North Harbour Rugby Premier 1


The North Harbour Rugby Union club rugby title has been contested since the formation of the North Harbour Rugby Union in New Zealand in 1985. The current trophy awarded to the winner is the ASB Bank Cup. The Premier Grade championship cup has also been named the New Zealand Couriers Cup The current champions are North Shore RFC. The Reserve Grade Championship Cup is named the "Stuart Cup" after North Shore Rugby Club stalwart Jim Stuart who donated the Cup to the North Harbour Rugby Union in 1985. From 1985 to 1996 Harbour club finals were contested at Onewa Domain. From 1997 to 2022 all Club finals were held at North Harbour Stadium, and since 2023 all Club finals were held at the higher-ranked clubs’ home grounds. Club finals are usually held in July.
East Coast Bays won the inaugural title in 1985. The most successful team in the competitions history is Takapuna, the current champions, who have won the title 13 times including 7 straight titles from 1994 to 2000 and 4 titles from 2006 to 2009. North Shore have won the title 10 times, with Massey winning 6 titles, and with Northcote winning 5. Takapuna RFC and North Shore RFC are the 2 only Harbour clubs that have won an Auckland RFU Premiership, Shore in 1899 and Takapuna in 1940 and 1980. Takapuna is the only club of the 2 that has been awarded the Gallaher Shield.
As of 2025, Glenfield RFC, North Harbour Marist RFC, Mahurangi RFC and Kumeu RFC are yet to win a Premiership. In 2012 a combined Kumeu and Helensville team called the Western Pioneers won a premiership when they defeated Silverdale at North Harbour Stadium. Both clubs went their separate ways in 2015.
As of 2025, some teams that previously played in the premier one grade - such as Royal Navy RFC, Glenfield RFC, and Marist North Harbour RFC - no longer have teams in the grade. Most clubs, with the exclusion of the latter, field teams in the premier 2 competition instead.
Only three clubs across the grades have won over ten Championships. Takapuna Premiers with 13 Premierships, North Shore Senior Reserves with 13 Reserve Grade championships and Takapuna Under 21s with 10 Under 21 Championships.
Jointly, between most North Harbour clubs, there is a premier women's team - entered in the wider Auckland women's grade - the Albany Barbarians.

Current clubs

As of the 2025 season.
TeamLocationHome ground2025 season
East Coast BaysWindsor Park, AucklandWindsor Park5th
HelensvilleHelensvilleRautawhiri Reserve8th
KumeuRiverheadRiverhead War Memorial Park9th
MahurangiWarkworthWarkworth Showgrounds6th
MasseyMassey, AucklandMoire Park3rd
NorthcoteBirkenhead, AucklandBirkenhead War Memorial Park4th
North ShoreDevonport, AucklandVauxhall Sports Field1st
SilverdaleSilverdaleSilverdale War Memorial Park7th
TakapunaNorthcote, AucklandOnewa Domain2nd

North Harbour Secondary Schools 1st XV Rugby

Since 1985 the North Harbour secondary schools rugby competition has been run during the winter rugby season. The most successful school in this competition is Westlake Boys' High School who has won 17 championships since 1988. Westlake's closest rival is Rosmini College with 8 championships. Takapuna Grammar is the only school in this competition that won an Auckland Secondary schools 1st XV competition when they shared a championship with Auckland Grammar in 1941.
The biggest rivalry in the competition is between Westlake Boys' High School and Rosmini College. Westlake Boys' High School is an all-boys state school located in the suburb of Forrest Hill, whilst Rosmini College is a state integrated catholic boys' school located slightly south in the suburb of Takapuna. The schools are located less than 2.1 km apart. The first known game between Westlake Boys and Rosmini took place in 1980 with Rosmini winning that day 18 points to 7.
In recent seasons Manurewa High School and Whangarei Boys High school have joined the NHSS 1st XV competition. Whangarei Boys High School made the final for the first time in 2019 and lost to Westlake Boys'.
The Woodhouse Shield is the NHSS rugby equivalent of the Ranfurly shield. The current holder of the shield is Westlake Boys' High School.
The eight schools that currently compete in the NHSS 1st XV competition, and their number of championship wins, are:
Westlake BHS, Rosmini College, Massey High School, Rangitoto College, Takapuna Grammar, Mahurangi College, Whangarei BHS, Orewa College.
As of 2025, the following Colleges/High Schools - now compete in the NHSS 1B competition alongside 2nd XV teams from Mahurangi, Massey, Orewa, Rangitoto, Rosmini and Westlake Boys':
Birkenhead, Glenfield, Kaipara, Long Bay, Northcote, Vanguard, Whangaparaoa
The girls' equivalent to 1st XV secondary school rugby is the 12-a-side Youth 17 competition.

North Harbour Club Rugby Finals

YearWinnerScoreRunner upVenue
1985East Coast Bays 9–3North ShoreOnewa Domain
Winning coach – Brad Meurant
Winning captain- Mark Anscombe
1986East Coast Bays 16–6TakapunaOnewa Domain
Winning coach – Brad Meurant
Winning captain- Mark Anscombe
1987North Shore 24–12East Coast BaysOnewa Domain
Winning coach – Brad Johnstone
Winning captain- Russell Jones
1988North Shore 14–9East Coast BaysOnewa Domain
Winning coach – Wayne Underhay
Winning captain- Russell Jones
1989Northcote 16–6East Coast BaysOnewa Domain
Winning coach – Brad Meurant
Winning captain- Craig Burgess
1990Northcote 22–12North ShoreOnewa Domain
Winning coach – Brad Meurant
Winning captain- Craig Burgess
1991East Coast Bays 27–12TakapunaOnewa Domain
Winning coach – Mark Anscombe
Winning captain- David Thomas
1992North Shore 40–6TakapunaOnewa Domain
Winning coach – Brad Johnstone
Winning captain- Russell Jones
1993Massey 25–19East Coast BaysOnewa Domain
Winning coach – John Smith
Winning captain-Neil Gibson
1994Takapuna 19–14East Coast BaysOnewa Domain
Winning coach – Wayne Pivac
Winning captain- Paul Feeney
1995Takapuna 46–6NorthcoteOnewa Domain
Winning coach – Paul Feeney
Winning captain -Milan Yelavich
1996Takapuna 29–8HelensvilleOnewa Domain
Winning coach – Paul Feeney
Winning captain- Robert Rush
1997Takapuna 31–10North ShoreNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Milan Yelavich
Winning captain- Scott Palmer
1998Takapuna 22–17North ShoreNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Milan Yelavich
Winning captain- Clayton Moors
1999Takapuna 41–16SilverdaleNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Milan Yelavich
Winning captain- Clayton Moors
2000Takapuna 25–13GlenfieldNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Paul Feeney
Winning captain- Clayton Moors
2001North Shore 23–12TakapunaNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Grant Simpkins
Winning captain- Phillip Weedon
2002Takapuna 21–0North ShoreNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Clayton Moors
Winning captain- Gavin George
2003Silverdale 25–23North ShoreNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Charlie McAllister
Winning captain- Duane Dalton
2004Massey 39–29TakapunaNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Graham Lowe
Winning captain- Steve Jackson
2005Massey 29–14TakapunaNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Graham Lowe
Winning captain- Steve Jackson
2006Takapuna 27–6GlenfieldNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Blair Larsen
Winning captain- Simon Hanlon
2007Takapuna 28–23MaristNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Alex O'Dowd
Winning captain- Simon Hanlon
2008Takapuna 30–12North ShoreNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Alex O'Dowd
Winning captain- Simon Hanlon
2009Takapuna 20–13NorthcoteNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Blair Urlich
Winning captain-Simon Hanlon
2010Northcote 28–18North ShoreNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Ian Selwyn
Winning captain- Richard Mayhew
2011North Shore 17–16SilverdaleNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Wayne Shelford
Winning captain- James Hinchco
2012Western Pioneers 21–15SilverdaleNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Stu Hollier
Winning captain- Taione Vae
2013Massey 39–33North ShoreNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Brent Semmons
Winning captain- Ben Svensen
2014North Shore 50–18MasseyNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Frano Botica
Winning captain- Josh Blucher
2015Massey 31–26North ShoreNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning coach – Jarrod Framhein
Winning captain- Ben Svensen
2016Massey 26–23 TakapunaNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning Coach – Jarrod Framhein
Winning captain- Ben Svensen
2017Northcote 17–14TakapunaNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning Coach – Brett Bedwell/Brett Craies
Winning captain-Ryan Thompson
2018Northcote 25–20East Coast BaysNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning Coach – Brett Bedwell/Brett Craies
Winning captain-Ryan Thompson
2019East Coast Bays 21–17NorthcoteNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning Coach – John Scott
Winning captain- Lewis Gjaltema
2020N/ASeason abandoned due to COVID-19
2021North Shore 12-11TakapunaNorth Harbour Stadium
Winning Coach – Frano Botica
Winning captain- Alex Woonton
2022Takapuna 26-19North Shore
2023North Shore 26-10TakapunaDevonport Domain
2024North Shore 20-15TakapunaDevonport Domain
2025North Shore 33-15TakapunaDevonport Domain
Winning coach — James Hinchco
Winning captain — Donald Coleman

  • GP signifies that the game went to Golden Point. Massey won the title in 2016 with a drop goal after the scores were tied 23–23 at the end of 80 minutes.
Senior Reserves/Senior B/ The Stuart Cup
1985 East Coast Bays-Runners up Northcote
1986 North Shore -Runners up East Coast Bays
1987 North Shore -Runners up East Coast Bays
1988 East Coast Bays -Runners up North Shore
1989 North Shore -Runners up Northcote
1990 East Coast BaysRunners up
1991 East Coast Bays-Runners up Takapuna
1992 East Coast Bays-Runners up Takapuna
1993 East Coast Bays-Runners up Massey
1994 Takapuna-Runners up Massey
1995 Massey-Runners up Takapuna
1996 Massey-Runners up Takapuna
1997 Takapuna-Runners up Glenfield
1998 North Shore-Runners up Takapuna
1999 Takapuna-Runners up Northcote
2000 North Shore-Runners up East Coast Bays
2001 East Coast Bays-Runners up North Shore
2002 North Shore-Runners up East Coast Bays
2003 Massey-Runners up North Shore
2004 Massey-Runners up Silverdale
2005 Massey-Runners up Northcote
2006 North Shore-Runners up Massey
2007 Northcote-Runners up North Shore
2008 North Shore-Runners up Northcote
2009 Marist-Runners up East Coast Bays
2010 North Shore-Runners up Massey
2011 Silverdale-Runners up Northcote
2012 North Shore-Runners up East Coast Bays
2013 Northcote -Runners up North Shore
2014 North Shore-Runners up Northcote
2015 Northcote-Runners up North Shore
2016 North Shore-Runners up Northcote
2017 Northcote-Runners up Kumeu
2018 Northcote-Runners up East Coast Bays
2019 North Shore -Runners up East Coast Bays
2020 Season abandoned due to COVID-19
2021 Northcote -Runners up Takapuna
2022. Northcote -runners up North Shore
2023. North Shore -runners up Takapuna
2024. Massey - Runners up Silverdale
2025 Takapuna —Runners up North Shore
Under 21 Championships
1985 Takapuna
1986 Takapuna
1987 Glenfield
1988 East Coast Bays
1989 East Coast Bays
1990 East Coast Bays
1991 Takapuna
1992 East Coast Bays
1993 Massey
1994 North Shore
1995 Takapuna
1996 Takapuna
1997 Takapuna
1998 North Shore
1999 Takapuna
2000 Marist
2001 Takapuna
2002 Northcote
2003 Northcote
2004 Silverdale
2005 Northcote
2006 Takapuna
2007 Massey
2008 Glenfield
2009 North Shore
2010 North Shore
2011 Silverdale
2012 Takapuna
2013 Northcote
2014 Kumeu
2015 Northcote
2016 Kumeu
2017 East Coast Bays
2018 East Coast Bays
2019 East Coast Bays
2020 Season abandoned due to COVID-19
2021 East Coast Bays
2022 East Coast Bays
2023 East Coast Bays
2024 North Shore
2025 North Shore
North Harbour Secondary schools Rugby First XV
1985 Birkenhead College
1986 Hato Petera College
1987 Rosmini College
1988 Westlake Boys High School
1989 Westlake Boys High School
1990 Rangitoto College
1991 Rangitoto College
1992 Massey High School
1993 Rosmini College
1994 Rosmini College
1995 Westlake Boys High School
1996 Westlake Boys High School
1997 Westlake Boys High School
1998 Westlake Boys High School
1999 Massey High School
2000 Westlake Boys High School
2001 Rosmini College
2002 Massey High School
2003 Rosmini College
2004 Massey High School
2005 Westlake Boys High School
2006 Westlake Boys High School
2007 Massey High School /Takapuna Grammar
2008 Westlake Boys High School
2009 Rosmini College
2010 Westlake Boys High School
2011 Massey High School
2012 Westlake Boys High School
2013 Westlake Boys High School
2014 Westlake Boys High School
2015 Rosmini College
2016 Westlake Boys High School
2017 Rosmini College
2018 Westlake Boys High School /Takapuna Grammar shared
2019 Westlake Boys High School
2020 Season abandoned due to COVID-19
2021 Season abandoned due to COVID-19
2022 Westlake Boys High School
2023 Westlake Boys High School
2024 Westlake Boys High School
2025 Westlake Boys High School