League in NZ

[LeagueXIII]

For all those people who claim rugby league is played only in Auckland may be interested to know that just over 700 players have played for the Kiwis in 100 years, of these, just over 300 have come from outside Auckland including 160+ from the South Island. After Auckland, Canterbury (Christchurch) has produced the most Kiwis with just over 100.
Also, 20 captains from 6 different districts have come from outside Auckland.
These figures are relative to population sizes and prove league is indeed played throughout NZ being strongest in the major population centre, Auckland, similar to Australia and Sydney.
It is RU people who like to claim league is played only in the north of England, east coast of Australia and Auckland, conveniently forgetting union also is strongest in certain regions such as the east coast of Australia (the nRL has more players from WA than S14), south of England (how's union going in Birmingham?) and south of France.

 

[Master Vippo]

How big NZ anyway? What is it, like 2 regions?

 

[LeagueXIII]

It's more about dispelling myths and stereotypes that league is only played in Auckland, which clearly over the last 100 years, 300 plus Kiwis and 20 captains, proves it hasn't been.

 

[Wristy McSlashalot]

Awesome thanks for the info LeagueXIII I can tell you are truly passionate about this subject.

 

[bobbis]

For all those people who claim rugby league is played only in Auckland may be interested to know that just over 700 players have played for the Kiwis in 100 years, of these, just over 300 have come from outside Auckland including 160+ from the South Island. After Auckland, Canterbury (Christchurch) has produced the most Kiwis with just over 100.
Also, 20 captains from 6 different districts have come from outside Auckland.
These figures are relative to population sizes and prove league is indeed played throughout NZ being strongest in the major population centre, Auckland, similar to Australia and Sydney.
It is RU people who like to claim league is played only in the north of England, east coast of Australia and Auckland, conveniently forgetting union also is strongest in certain regions such as the east coast of Australia (the nRL has more players from WA than S14), south of England (how's union going in Birmingham?) and south of France.

Still your stats do show Auckland is over represented, population of about 1.25 million of total NZ population of 4 million. While 400 of about 700 players coming from Auckland. In other words Auckland has provided about 57% of the players with 31% of the population, so in fact your conclusion "These figures are relative to population sizes" is wrong. None the less your right in that league isn't only played in Auckland, and your comparison to RU's geographical spread in other countries is fairly irrelevent in absense of similar statistics to compare with.

 

[LeagueXIII]

Canterbury 13% of the population, 14% of Kiwis representation. Wellington 11.5% of population, 11.6% of Kiwis. Also 24% of the population is on the South Island and 24% of Kiwis have come from here. Read the stats the way you like for 44% of total Kiwis to have come from outside Auckland proves that the game is alive outside the city. Also, alot of players would have moved to Auckland from other districts for better opportunities, just as they use to move to Sydney for a chance, eg. Tawera Nikau is from Waikato yet he is listed as representing from Auckland, Alex Chan from BOP yet listed as an NRL club etc
I think it was union journo Wayne Smith who recently made the claim league was only played in Auckland when clearly it isn't.
Do 44% of Kangaroos (footballers not marsupials) come from outside NSW and QLD or the ACT?

 

[russ13]

You should read Cec Mountford's autobiography 'Kiwis Wigan & the Wire.'


He grew up in the RL stronghold hold in the Greymouth region in the north west of the South Island. This area was a mining town. Since the mining is not so important there now the number of players has declined.

Anyway the book is a good read.

 

[carlnz]

You should read Cec Mountford's autobiography 'Kiwis Wigan & the Wire.'


He grew up in the RL stronghold hold in the Greymouth region in the north west of the South Island. This area was a mining town. Since the mining is not so important there now the number of players has declined.

Anyway the book is a good read.

It the latest SuperLeague II mag (NZ League mag) it said something about the new mines opening up on the West Coast. They have a good number of juniors at the moment, fingers cross more miners play the game and there is talk of getting a second Bartercard Cup team in the South Island.