Richmond Rovers


The Richmond Rovers Rugby League Club is a rugby league club based in Grey Lynn, New Zealand. The premier team is called the Richmond Bulldogs/Richmond Rovers and compete in Auckland Rugby League's first grade Fox Memorial competition. They have won the first grade championship on 12 occasions.

Early history

The club was formed in 1913 by employees at Mr. B. W. Davis' Boot Factory and Elliott's, following a scratch game in 1912. They didn't in fact play an official game until 1914 when they affiliated with the Grafton Athletic club and entered a team in the 4th grade and played in the Grafton Athletic colours.
In 1883 the land surrounding Grey Lynn Park was subdivided and the houses were built. The area that is now Grey Lynn Park was too steep to build houses on and so, in 1914, the area was drained and flattened so sport could be played. Flood lights were installed at the park in the 1950s.
Richmond's first ever first grade game was against Athletic (Maritime) on April 22, 1922. They lost 14-2 with Henderson scoring their first ever points in the grade with a penalty.Richmond enjoyed considerable success in the middle decades of the 1900s. They were the first club ever to win the Fox Memorial, Roope Rooster, and Stormont Shield in a single season. They went on to win these trophies several more times in the following years. They also defeated 4 Australian club teams from 1934 to 1939. This saw them win the Rangatira Shield, played for between Sydney and Auckland clubs. They won the Fox Memorial in 1934, 1935, 1937, 1940, 1946, 1949, 1951, 1955 and 1956.

Bartercard Cup

The Richmond club were involved in the Bartercard Cup as a joint venture with the Marist Saints between 2000 and 2005. This team was called the Marist Richmond Brothers.

Notable players

48 Richmond Juniors have played for the New Zealand national rugby league team including Nigel Vagana, Fred Ah Kuoi, Steve Matai, David Solomona and Evarn Tuimavave. In addition 19 women have represented the New Zealand Women's team.
Other Warriors such as Tevita Latu, Steve Matai, Sam Lousi, Sione Lousi, John Palavi, Wayne McDade, Daniel Vasau, Evarn Tuimavave, Faavae Kalolo, & Malo Solomona were also Richmond juniors.
American actor Geno Segers had a stint with the club.
A team of the century was named in 2013, and consisted of: 1. Bert Cooke, 2. Nigel Vagana, 3. Tom Baxter, 4. Maurie Robertson, 5. Vern Bakalich, 6. Fred Ah Kuoi, 7. Shane Varley, 8. Joe Vagana, 9. John Lasher, 10. Cliff Johnson, 11. Jim Riddell, 12. Se'e Solomona and 13. Raymond Williams.

Richmond Senior Team Records (1915-1945, 1993-2004 + 2022-24)

The season record for the most senior men's team in the club.
SeasonGradeNamePlayedWDLPFPAPDPtsPosition
19153rd GradeRichmond61051766-49210 teams, full results unknown
19163rd GradeRichmond430134211368 teams, full results unknown
19174th GradeRichmond74032545-2088 teams, full results unknown
19184th GradeRichmond650134259109 teams, full results unknown
19194th GradeRichmond761077671134th of 10
19204th GradeRichmond74039226668Approx 3rd of 10
19214th GradeRichmond650151133810Approx 3rd of 8
19221st Grade Richmond143011141295-15467th of 8
19231st Grade Richmond12101193239-14627th of 7
19241st Grade Richmond16501197194-97107th of 9
19251st Grade Richmond11407155184-2985th of 7
19261st Grade Richmond11308142176-3465th of 7
19271st Grade Richmond12417134182-4895th of 7
19281st Grade Richmond1271414313211152nd of 7
19291st Grade Richmond143011105161-5667th of 8
19301st Grade Richmond13409118156-3888th of 8
19311st Grade Richmond127141439350153rd of 7
19321st Grade Richmond10307117134-1765th of 6
19331st Grade Richmond103161471311675th of 6
19341st Grade Richmond131102257108149221st of 6
19351st Grade Richmond13101221795122211st of 7
19361st Grade Richmond1482419913663182nd of 8
19371st Grade Richmond141013266156110211st of 8
19381st Grade Richmond1581620518025175th of 9
19391st Grade Richmond15708171174-3146th of 9
19401st Grade Richmond161213303143160251st of 9
19411st Grade Richmond1590623514986183rd of 9
19421st Grade Richmond155010148186-38105th of 6
19431st Grade Richmond161105247123124223rd of 9
19441st Grade Richmond18100824215389206th of 10
19451st Grade Richmond141103266100166222nd of 10
1993Lion Red RukutaiRichmond18111635235399.7%232nd of 10, SF 10-7 v Mt Albert, PF 7-3 v Ponsonby, GF 5-11 v Otahuhu. Roope Rooster GF 12-22 v North Shore
1994Lion Red RukutaiRichmond221001259661896.4%207th of 12
1995Lion Red RukutaiRichmond2414010715605118.2%325th of 13
1996Lion Red PrelimRichmond13517318301105.6%119th of 14
1998Super 10Central Sharks18311432760154.41%79th of 10
1999Rukutai Shield Super 12Central Sharks22311840174054.19%712th of 12
2000Mad Butcher Fox Top 8Richmond141211517254203.5%251st of 8
PlayoffsRichmond31024463--L 10-26 v Ōtāhuhu in minor SF, W 20-16 v Te Atatū in major SF, L 14-21 v Ōtāhuhu in Fox final
2001Mad Butcher Fox Top 8Richmond14923460385119.5%20
PlayoffsRichmond21015148106.3%-W 22-18 v Northcote in Major SF, L 29-30 v Northcote in Fox Final
2002Fox Memorial Top 8Richmond14311027642864.5%77th of 8
2003PlayoffsRichmond31027977--L v Hib Coast 28-41 in PF, W v Marist 32-28 in Minor Final, L v Mangere East 19-24 in Major final
2004Mad Butcher FoxRichmond14905438322136%184th of 8
PlayoffsRichmond21014229--W 30-10 v Papakura in Prel final, L 12-19 v Manurewa in Minor final
2022Fox Premiership Section 2Richmond9603326134192124th of 10 in section 2, W v Marist 34-0 in PF, L v Otahuhu 20-12 in QF
PlayoffsRichmond21014620--W 34-0 v Marist in Prel SF, L v Otahuhu 20-12 in QF
2023Fox GradingRichmond32019848204.2%42nd of 4 in Pool B
Fox Richmond11911316116272.4%191st of 12
PlayoffsRichmond21012430--W v Papakura 8-6 in Major SF, L v Pt Chevalier in Grand Final
2024Fox GradingRichmond320112230+9242nd of 4 in Pool A
Fox Richmond111001383147+236201st of 12
PlayoffsRichmond22003826--W v Pt Chevalier 23-12 in PF, W v Papakura in GF 15-14
1922-45, 1993–96, 2000-2002, 2004, 2022-2024TOTAL59430320272105909359-614

Club Titles

Richmond Rovers grade championships (1910-1944)

  • 1921 Sixth Grade
  • 1922 Fourth Grade
  • 1923 Fifth Grade
  • 1924 Second Grade B Section winners, Fourth Grade B Section winners, Fifth Grade knockout
  • 1925 Second Grade, Fourth Grade, Fifth Grade, Sixth Grade A, & Sixth Grade B
  • 1926 Third Grade Intermediate, & Fifth Grade
  • 1927 Third Grade Intermediate and Third Grade knockout competition, Fourth Grade, & Sixth Grade B
  • 1928 Third Grade Open, Third Grade Intermediate, & Fourth Grade
  • 1929 Third Grade Open, Fifth Grade, Sixth Grade A, & Sixth Grade B
  • 1930 Second Grade, Fourth Grade & Fourth Grade knockout, Seventh Grade & Seventh Grade knockout, & Schoolboys
  • 1931 Third Grade Intermediate, & Seventh Grade
  • 1932 Reserve Grade, & Sixth Grade
  • 1933 Reserve Grade, Fifth Grade, & Seventh Grade
  • 1934 First Grade, Reserve Grade, Third Grade Open, & Seventh Grade
  • 1935 First Grade, Second Grade, Fifth Grade, Sixth Grade A, Seventh Grade, & Schoolboys
  • 1936 Sixth Grade A, & Schoolboys
  • 1937 First Grade, Reserve Grade, Fourth Grade, Schoolboys
  • 1938 Reserve Grade, Third Grade Open, Seventh Grade, Schoolboy, Schoolboy
  • 1939 Reserve Grade, Sixth Grade A, Seventh Grade
  • 1940 First Grade, Reserve Grade, Fifth Grade, Seventh Grade, Schoolboys
  • 1941 Sixth Grade

Other titles

  • 1926 Roope Rooster
  • 1927 Roope Rooster
  • 1933 Roope Rooster
  • 1934 Roope Rooster, & Stormont Shield
  • 1935 Stormont Shield
  • 1936 Stormont Shield
  • 1938 Roope Rooster, & Stormont Shield
  • 1940 Roope Rooster
  • 1942 Roope Rooster

All time top point scorers (1922-1945)

The point scoring lists are compiled from first grade matches in the championship, Roope Rooster, Phelan Shield, Stormont Shield, Sharman Cup, official exhibition matches including organised preseason rounds, and organised friendly matches.