CRL NEWS
Real the latest local league news
CANTERBURY TO HOST 2025 NZRL NATIONAL YOUTH COMPETITION
Canterbury Rugby League with New Zealand Rugby League Canterbury Rugby League is thrilled to announce the region will host New Zealand Rugby League’s (NZRL) annual National Youth Competition for the first time in 2025. The first-rate facilities at Ngā Puna Wai, the home of Canterbury Rugby League since 2019, will...
EXCITING, BALANCED TRILLO METALS WOMEN’S CANTERBURY BULLS SQUAD NAMED FOR NZRL PREMIERSHIP CAMPAIGN
The Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls squad for the 2024 NZRL SKY Sports Women's Premiership has been named, featuring 11 members of last year’s team. Despite vying for the services of representative players with rugby union following the commencement of the Farah Palmer Cup, incoming Trillo Metals Women’s Canterbury Bulls...
RETURNING STARS, EXCITING NEWCOMERS FEATURE IN CANTERBURY BULLS 2024 MEN’S SQUAD
The Canterbury Bulls squad for the 2024 South Island Men’s Championship has been named, boasting some familiar faces, returning stalwarts and exciting newcomers. Fifteen players from Sunday’s epic CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership grand final between Hornby Panthers and Halswell Hornets have been included as the Bulls begin...
FAST-STARTING PANTHERS HOLD OFF HORNETS RALLY TO CLINCH PREMIERSHIP
Hornby Panthers have sent their departing trio of club legends - coach Jed Lawrie, and evergreens Corey Lawrie (if he indeed hangs up the boots) and James Baxendale - out in fitting style, taking out the Pat Smith Trophy with nerve-shattering 20-18 CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men's Premiership grand...
EAGLES HOLD ON FOR CANTERBURY CUP TRIUMPH
Eastern Eagles have outlasted Halswell Hornets in the CRL ISC Sports Canterbury Cup grand final 14-6. The Eagles scored the only two tries of the second half to subdue the minor premiership-winning Hornets, reversing the clubs' major semi-final result from a fortnight earlier. A frantic opening period featured missed opportunities,...
SWANS’ SECOND-HALF SURGE SECURES CRL WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP
Sydenham Swans buried the disappointment of back-to-back grand final heartbreakers in 2022-23 to claim the CRL Bartercard Women's Premiership with a high-quality 20-12 victory over Hornby Panthers in the decider at Ngā Puna Wai. After a tense, low-scoring opening half, the Swans - led by brilliant halfback Kyla Lynch-Brown -...
BULLDOGS OVERWHELM BARBARIANS FOR DIVISION ONE TITLE
Northern Bulldogs broke down Ashburton Barbarians' impressive early resistance to run away with the CRL Division One grand final 40-20 at Ngā Puna Wai. Experienced campaigners Nathaniel Tirikatene and Cameron Godfrey both scored two tries in a dominant Bulldogs display. The bruising Barbarians made an outstanding start, with winger David...
PAT SMITH’S ENDURING LEGACY
Most know the Pat Smith Trophy is the greatest prize in Canterbury Rugby League, but how much do you know about the man it is named after? As the silverware is polished up and prepared to be awarded for the 58th time on Sunday, to either Hornby or Halswell after...
HIGH-ACHIEVING FEAVERS LOOKS FORWARD TO SECOND CANTERBURY GF
Jack Feavers’ appointment to his second straight CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership grand final comes on the back of recent milestones that reflect his rapid progress in the refereeing ranks. Over the past couple of years Blenheim-based Feavers has racked up thousands upon thousands of kilometres to referee...
YOUTHFUL PANTHERS OUT TO CAP STUNNING SEASON WITH GF VICTORY
Hornby has taken the CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership by storm in the club’s first season back in the competition, culminating in a grand final appearance this Sunday after ending Linwood’s reign in last week’s sudden-death semi. Youthful exuberance and attacking flair have been trademarks of the Panthers’ campaign – traits...
SHORTHANDED SWANS RELYING ON EXPERIENCE TO REGAIN WOMEN’S TITLE
If Sydenham Swans bounce back from consecutive CRL Bartercard Women’s Premiership grand final heartbreakers by inscribing their name on the trophy for 2024, it will be a nod to the squad’s experience and depth after losing a host of key players. Former Kiwi Ferns rep Bunty Kuruwaka-Crowe, a multiple grand...
CRL PREMIERSHIP DECIDERS: A GRAND HISTORY
The Pat Smith Trophy has been Canterbury Rugby League’s ultimate prize for more than half a century, awarded to the winning side in each year’s Grand Final since a playoffs system replaced the first-past-the-post format to decide the premiership in 1967. Sunday’s Men’s Premiership decider between Hornby Panthers and Halswell...
