The NZRL Men's National Competition (previously called the National Zonal 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 (split into North and South Island Conferences) with a promotion and relegation between the two divisions.
Trophies and awards Senior teams compete for the Albert Baskerville Trophy, which is named after Albert Baskerville, the organiser of the 1907-1908 All Golds tour. Under-17s compete for the Mark Graham Cup, which is named after Mark Graham, the New Zealand Rugby League player of the century. Under-15s compete for the Nathan Cayless Cup, which is named after Nathan Cayless, the only captain to win the World Cup for New Zealand.
Structure The competition was reformatted for the 2016 season, with Akarana, Counties Manukau, Canterbury and Wellington competing in a national championship. The Upper Central and Mid-Central zones reverted to district teams with these teams, alongside Northland and the South Island districts, competing in four regional championships. The four regional winners then compete in a National Premiership competition, which play a promotion-relegation match against the last placed national championship side.
From 2019, this changed again, with a 4-team Premiership and 8-team, two conference (North and South Island) Championship contested.
NZRL Premiership Teams TeamCity/Region Current Coach Home Grounds Akarana FalconsAuckland Steve Buckingham Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Canterbury BullsChristchurch Andrew Auimatagi Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub, Christchurch Counties Manukau StingraysSouth Auckland Rod Ratu Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Waikato Mana HamiltonFMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
NZRL Championship Teams TeamCity/RegionCurrent CoachHome GroundsNorth Island Conference Auckland Vulcans AucklandMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Mid-Central VipersNew PlymouthYarrow Stadium, New Plymouth Upper Central StallionsTauranga & RotoruaRotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Wellington OrcasWellington Mike Kuiti Jerry Collins Stadium, PoriruaSouth Island Conference Aoraki EelsSouth CanterburyAshbury Park, Timaru Otago Rugby LeagueDunedinForsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Southland RamsInvercargillRugby Park Stadium, Invercargill West Coast ChargersGreymouthWingham Park, Greymouth
Season winners YearPremiershipChampionshipJuniorsAlbert Baskerville TrophyScoreRunner upMinor PremiersWooden SpoonChampionship winnerScoreChampionship Runner-UpMark Graham Cup (U-17)Nathan Cayless Cup (U-15)2010 Auckland14–6 Counties Manukau Auckland Northern SwordsN/AN/AN/A Counties Manukau Counties Manukau2011 Auckland Pride44–34 South Island Auckland Pride Northern Swords Auckland Pride Auckland Pride2012 Akarana Falcons38–20 Counties Manukau Counties Manukau Northern Swords Akarana Falcons Counties Manukau2013 Akarana Falcons22–12 Counties Manukau Counties Manukau Central Vipers Counties Manukau Akarana Falcons2014 Canterbury Bulls40–8 Waicoa Bay Stallions Counties Manukau Northern Swords Akarana Falcons Akarana Falcons2015 Counties ManukauStingrays romp home in premiership final nzrl.co.nz, 17 October 201541–10 Canterbury Bulls Counties Manukau Northern Swords Akarana Falcons Akarana Falcons2016 Akarana Falcons32–12 Counties Manukau Counties Manukau Wellington Orcas Waikato Akarana Falcons Counties Manukau2017 Akarana Falcons30–4 Waikato Akarana Falcons Wellington Orcas Bay of Plenty Lakers 2018 Akarana Falcons51–20 Counties Manukau Akarana Falcons Wellington Orcas 2019 Akarana Falcons28–10 Canterbury Bulls Akarana Falcons Waikato2020 Akarana Falcons64–18 Counties Manukau Akarana Falcons Waikato Northern Swords22–20 Otago Whalers2021 Upper Central Stallions36–22 Canterbury BullsN/AN/AN/A2022 Akarana Falcons46–4 Canterbury Bulls Akarana Falcons Waikato Auckland Vulcans48–12 Otago Counties Manukau Counties Manukau2023 Auckland Vulcans 70-4 Counties Manukau Auckland Vulcans Canterbury Bulls Bay of Plenty Lakers62-16 Aoraki Eels
See also
NZRL National Youth Tournament NZRL National Secondary Schools Tournament NZRL Women's National Competition
References
External links