New Zealand Rugby League


The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year.
The NZRL administers the New Zealand ''Kiwis and the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns.'' Currently they manage the NZRL National Secondary Schools Tournament, the NZRL National Youth Tournament, the NZRL National 9s, the NZRL National Women's Competition and the NZRL National Men's Competition. The premier competition is known as the National Premiership and the National Championship, which is a tier below. Previously, there was also a National 20's Competition launched in 2021 as a new pathway for developing elite talent. They are also responsible for elite pathway programmes including the NZ 16s and NZ 18s teams, the NZ Taurahere and the Junior Kiwis. They have previously managed the now defunct Lion Red Cup and Bartercard Cup competitions.
The NZRL is an incorporated society under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908. The current patron of the NZRL is Sir Anand Satyanand, who replaced Sir Peter Leitch in the role in 2019.

History

In April 1910, the New Zealand Rugby League was formed for the purpose of administering the new code in New Zealand and "with the blessing of the Northern Rugby Football Union, on the condition that the Auckland District would not have the management of the entire game in New Zealand".

Staff

Board
Staff
  • CEO: Greg Peters
  • President: Tawera Nikau

    National Competition

The National 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 with a promotion and relegation between the two divisions.

Zones

Throughout New Zealand, the sport is administered by seven zones and fifteen districts and has seven Affiliates.
Zones
  • Northland

  • Akarana


  • Upper Central

  • Mid Central


  • Southern

Districts
Affiliates
47 players have been inducted since the Legends of League was introduced in 1995.
1995 Inductees
  • Ron Ackland
  • Bert Avery
  • Roger Bailey
  • Tom Baxter
  • Mel Cooke
  • Cyril Eastlake
  • Mark Graham
  • Cliff Johnson
  • Hugh McGahan
  • George Menzies
  • John Percival
  • Kevin Tamati
  • Des White
  • Dennis Williams
2000 Inductees
  • Dean Bell
  • Lory Blanchard
  • Travers Hardwick
  • Karl Ifwersen
  • Charlie McBride
  • Bill McLennan
  • Cecil Mountford
  • Maurie Robertson
  • Bill Sorensen
  • Kurt Sorensen
2001 Inductees
  • Albert Baskerville
  • Jock Butterfield
  • Phillip Orchard
  • Charlie Seeling
2007 Inductees
  • Roy Christian
  • Tony Coll
  • Olsen Filipaina
  • Gary Freeman
  • Scotty McClymont
  • Ron McGregor
  • Frank Mulcare
  • Pat Smith
  • Ken Stirling
  • Lance Todd
2008 Inductees
  • Albert Asher
  • Tawera Nikau
  • Jim Rukutai
  • Puti Tipene Watene
2010 Inductees
  • Don Hammond
  • Tom Hadfield
2012 Inductees
  • Stephen Kearney
  • Colin O'Neil
  • John Whittaker
2013 Inductees
  • Jimmy Haig
  • Alister Atkinson
  • Mocky Brereton
  • Mark Broadhurst