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Club information | |
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Full name | Canterbury Rugby League Football Club |
Nickname(s) | Bulls, Reds |
Colours | Red Black |
Founded | 1912 |
Exited | 2009 |
Former details | |
Ground(s) | |
Coach | Andrew Auimatagi |
Competition | National Competition |
Records | |
Premierships | 1975, 1993, 2014 |
Runners-up | 1997, 1998 |
Bartercard Cup | 2000, 2003 |
Bartercard Premiership | 2009 |
Rugby League Cup | 1934–35, 1962, 1963–64, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1974–75, 1980–82, 1985–86, 1990, 1991–92, 1992, 1993–94, 1997, 2007, 2009–2012 |
The Canterbury rugby league team (also known as the Canterbury Bulls) are a rugby league team who represent the Canterbury Rugby League. They currently compete in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. Their home ground is Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.
Canterbury played its first match on 7 September 1912 against Wellington at the Show Grounds, losing 4–5. [1] The following weekend the hosted the touring New South Wales side and lost 5–28. Included in the Canterbury team was captain Charlie Pearce, Jim Auld, Abbie Shadbolt, Billy Mitchell, Bill Bussell and David McPhail.
Canterbury's first win was in their third match, against Hawke's Bay, with Canterbury winning 10–8 in Napier. Jim Auld and Abbie Shadbolt scored tries and Shadbolt kicked two goals.
In 1955 Canterbury defeated the touring French side 24–12. [2] They defeated Great Britain 18–10, in 1990.
The early nineties saw a Canterbury side that included many future stars. The side was coached by Frank Endacott and included players such as Quentin Pongia, Terry Hermansson, Mark Nixon, Whetu Taewa Aaron Whittaker, Logan Edwards, Brendon Tuuta and Mike Dorreen. With the creation of the Lion Red Cup however, many moved franchises and eventually ended up in Australia or England. Canterbury defeated Auckland in the 1993 final, winning 36–12. [3]
In the Lion Red Cup, from 1994 to 1996, Canterbury Rugby League was represented by the Christchurch City Shiners and the Canterbury Country Cardinals. When this was folded Canterbury reverted to having one representative team, initially called "the Reds". However eventually "the Bulls" was adopted as a nickname and this was used when the Bartercard Cup was formed.
Between 2000 and 2007 the Bulls played in the now defunct Bartercard Cup. They won two Bartercard Cup trophies, in 2000 and 2003. In addition, they were defeated in the last seconds of the 2004 final. This makes them one of the most successful teams in the competition, alongside the Mt Albert Lions. Out of the seven seasons they only missed the finals once, in 2002.
The Bulls were the only team from the South Island to ever compete in the Bartercard Cup and were the only club to compete in every season. During this time they were coached by Ged Stokes and Phil Prescott. [4] [5]
Season | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Position (Teams) | Finals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 658 | 525 | 133 | 30 | Second (Twelve) | Champions |
2001 | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 882 | 489 | 393 | 29 | Third (Twelve) | Defeated in Preliminary Final |
2002 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 386 | 531 | −145 | 10 | Tenth (Twelve) | N/A |
2003 | 16 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 648 | 370 | 278 | 26 | Minor Premiers (Twelve) | Champions |
2004 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 562 | 374 | 188 | 18 | Fifth (Twelve) | Defeated in Elimination Play-off |
2005 | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 543 | 388 | 155 | 22 | Second (Twelve) | Runners-up |
2006 | 18 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 583 | 376 | 207 | 26 | Second (Ten) | Runners-up |
2007 | 18 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 659 | 430 | 229 | 24 | Third (Ten) | Defeated in Preliminary Final |
They finished second in the 2006 season standings and defeated the Waitakere Rangers 26–20 in the non-elimination Semi-final. This qualified them for the Qualifying Semi-final which they lost to the Auckland Lions 27–14 at Western Springs Stadium. They bounced back in the preliminary final, smashing the Tamaki Leopards 30–6 but could not defeat the Lions, losing the Grand Final 25–18.
2006 Finals Series | Winner | Loser | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Preliminary Semi-final | Canterbury Bulls | 26 | Waitakere Rangers | 20 |
Qualification Semi-final | Auckland Lions | 27 | Canterbury Bulls | 14 |
Preliminary Final | Canterbury Bulls | 30 | Tamaki Leopards | 6 |
Grand Final | Auckland Lions | 25 | Canterbury Bulls | 18 |
Before the start of the 2007 season legendary coach Philip Prescott retired and was replaced by former New Zealand national rugby league team prop Brent Stuart. The Bulls finished the regular season in 3rd place. The highlight of the season was a 72–8 thrashing of the Waicoa Bay Stallions. The Bulls lost the Preliminary Final to Harbour League.
Date | Match | Winner | Loser | Venue | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
25 August | Elimination Semi-final | Canterbury Bulls | 35 | Waitakere Rangers | 18 | Waitemata Stadium |
1 September | Preliminary Final | Harbour League | 28 | Canterbury Bulls | 24 | Waitemata Stadium |
In 2008 and 2009 they played in the Bartercard Premiership where they made both grand finals. They finished minor premiers both years and defeated Auckland in the 2009 final.
In 2010 the team was replaced in national competitions by one represented the new South Island Zone. [6] Canterbury lost the Rugby League Cup to Auckland on Queen's Birthday 2012, after holding it since 2009.
In 2013 the Canterbury Bulls were added to the Albert Baskerville Trophy, replacing the South Island Scorpions. Until 2016 the Bulls represented the entire South Island and were able to select players from the other South Island districts. [7]
The Auckland Lions were a rugby league club that had teams in both the New Zealand Bartercard Cup and the NSWRL Premier League. They were mostly drawn from the Mt Albert Lions Rugby League club. Mt Albert had a proud tradition in Auckland and had previously won two Bartercard Cup competitions as a stand-alone club.
The 2006 New Zealand rugby league season was the 99th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the seventh season of the Bartercard Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Auckland Lions won the Cup by defeating the Canterbury Bulls 25–18 in the grand final.
Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand competitions. Previously teams have competed in the Bartercard Cup and Lion Red Cup. The CRL is currently part of the South Island Zone which includes the Tasman, West Coast, Otago and Southland regions.
The 2008 New Zealand rugby league season was the 101st season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the inaugural season of the Bartercard Premiership competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. Auckland won the title by defeating the Canterbury Bulls 38–18 in the Grand Final.
The 2009 New Zealand rugby league season was the 102nd season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the second season of the Bartercard Premiership competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Canterbury Bulls won the minor premiership and then the premiership by defeating Auckland 26–20 in the Grand Final.
The 2001 New Zealand rugby league season was the 94th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the second season of the Bartercard Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Hibiscus Coast Raiders won the Cup by defeating the Eastern Tornadoes 28–18 in the Grand Final.
The 2002 New Zealand rugby league season was the 95th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the third season of the Bartercard Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Mt Albert Lions won the Cup by defeating the Hibiscus Coast Raiders 24–20 in the Grand Final.
The 2003 New Zealand rugby league season was the 96th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the fourth season of the Bartercard Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Canterbury Bulls won the Cup by defeating the Marist Richmond Brothers 32–28 in the Grand Final.
The 2004 New Zealand rugby league season was the 97th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the fifth season of the Bartercard Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Mt Albert Lions won the Cup by defeating the Marist Richmond Brothers 40–20 in the Grand Final.
The 2005 New Zealand rugby league season was the 98th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the sixth season of the Bartercard Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Mt Albert Lions won the Cup by defeating the Canterbury Bulls 24–22 in the Grand Final.
The New Zealand rugby league season 1997 was the 90th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the Super League Challenge Cup that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. Waikato won the Challenge Cup by defeating Canterbury 34-18 and also ended the season holding the Rugby League Cup.
The 1913 New Zealand rugby league season was the sixth season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.
The 1920 New Zealand rugby league season was the 13th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.
The 1946 New Zealand rugby league season was the 39th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.
The 1947 New Zealand rugby league season was the 40th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.
The 1948 New Zealand rugby league season was the 41st season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.
The 1949 New Zealand rugby league season was the 42nd season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.
The 1950 New Zealand rugby league season was the 43rd season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.
The 1968 New Zealand rugby league season was the 61st season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.
The 1981 New Zealand rugby league season was the 74th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.