CRL News
CANTERBURY RUGBY LEAGUE ROUND 1 WRAP
Linwood Keas took out a hard-fought opening-round Grand Final replay, while Hornby Panthers and Celebration Lions carved out emphatic victories to kick off the 2021 Bartercard New Zealand CRL Men’s Premiership on Saturday. The Keas began their quest for a sixth straight title with a 26-16 win over Northern Bulldogs at Ngā Puna Wai. Leading…
Read MoreBARTERCARD NZ CRL MEN’S PREMIERSHIP CLUBS PRIMED FOR HUGE 2021 SEASON
This time last year the Canterbury Rugby League community was negotiating the second week of New Zealand’s level 4 lockdown, the season put on indefinite hiatus before belatedly getting underway in June. The disruptive spectre of COVID-19 has not disappeared, but the 2021 CRL club campaign is set to commence in its traditional early-April timeslot…
Read MoreCRL LAUNCHES 2021 SEASON AT NGĀ PUNA WAI
After COVID-19 sidelined the event last year and caused huge delays to the club competitions, Monday night’s staging of the Canterbury Rugby League season launch at Ngā Puna Wai was symbolic of what everyone hopes will be a much smoother 2021. CRL CEO Duane Fyfe and Chairperson Tony Kidd welcomed the gathering of club representatives…
Read MoreBARTERCARD NZ PARTNERS WITH 2021 CRL MEN’S PREMIERSHIP
Canterbury Rugby League is proud to announce Bartercard New Zealand has partnered with the CRL Men’s Premiership for the 2021 season. The partnership continues Bartercard’s long and highly-valued affiliation with rugby league nationally and locally, including the NZRL Bartercard Cup/Premiership competitions – which featured the Canterbury Bulls – from 2000-10, and its support of the…
Read MoreAUCKLAND BLUE TOO STRONG FOR SOUTH ISLAND AT NGA PUNA WAI
A dominant second-half display underpinned Auckland Blue’s commanding 34-4 victory over South Island in the NZRL National 20-year competition match in Christchurch on Sunday. A vocal Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub crowd enjoyed an absorbing first-half tussle, with Auckland taking an 8-4 lead into the break. But the visitors stepped up a couple of gears…
Read MoreSOUTH ISLAND BLOW NORTHLAND AWAY IN 20s CLASH AT NGĀ PUNA WAI
South Island made a huge statement in Round 1 of the New Zealand Rugby League National 20s competition, defeating Northland 56-14 with a blistering attacking performance at Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub in Christchurch. Level 2 restrictions coming into effect on Sunday morning prevented spectators from attending the match – a shame given the perfect…
Read MoreVALE BILL WHITEHEAD
The Canterbury Rugby League community is mourning the loss of Bill Whitehead QSM, who passed away on Friday, aged 89. To say the game farewells one of its hardest-working and dedicated servants would almost be to undersell his colossal contribution to rugby league locally and nationally. Whitehead has been described as the most decorated man…
Read MoreVALE GERARD STOKES
The CRL community is mourning the loss of Kiwi #568 Gerard Stokes, a Canterbury stalwart on and off the field, and one of New Zealand’s most prominent coaches of the past 30 years. He died aged 65 after battling brain cancer. Stokes leaves behind an enormous rugby league legacy that included playing and coaching stints…
Read More‘TODDY’ HUMBLED BY CRL PLAYER OF THE DECADE HONOUR
Linwood Keas and New Era Glazing Canterbury Bulls stalwart Alex Todd’s naming as the Canterbury Rugby League Player of the Decade is a reminder there will always be a place for hard-working, consistent, tough grafters in our game. Following on from Jonny Limmer, who was named the player of the 2000s, Todd was adjudged Canterbury’s…
Read MoreCANTERBURY BULLS OVERWHELM WAIKATO IN NGA PUNA WAI TRY-FEST
The New Era Glazing Canterbury Bulls stayed in the hunt for a spot in the NZRL National Premiership final courtesy of a 36-24 victory over Waikato Mana in an entertaining Round 2 clash at Ngā Puna Wai. The Bulls held a tenuous 16-10 lead at the break but took the match away from the Mana…
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