The Rugby League Cup is a New Zealand rugby league trophy that is contested between districts on a challenge basis. The trophy is used to be known as the Northern Union Challenge Cup.
It is the oldest rugby league competition in New Zealand.
History
New Zealand rugby league was born with events such as the All Golds tour of England, and matches in Wellington and Auckland in 1908. John Coffey writes in Te Ara, "The Auckland Rugby League was formed in July 1909, and North Shore played City as the forerunner to an inter-club competition that started in 1910. By this time, league was also being played in Taranaki, Rotorua, Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, Marlborough and Southland."
The Cup was made in Bradford and donated to Auckland for inter-provincial competition by the touring 1910 Great Britain Lions.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. , p.39.
The Cup was first contested in 1911, when Auckland successfully defended it four times.Bay crowned cup kings Hawke's Bay Today, 17 September 2007 The Cup was held by Auckland until 1922.
Auckland are the current holders of the Cup after they defeated Canterbury in a one-off match on 4 June 2012. This was marked as a "centennial" match.
Past winners Year by year YearChampions1910Auckland19111912191319141915191619171918191919201921Auckland1922South Auckland1923South Auckland1924South Auckland1925South Auckland Auckland1926Auckland1927Auckland South Auckland1928South Auckland Auckland (June)1929Auckland1930South Auckland1931North Auckland1932South Auckland1933West Coast1934West Coast Canterbury (18 AugustCoffey, John. Canterbury XIII, Christchurch, 1987.)1935Canterbury1936Canterbury West Coast1937West Coast1938YearChampionsWorld War II1946West Coast1947West Coast WellingtonHistory Of Wellington Rugby League Association Wellington Rugby League1948Wellington1949Wellington1950Auckland1951Auckland1952Auckland Wellington Auckland1953Auckland19541955Auckland West Coast Auckland1956Auckland1957195819591960AucklandRugby League Football An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock. 1966 West Coast Auckland1961Auckland1962Auckland Canterbury West Coast1963West Coast Canterbury1964Canterbury Auckland1965Auckland19661967Auckland1968Auckland West Coast Canterbury1969Renamed Rugby League Cup. Canterbury West Coast1970West Coast CanterburyYearChampions1971Canterbury Wellington West Coast1972West Coast1973West Coast1974West Coast Canterbury1975Canterbury Taranaki Waikato1976Waikato1977Taranaki1978Taranaki1979Taranaki1980Wellington Canterbury1981Canterbury1982Canterbury Wellington1983Wellington19841985Wellington Taranaki Canterbury1986Canterbury Auckland1987Auckland198819891990Auckland Canterbury (29 AprilLion Red Rugby League Annual 1990 New Zealand Rugby League, 1990.) Wellington1991Wellington Auckland Canterbury1992Canterbury Wellington (17 MayLion Red Rugby League Annual 1992 New Zealand Rugby League, 1992. p.130) CanterburyYearChampions1993CanterburyLion Red Rugby League Annual 1993, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1993. p.1371994Canterbury1995Canterbury Auckland1996Auckland1997Auckland Canterbury (June) Waikato (12 OctoberCoffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. , p.317.)1998Waikato1999Waikato Taranaki (24 April)2000Taranaki Coastline2001Coastline Tasman2002Tasman Otago (8 September)2003Otago20042005Gisborne Tairawhiti20062007Gisborne Tairawhiti Hawke's Bay (15 September) Canterbury2008Canterbury Auckland (28 September)Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. , p.357.2009Auckland Canterbury (23 August)Bulls regain league cup The Press, 24 August 2009Geoff Longley It's go the South Island, No Bull The Press, 4 June 20102010Canterbury20112012Auckland (4 June)League cup match returns to spiritual home in June The Press, 17 March 2012Auckland spoil Bulls coach's finale The Press, 5 June 2012
See also
References
External links