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 .
Senior games are played across several venues; Hamilton - Resthills Park , Raahui Pookeka Huntly - Davies Park, and Albert Park - Te Awamutu.
Womens/Waahine games take place at Albert Park - Te Awamutu.
Junior Games take place at Ngaaruawahia High School, Resthills Park, and Hopuhopu Sports Grounds.
The league was constituted as the South Auckland Rugby League on 28 April 1921.[1]
Premier Division clubs 2024
Championship Clubs for 2024
Taniwharau Rugby League (Huntly) - Davies ParkCoast Steelers (Taharoa) - Taharoa Domain
Ngaruawahia Panthers (Ngaruawahia) - League Park
Hamilton City Tigers (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
Hauraki Tigers (Paeroa)
Hamilton Hornets (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
Turangawaewae (Ngaruawahia) - Paterson Park
College Old Boys (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
Whatawhata Wolves (Whatawhata)
Te Awamutu Firehawks (Te Awamutu) - Albert Park
Whaingaroa Whai (Raglan) Womens Premiership Clubs for 2024
Te Awamutu Firehawks (Te Awamutu) - Albert Park
Coast Steelers (Taharoa) - Taharoa Domain
Turangawaewae (Ngaruawahia) - Paterson ParkHamilton City Tigers (Hamilton) - Resthills Park Womens Championship Clubs for 2024
Ngaruawahia Panthers (Ngaruawahia) - League Park
Taniwharau Rugby League (Huntly) - Davies ParkWhatawhata Wolves (Whatawhata)
Whaingaroa Whai (Raglan) Dormant clubs
Huntly South Chargers (Huntly) - Davies Park
Fairfield Falcons (Hamilton) - Swarbrick Park
Morrinsville Bulls (Morrinsville)
Rangiriri Eels (Maurea)
Otorohanga Tigers (Otorohanga) - Island Reserve
Kio Kio Hunters (Maihihi) - Kio Kio United Sports Ground
Frankton Albions (Hamilton) - Swarbrick Park
Ngaruawahia Lions (Ngaruawahia) - Patterson Park
Jaradites Rugby League (Hamilton)
Huntly United (Huntly) - Davies Park
Cambridge Raiders (Cambridge)
Waipa Wildcats (Kihikihi)
Thames Wanderers (Thames/Coromandel)
Ohinemuri Warriors
Whaingaroa Divers (Raglan)
Glen Afton (Glen Afton)
Chartwell Lions Past winners Premier grades
Waikato club championship winners since 1986:
1986-Huntly South def Taniwharau (Davies Park, Huntly)
1987-Frankton Albions def Huntly South (Davies Park, Huntly)
1988-Ngaruawahia Panthers def Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)
1989-Turangawaewae def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)
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)[2]
1994-Turangawaewae 30-23 Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)[3]
1995-Turangawaewae 20-15 Taniwharau (Resthills Park, Hamilton)[4]
1996-Turangawaewae 26-18 Taniwharau (Resthills Park, Hamilton)[5]
1997-Taniwharau def Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)[6]
1998-Turangawaewae 35-18 Hamilton City Tigers (Resthills Park, Hamilton)[7]
1999-Turangawaewae 32-22 Hukanui(Davies Park, Huntly)[8]
2000-Turangawaewae def Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)[9] [10]
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)[11]
2003-Turangawaewae def Taniwharau (Davies Park, Huntly)
2004-[Ngongotaha def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Puketewhero Park, Rotorua)[12]
2005-Turangawaewae def Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)[11]
2006-Turangawaewae def Taniwharau (Davies Park, Huntly)
2007-Taniwharau 24-18 Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)[13]
2008-Taniwharau 40-4 Otumoetai Eels (Davies Park, Huntly)[14] The Waikato club championship resumed in 2009
2009-Taniwharau 16 - 2 Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)[15]
2010-Hamilton City Tigers 19-12 Taniwharau (Resthills Park, Hamilton)[16]
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 club championship resumed in 2015:
2015- Hamilton City Tigers 33 - 12 Taniwharau (Davies Park, Huntly) WaiCoa Bays Championship resumed in 2016:
2016- Hamilton City Tigers 24 - 19 Pacific (Resthills Park, Hamilton) The Waikato club championship resumed in 2017:
2017- Taniwharau 16 - 14 Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)
2018- Taniwharau 28 - 12 College Old Boys (Davies Park, Huntly)
2019- Taniwharau 28 - 22 College Old Boys (Resthills Park, Hamilton)
2020 -
2021 -
2022 -
2023 -
2024 - Premiers: Taniwharau Rugby League 26 -12 Ngaruawahia Panthers (Resthills Park, Hamilton)
2024 - Championship: Taniwharau Rugby League 18 -12 Hauraki Tigers (Resthills Park, Hamilton)
The Waikato rugby league team has competed in New Zealand Rugby League competitions, notably the Lion Red Cup as The Waikato Cougars 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) Melbourne Storm, Canterbury Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers, NZ MaoriTawera 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/20s 2007, Winsor Wolves 2009-2012, Auckland Vulcans 2013[17] Malakai Watene-Zelezniak - (College Old Boys) Penrith Panthers u/20s 2008, Winsor Wolves 2011, Auckland Vulcans 2013[18] Dallin Watene-Zelezniak - (College Old Boys) Penrith Panthers u/20s 2013, NSW u18s 2013, Australian Schoolboys 2013[18] Louis Anderson - (Taniwharau) NZ Warriors, Kiwis 2004-06, TongaDonavan Briggs - (Hamilton City Tigers) Cronulla Sharks u/18s 2015/2016 New Zealand Kiwis u/16s 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
Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009 , 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4 , p.74. NSWRL.com, Aucklandvulcans.co.nz
