Waikato Cougars

☆ Save On Wikipedia ↗
Waikato rugby league team
Club information
Full nameWaikato Rugby League Football Club
NicknameCougars
Colours  Black
  Red
  Yellow
Founded1921
Exited2009
Former details
Grounds
CompetitionBartercard Premiership
Records
Premierships1997
Rugby League Cup1922-24, 1927, 1930, 1932, 1975-76, 1997-99
Waikato beating Auckland 29-12 at Carlaw Park on October 15, 1927.
Auckland v Waikato (named South Auckland originally) in 1928 at Carlaw Park. Tim Peckham of Auckland has just passed the ball. He also represented South Auckland 10 times.

The Waikato rugby league team (also known as the Waikato Cougars, formerly as South Auckland) is a New Zealand rugby league team that represents the Waikato Rugby League in New Zealand Rugby League competitions. They competed in the Lion Red Cup from 1994 to 1996, the Super League Challenge Cup in 1997 and the Bartercard Premiership in 2008 and 2009.

History

Lion Red Cup

Between 1994 and 1996, the Waikato region was represented by the Waikato Cougars in the Lion Red Cup competition. The team's inaugural captain was Tukere Barlow while Joe Gwynne was the coach. The team was originally going to be called the Stags or the Chiefs before the Cougars nickname was selected.[1]

Notable players included; Martin Moana, Gavin Hill, Tama Hohaia, Francis Leota, Darryl Beazley, 1994 captain Tukere Barlow, Butch Tua, 1995 captain Aaron Tucker, Tony Waikato, Kiwi Mark Woods and Hekewaru Muru.[1][2]

Season Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Position Finals
1994 22161558940518433SecondLost Elimination Semifinal
1995 2213184713799227FourthLost Elimination Semifinal
1996 2213185154724327FourthLost preliminary final

Late 1990s

The Waikato Cougars won the Super League Challenge Cup in 1997, defeating Canterbury in the final. During this year they also defeated Auckland at Carlaw Park for the first time since 1943 and won the Rugby League Cup. They defended the Rugby League Cup in 1998.

Bartercard Cup

The Waikato region was represented in the Bartercard Cup competition by the Waicoa Bay Stallions, a co-operative team involving players from Waikato, Coastline and Bay of Plenty federations.

Season Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Position Finals
2004 164210380455-75109th (12)N/A
2005 163013368620-252612th (12)N/A
2006 185211494662-168128th (10)N/A
2007 185112418682-264117th (10)N/A

Bartercard Premiership

Waikato Rugby League were one of the six teams that compete in the National Provincial Competition in 2008 and 2009. In both years they finished third.

Season Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Position Finals
2008 5302110138-286ThirdN/A
2009 5 3 0 2 130 108 22 6ThirdLost semi-final

Rugby League Tour Matches

Over the years Waikato has been an infrequent stop for touring international rugby league teams.

GameDateResultVenueAttendanceNotes
14 September 1913 New South Wales def. Waikato 20–14Claudelands, Hamilton1,5001913 NSW Tour of New Zealand
218 September 1919 Australia def. Waikato 58–5Steele Park, Hamilton1,5001919 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand
328 July 1924 England def. Waikato 30–12Paterson Park, Ngāruawāhia1924 Great Britain Lions tour
420 July 1960 France def. Waikato 32–2Davies Park, Hamilton3,0711960 French Tour of Australasia
55 July 1961 Australia def. Waikato 26–8Steele Park, Hamilton8661961 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand
625 July 1962 Great Britain def. Waikato 59–20Davies Park, Hamilton3,4611962 Great Britain Lions tour
79 August 1964 France def. Waikato 23–16Davies Park, Hamilton2,7371964 French Tour of Australasia
823 June 1965 Australia def. Waikato 25–4Davies Park, Hamilton1,8001965 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand
93 August 1966 Great Britain def. Waikato 47–8Davies Park, Hamilton2,9331966 Great Britain Lions tour
1010 May 1970 NSW Country def. Waikato 22–11Davies Park, Hamilton3,000
113 August 1976 Combined Sydney def. Waikato 41–3Davies Park, Hamilton
1220 September 1983 Papua New Guinea def. Waikato 28–24Davies Park, Hamilton1983 Papua New Guinea Kumuls tour
135 July 1988 Papua New Guinea def. Waikato 38–12Davies Park, Hamilton1988 Papua New Guinea Kumuls tour

References

  1. Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1994. p.114
  2. Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1995, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1995. p.95