The Rugby League Cup is a New Zealand rugby league trophy that is contested between districts on a challenge basis. The trophy used to be known as the Northern Union Challenge Cup.[1]
It is the oldest rugby league competition in New Zealand.[2]
History
New Zealand rugby league was born with events such as the All Golds tour of England,[3] and matches in Wellington and Auckland in 1908.[4] John Coffey writes in Te Ara, "The Auckland Rugby League was formed in July 1909, and North Shore played City as the forerunner to an inter-club competition that started in 1910. By this time, league was also being played in Taranaki, Rotorua, Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, Marlborough and Southland."[4]
The Cup was made in Bradford and donated to Auckland for inter-provincial competition by the touring 1910 Great Britain Lions.[5]
The Cup was first contested in 1911, when Auckland successfully defended it four times.[6] The Cup was held by Auckland until 1922.[7]
Auckland are the current holders of the Cup after they defeated Canterbury in a one-off match on 4 June 2012.[needs update] This was marked as a "centennial" match.[8]
Past winners
Year by year
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