Jump to content

What's the state of grassroots rugby league in Wellington New Zealand?

Themusician_2

Recommended Posts


kiwis 13 6

kiwis 13 6

Posted
Posted

Wellington Premier Grade Mens Competition has 8 teams

Wellington Reserve Grade Mens Competition has 5 teams

Wellington Masters Grade for Social players over the age of 35.. has 4- 6 teams

Not sure if there is any Womens rugby league in Wellington anymore? 

Clubs run KIds Grades compettions from Under 6's to Under 14's

Also there are 7 school teams in Wellington College Sport Rugby League Competition that play a couple of games at end of season.

Every year since the turn of the century there has been less and less teams and players involved in Rugby League in Wellington. The Wellington Grand final was on last weekend dont think it even gets a mention in the local papers or radio anymore. Wellington Representative side the Orcas are weak and Have been relegated from NZRL premiership and now lose to Bay of plenty and Southland Rep Sides in the division below that.

Wellington Rugby League needs NRL to fund run clinics to attract kids, referees and coaches back to the sport and a semi pro side in a National Comp would help offer players in the region some incentive to play and something to aim for.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Themusician_2

Themusician_2

Posted
  • Author
Posted
4 hours ago, kiwis 13 6 said:

Wellington Premier Grade Mens Competition has 8 teams

Wellington Reserve Grade Mens Competition has 5 teams

Wellington Masters Grade for Social players over the age of 35.. has 4- 6 teams

Not sure if there is any Womens rugby le ague in Wellington anymore? 

Clubs run KIds Grades compettions from Under 6's to Under 14's

Also there are 7 school teams in Wellington College Sport Rugby League Competition that play a couple of games at end of season.

Every year since the turn of the century there has been less and less teams and players involved in Rugby League in Wellington. The Wellington Grand final was on last weekend dont think it even gets a mention in the local papers or radio anymore. Wellington Representative side the Orcas are weak and Have been relegated from NZRL premiership and now lose to Bay of plenty and Southland Rep Sides in the division below that.

Wellington Rugby League needs NRL to fund run clinics to attract kids, referees and coaches back to the sport and a semi pro side in a National Comp would help offer players in the region some incentive to play and something to aim for.

Unfortunate to hear there being no women. 7 schools is actually quite good considering the strangle hold union has on the schools system and them doing everything in their power to keep league out of the school curriculum. Didn't NZ have a semi pro rugby league comp but it was scrapped due to not enough money I forgot the name of the competition. Is it fair to say the decline in participants is due to the rise in popularity of basketball, the better pathways in rugby union, rugby league not being able to attract pakeha kids and most New Zealand immigrants coming from Asia and South Africa where they lean more towards cricket, soccer and rugby union.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kiwis 13 6

kiwis 13 6

Posted
Posted
22 hours ago, Themusician_2 said:

Unfortunate to hear there being no women. 7 schools is actually quite good considering the strangle hold union has on the schools system and them doing everything in their power to keep league out of the school curriculum. Didn't NZ have a semi pro rugby league comp but it was scrapped due to not enough money I forgot the name of the competition. Is it fair to say the decline in participants is due to the rise in popularity of basketball, the better pathways in rugby union, rugby league not being able to attract pakeha kids and most New Zealand immigrants coming from Asia and South Africa where they lean more towards cricket, soccer and rugby union.

 

Regarding this years Womens comp in Wellington im not sure if there was one or not? The 7 High schools that currently play Rugby League play a couple of games when the rugby Union season is finished. The Wellington 2019 Schools comp is starting around about this time of year.

Club in the link posted, Upper Hutt Tigers currently have no mens sides. In the 1980's - mid 90's there Premier grade side was semi professional and they had several other mens sides as well. They were sponsored by Dunlop Tyre's & featured NZ Kiwi's rep players like Morvin Edwards (Penrith), Mike Kuiti (Leeds) and Adrian Shelford (Wigan/Manly). In the 80's - mid 90's NZRL was based on local provincial competitions, there was also a mid season Provincial Representative competition & end of season National Club Knockout competition to decide NZ's Champion club. But at the same time the NZ Warriors entered the NRL & rugby union was about to go pro. The Provincial rep and national club knockout comps were scrapped. A new Nationwide semi pro competition was set up with manufactured teams with stupid names and it clashed with existing provincial club competitions. The National Competition folded 12 years ago and the Wellington club competition is struggling there is currently no form of semi pro rugby league in Wellington. A lot of Rugby League people have emigrated to Australia and the game now dosnt have a lot to offer to attract people to play the sport.

The Wellington Grand Club Grand Final last weekend did make the papers afterall today but it seems only because reports of the police being called due to a fight in the crowd made it news worthy.... 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/114772635/scuffle-involving-spectators-at-wellington-rugby-league-final-sad-day-for-the-sport

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Themusician_2

Themusician_2

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 hour ago, kiwis 13 6 said:

Regarding this years Womens comp in Wellington im not sure if there was one or not? The 7 High schools that currently play Rugby League play a couple of games when the rugby Union season is finished. The Wellington 2019 Schools comp is starting around about this time of year.

The Club in the Video you posted the Upper Hutt Tigers who currently have no mens sides at all. In the 1980's to mid 1990's they were semi professional and the club had at least four mens sides Premiers, reserves, Senior 1st, 2nds... They were sponsored by Dunlop Tyre's they had players like Adrian Shelford who they signed from Christchurch and later played for Wigan, Manly & the NZ Kiwis. Back in the 80's & early 90's the Structure of the NZRL was based around local provincial competitions like Auckland, Canterbury Wellington, etc. Then there was a mid season Provincial Representative competition & at the end of the season Grand finalist clubs from each provincial competition would meet in an end of season National Knockout competition to decide an NZ club Champion. But the same time as the NZ Warriors entered the NRL & rugby union went pro not long after. The struture of the local game was also changed the Provincial rep comp and national club knockout comp were scrapped. A new Nationwide semi pro competition was set up but sides were all manufactured with silly new names and they werent based around traditional provinces and competed with club competitions. Now that the 2nd edition of the National Competition folded 12 years ago and the Wellington club competition is struggling there is no longer any form of semi pro rugby league in Wellington. Also a lot of Rugby League people from Wellington have emigrated to Australia and on top of that the game now dosnt have much to offer to attract people to play the sport.

The Wellington Grand Club Grand Final last weekend did make the papers afterall today but it seems only because reports of the police being called due to a fight in the crowd made it news worthy.... 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/114772635/scuffle-involving-spectators-at-wellington-rugby-league-final-sad-day-for-the-sport

Wow the way you put it seems the Wellington RL has been declining the past decade. This is really sad. NZ need a national semi pro domestic comp. But is there the talent since most just go to Australia anyway?  How do RL attract people to the game in Wellington?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kiwis 13 6

kiwis 13 6

Posted
Posted
On 08/08/2019 at 01:33, Themusician_2 said:

Wow the way you put it seems the Wellington RL has been declining the past decade. This is really sad. NZ need a national semi pro domestic comp. But is there the talent since most just go to Australia anyway?  How do RL attract people to the game in Wellington?

Decline has been slowly happening for two decades but its got to the point now where its really noticeable. In the link you posted the NZ Warriors ran a clinic before there recent game in Wellington. That was funded by the NZ warriors not the NRL. The NRL really should be helping WRL & NZRL to run clinics for kids as well as referee and coaching seminars. God knows the NRL make enough money out of NZ. Also better administration, refereeing and coaching combined with ONE Wellington team in a NZ semi pro competition would definitely help the game in Wellington.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kiwis 13 6

kiwis 13 6

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, rlno1 said:

Wellington league does look pretty sick at the moment. I recall when Wellington played and beat Gt Britain in 1990 and put up a good performance against the mighty Australian team in 1989.

Yeah i went to watch both of those games you mentioned at the Basin Reserve. Also saw Wellington play against GB at the Hutt Rec in 1988. Imagine if the Wellington Rep team played Australia or GB these days it would be a massacre. Wellington lost to the Otago Rep side 2 years ago and there are only about 4 adult mens teams to choose players from in Otago! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kiwis 13 6

kiwis 13 6

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, rlno1 said:

Very sad, under Howie Tamati they had a good team. Didn't they also beat Auckland a few times?

Yeah 1st time Wellington ever beat Auckland was 1988 when Howie Tamati was the coach. I watch the Auckland Vs Wellington in 1989 at the Basin Reserve Auckland won but Wellington gave them a run for there money was a good sizes crowd of a couple thousand people at that game. While at the Same time only a Kilometer away at Athletic Park Wellington was Playing Fiji at Rugby Union.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Themusician_2

Themusician_2

Posted
  • Author
Posted
 

Yeah i went to watch both of those games you mentioned at the Basin Reserve. Also saw Wellington play against GB at the Hutt Rec in 1988. Imagine if the Wellington Rep team played Australia or GB these days it would be a massacre. Wellington lost to the Otago Rep side 2 years ago and there are only about 4 adult mens teams to choose players from in Otago! 

What's the state of the game in Otago and Southland region that sounds promising. Or were Wellington that bad?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kiwis 13 6

kiwis 13 6

Posted
Posted

Otago has 4 rugby league clubs. Southland has four rugby league clubs. Aoraki has 4 rugby league clubs. Tasman currently only has Kids competitions but had 2 mens sides play an end of season Nelson Vs Marlborough Origin series.  West Coast has 6 rugby league clubs but currently has no mens competition but has one combined side from Greymouth looking for one off games see link below about that

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/league/rise-fall-and-resurrection-west-coast-rugby-league-dedicated-community-keeping-game-alive

Otago, Southland, West Coast, Aoraki are currently playing in a South Island Provincial Championship tournament at the moment. Tasman didnt field a side and have been replaced by a Canterbury Maori side this year. Southland are currently leading that competition.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/115260803/southland-rams-unbeaten-in-southern-zone-rugby-league-competition

In the North Island Wellington, Manawatu, Taranaki, Coastline and Northland are currently playing in the North Island Championship. Ill try to make it to Wellington home games and post some pictures.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=12260530

The Winner of the South Island Provincial Championship plays the winner of the North Island Championship. The Winner of that game gets a promotion relegation game against lowest ranked NZRL Premiership side. That game will be the curtain raiser to the 2019 NZRL Provincial Premiership Final.

Finding info about the 2019 South and North Island Provincial Rugby League Championships is not easy come on NZRL it is your job to organize and promote Rugby league in NZ,  there needs to be press releases and info on NZRL website! 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...
Themusician_2

Themusician_2

Posted
  • Author
Posted
On 25/08/2019 at 06:56, kiwis 13 6 said:

Otago has 4 rugby league clubs. Southland has four rugby league clubs. Aoraki has 4 rugby league clubs. Tasman currently only has Kids competitions but had 2 mens sides play an end of season Nelson Vs Marlborough Origin series.  West Coast has 6 rugby league clubs but currently has no mens competition but has one combined side from Greymouth looking for one off games see link below about that

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/league/rise-fall-and-resurrection-west-coast-rugby-league-dedicated-community-keeping-game-alive

Otago, Southland, West Coast, Aoraki are currently playing in a South Island Provincial Championship tournament at the moment. Tasman didnt field a side and have been replaced by a Canterbury Maori side this year. Southland are currently leading that competition.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/115260803/southland-rams-unbeaten-in-southern-zone-rugby-league-competition

In the North Island Wellington, Manawatu, Taranaki, Coastline and Northland are currently playing in the North Island Championship. Ill try to make it to Wellington home games and post some pictures.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=12260530

The Winner of the South Island Provincial Championship plays the winner of the North Island Championship. The Winner of that game gets a promotion relegation game against lowest ranked NZRL Premiership side. That game will be the curtain raiser to the 2019 NZRL Provincial Premiership Final.

Finding info about the 2019 South and North Island Provincial Rugby League Championships is not easy come on NZRL it is your job to organize and promote Rugby league in NZ,  there needs to be press releases and info on NZRL website! 

 

Wow thanks. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
kiwis 13 6

kiwis 13 6

Posted
Posted

For next years NZRL Premiership WRL needs to find sponsors for the Orca's and recruit 3- 4 former pro players back to the city. Otherwise its going to be tough in the premiership next year against Canterbury, Akarana & Counties who all have former NRL, NSW, QLD Cup and current NZ Residents players playing for them.

Heres full match coverage from skysports NZ

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Themusician_2

Themusician_2

Posted
  • Author
Posted
3 hours ago, kiwis 13 6 said:

For next years NZRL Premiership WRL needs to find sponsors for the Orca's and recruit 3- 4 former pro players back to the city. Otherwise its going to be tough in the premiership next year against Canterbury, Akarana & Counties who all have former NRL, NSW, QLD Cup and current NZ Residents players playing for them.

Heres full match coverage from skysports NZ

 

How much do players get payed?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kiwis 13 6

kiwis 13 6

Posted
Posted
9 hours ago, Themusician_2 said:

How much do players get payed?

No way the Otago or Wellington players are paid to play in the championship for there provinces neither side even has sponsors. Otago players were selected from 3 adult mens clubs sides this year and those sides played in a combined competition with sides from Neighboring province Southland. It would be about 15 years since anyone has been paid to play by Clubs in Wellington. Wellington players are selected from an 8 team club comp those teams sometimes struggle to get enough players to field sides and clubs just scrape by to pay there operating costs. 

In the Premiership the Counties and Akarana players play in Aucklands Fox memorial club competition so many get paid to play by there clubs. In the Fox Memorial Ive read that good players can get up $500 a game.  I have read that some clubs in the Canterbury competition still pay there players small amounts of money like $50 dollars a game. I dont know much about the Waikato club competition and would be surprised if any clubs there could afford to pay players.  In NZRL premiership i noticed that Canterbury, Counties, Akarana and Waikato all have sponsorship on jerseys but i dont know if players are paid anything to represent there provinces. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 months later...
Taniwha Warriors

Taniwha Warriors

Posted
Posted
On 07/08/2019 at 23:33, Themusician_2 said:

Wow the way you put it seems the Wellington RL has been declining the past decade. This is really sad. NZ need a national semi pro domestic comp. But is there the talent since most just go to Australia anyway?  How do RL attract people to the game in Wellington?

Yes its really sad the state of the game in New Zealand compared to the 80's. Here in Auckland rugby league is declining massively with clubs can't field teams and junior numbers are dropping every year. The kids I used to coach are all playing school rugby union and you can't blame them when the NRL scouts seem to recruit from 1st XV rugby here and not the local junior comps. I have never seen rugby league in Auckland this bad and I was involved in the game from late 70's as a player.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.