Rep Teams
CANTERBURY WOMEN SHOW EXCITING SIGNS FOR FUTURE
The Canterbury Women’s team competed at the NZRL National Women’s Tournament last weekend, impressing with another third-place result despite taking an inexperienced squad to Auckland following the late withdrawal of some key players. After tough losses to Mid Central Vipers (20-12) and Akarana Falcons (46-0) on day one, Canterbury was edged out by Auckland Vulcans…
Read MoreSPECIAL INSPIRATION FOR CANTERBURY DEBUTANT NUKUNUKU
Cushla Nukunuku has more motivation than most of Canterbury’s rookie representatives ahead of the NZRL National Women’s Tournament. The Linwood Keas prop/second-rower will make her provincial debut in Auckland next week, which shapes as the highlight of a season she has dedicated to the memory of her mum, Lena Nukunuku, who passed away two years…
Read MoreCANTERBURY MĀORI TO ENTER 2019 SOUTHERN ZONE COMP
Canterbury Māori will enter a team in the 2019 South Island Premier Competition. With local rugby league stalwart Jaye Pukepuke behind the push as co-coach and chief organiser, Canterbury Māori is set to replace Tasman in the Southern Zone competition, which runs from August 10 through to September. “It gives more players an opportunity to…
Read MoreWEST OVERWHELM EAST IN NGĀ PUNA WAI REP CLASH
West reclaimed crosstown supremacy with a 32-20 victory over East in a physical encounter laced with sparkling tries at Ngā Puna Wai. The victory was just West’s second in the fixture – but their second in three seasons since its return to the Canterbury Rugby League calendar. Several candidates from both teams put their hands…
Read MoreEAST V WEST A CRUCIAL STEPPING STONE FOR CANTERBURY WOMEN
Canterbury women’s coach Mike Linton sees Saturday’s historic East v West women’s fixture as a vital component of the upcoming NZRL National Tournament campaign – and for developing the women’s game as a whole in the region. A North v South women’s match was played in 2017 – the same year the East v West…
Read MorePRIDE AND BULLS JERSEYS ON THE LINE WHEN EAST MEETS WEST
Crosstown pride goes on the line when East squares off against West in the seventh edition of the representative fixture – and third since its reinstatement to the Canterbury Rugby League calendar – at Ngā Puna Wai. The East side – mentored by Eagles coach Eddie Timo-Latu – draw their players from the Linwood, Celebration,…
Read MoreCRL LEGEND SERIES NO.7: QUENTIN PONGIA
The rugby league world is mourning the loss of Quentin Pongia, who passed away on Saturday after a brave battle with bowel cancer. He was just 48. Originally from the West Coast, before embarking on a career that saw him become a revered and popular figure in Canterbury, for professional clubs Canberra, the Warriors, Sydney…
Read MoreCRL LEGEND SERIES NO.7: JOHN BOND
Kiwi #351 John Bond was born in Kaiapoi to the north of Christchurch, moving a few miles closer to town to Redwood with his family when he was eight years old. Now 87, the former Papanui, Marist, Kaiapoi, Canterbury, South Island and New Zealand prop/second-rower has lived in the suburb ever since. Bond’s rugby league…
Read MoreLONG-SERVING MANAGER MEL MATHER STEPS DOWN FROM ROCKCOTE BULLS POST
The Rockcote Canterbury Bulls’ clash with the Warriors’ ISP team at Ngā Puna Wai on February 23 heralded a new era for rugby league in the region. But it also signalled the end of an era for the Bulls, with long-serving manager Mel Mather stepping down from the role following the historic match. “My day…
Read MoreCHRISTCHURCH TO HOST INTERNATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE DOUBLE-HEADER
Via NZRL New Zealand is set to get a massive injection of international rugby league matches in 2019, with the Great Britain Rugby League Lions tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, and the inaugural Oceania Cup getting the green light. The first match of the Oceania Cup has the New Zealand Kiwis going…
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