Archive for July 2023
HAPPY HIRE TEAM UP WITH CRL FOR GRAND FINAL DAY
The climax of the local rugby league season will be proudly known as Happy Hire CRL Grand Final Day following a naming rights sponsorship agreement between Canterbury Rugby League and the marquee and event equipment rental company. Happy Hire started operating in Christchurch more than a decade ago and now has branches in Dunedin, Wellington…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: CANTABRIANS IN THE CHALLENGE CUP FINAL
After last week’s stunning Challenge Cup semis set up an unlikely Wembley final between Hull KR and Leigh Leopards on August 12, Flashback Friday celebrates the history of Cantabrians featuring in British rugby league’s greatest occasion. 1929: Len Mason was selected for New Zealand from Canterbury and played three Tests on the Kiwis’ infamous 1926-27…
Read MoreBULLDOG BROWN’S JOURNEY A BLUEPRINT FOR PERSEVERANCE
If young sportspeople need an example of resilience and positivity amid adversity to draw upon, they need look no further than Fa’amanu Brown. The tenacious Christchurch-born utility’s rugby league journey has taken him from Hornby Panthers’ juniors, to an NRL debut at Cronulla as a teenager, through multiple career-threatening injury setbacks, personal trials, a spell…
Read MoreCRL 2023: RD 15 CLUB WRAP
The 2023 CRL Men’s Premiership regular season concluded amid a Saturday deluge that saw two matches to finish early, while the weekend’s weather event forced the cancellation of Sunday’s penultimate round of CRL Women’s Premiership fixtures. Hornby Panthers had managed to run in eight tries to two against Northern Bulldogs at Murphy Park when the…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: NOONAN CREATES GRAND FINAL HISTORY WITH CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN
With Canterbury Rugby League and NRL’s Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs entering into a pathways partnership, announced last week, Flashback Friday looks back at the first notable link between our region and the Sydney-based club. Rugged Linwood prop/second-rower Bill Noonan played three Tests for New Zealand in the late-1960s, but arguably carved out a greater legacy as a…
Read MoreCRL YOUTH WRAP & WEEKEND PREVIEW
YOUTH WRAP – JULY 17-19 After a two-week breather for school holidays, the CRL youth night competitions resumed on Monday at Ngā Puna Wai. Undefeated Linwood Keas retained their lead on the 16s boys table with a 66-6 win over Papanui Tigers, while Hornby Panthers Black consolidated second with a 38-10 defeat of Celebration Lions.…
Read MoreRED AND BLACK REPORT 2023: EDITION NO.10
The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League products featuring in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions. NRL Aranui Eagles junior Jamayne Isaako continues to sit atop the NRL pointscoring charts with 173 – opening up a gap of 15 points to his nearest competitor. The winger showed his full gamut of…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: JASON WILLIAMS’ 1994 FINALS CAMPAIGN
Following the announcement of a momentous partnership between Canterbury Rugby League and NRL club Canterbury Bankstown-Bulldogs this week, Flashback Friday relives the game-breaking efforts of Canterbury (NZ) product and dynamic Bulldogs winger Jason Williams during the 1994 finals series. Williams helped the minor premiership-winning Bulldogs qualify for the grand final with a starring role in…
Read MoreCanterbury Rugby League are Seeking Board Directors
CANTERBURY 19s GEAR UP FOR RAIDERS CHALLENGE
The Canberra Raiders Vikings 18s squad landed in Ōtautahi Christchurch on Wednesday for a two-match tour – getting underway on Thursday evening at Brookside Park. The Vikings line-up – consisting of the most promising 17- and 18-year-olds from Canberra’s Harold Matthews side and first-year SG Ball players – square off against Canterbury 19s in their…
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