CRL NEWS
Real the latest local league news
CRL FINALS FEVER GRIPS GREYMOUTH
Wingham Park in Greymouth is steeped in rugby league history, hosting many memorable club grand finals, myriad Thacker Shield encounters and West Coast-Canterbury representative fixtures, the province’s matches against France, Australia and Great Britain, and a Test between New Zealand and the 1954 Lions tourists. High-profile footy at the hallowed...
CRL YOUTH WRAP & WEEKEND PREVIEW
YOUTH WRAP – JULY 31-AUGUST 2 The weather and ground conditions forced the cancellation of last week's CRL Youth Night Competitions, and although the 16s boys were back in action at Ngā Puna Wai on Monday, the weather intervened again on Wednesday. Linwood Keas stayed undefeated atop the 16s table...
CRL REFEREE PROFILE: NELLA NGAHURU
Nella Ngahuru’s tenure as a player in the CRL Women’s Premiership spans more than 16 years – but she’s simultaneously in the formative stages of blazing a trail in the Canterbury Rugby League refereeing ranks. First pulling on the boots for Addington Magpies, Ngahuru represented Canterbury from 2007-09, moved to...
RED AND BLACK REPORT 2023: EDITION NO.11
The Red and Black Report shines a spotlight on Canterbury Rugby League products featuring in Australia’s elite and lower-grade competitions. NRL Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako continues to head the NRL’s pointscoring charts with 183 points from 16 tries and 59 goals. https://twitter.com/NRL/status/1685506835116134400?s=20 The Aranui junior scored a sizzling 80-metre solo...
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...
FLASHBACK 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...
BULLDOG 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...
CRL 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...
FLASHBACK 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...
CRL 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...
RED 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...
FLASHBACK 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...
