington Orcas
2019   Akarana Falcons 28-10   Canterbury Bulls   Akarana Falcons   Waikato
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand
2021
2022   Akarana Falcons 46-4   Canterbury Bulls   Akarana Falcons   Waikato   Auckland Vulcans 48-12   Otago   Counties Manukau   Counties Manukau
2023   Auckland Vulcans 70-4   Counties Manukau   Auckland Vulcans   Canterbury Bulls   Bay of Plenty Lakers 62-16   Aoraki Eels

Note: *In 2014 Counties Manukau were disqualified from the final for fielding an ineligible player.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "NZRL re-launch national competition for 2016". APRL. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  2. ^ "Auimatagi new Canterbury Bulls coach". 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  3. ^ Stingrays romp home in premiership final nzrl.co.nz, 17 October 2015
  4. ^ "Falcons fly high for premiership crown".
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