Counties Manukau Rugby Union
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| Counties Manukau Rugby Union | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Steelers | ||
| Union | NZRU | ||
| Ground | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand | ||
| Chairman |  |
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| Coach | Kevin Putt |
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The Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union (CMRFU) is the governing body of rugby union in the Franklin district of New Zealand. The Union is based in Pukekohe, and usually plays at Steelers Stadium, Pukekohe. However, due to crowd capacity and other reasons, Counties Manukau's home matches are to be played at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium, which it will share with the New Zealand Warriors, NRL team.
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[edit] History
The Union was originally formed as a breakaway from the powerful Auckland union, and has only occasionally overcome the dominance of their northern neighbour.
For a long time, the Union was known simply as Counties, the name Manukau was added in the 1990s.
[edit] Counties Manukau in Super Rugby
When Super Rugby began, Counties Manukau was associated with the Blues; but in recent years it has been aligned to the Chiefs.
[edit] Member clubs include
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[edit] Representative
The Steelers colours are red, white, and black horizontal bands. The team traditionally includes the main ethnic groups of South Auckland; namely Māori, Pākehā and Polynesian. The 'Steelers' moniker is a reference to the nearby Glenbrook steel factory.
[edit] Air New Zealand Cup
In 2006, the Steelers will play in the Air New Zealand Cup, being one of four unions to be promoted to the new competition.
Apparel will be supplied by adidas. Main sponsor is Custom House. Other sponsors are Tribro Holdings, Dominion Finance and Lion Red.
[edit] Wonder years
Counties Manukau rugby enjoyed its heyday in the 1980's. Led by Andy Dalton*, the team established a free-wheeling style of backline play, based on the silky skills and speed of players such as Bruce Robertson* and Robert Kururangi*. Other notable players from that era included Ken Parry, Jack Kani, and Lindsay Raki. From 1995 till 1999, captain Errol Brain led another successful era, with famous players such as Jonah Lomu*, Joeli Vidiri*, Danny Lee*, Tony Marsh, and Jim Coe. The "player drain" of stars such as Lomu (Wellington), Vidiri (Auckland), Lee (Otago), and Marsh (France), signalled a downturn in the fortunes of Counties. Other players who have moved on include Kristian Ormsby (now returned), Loki Crichton, John Afoa*, and Sitiveni Sivivatu*.
- [*] denotes a player who achieved All Blacks selection
[edit] External links
- Official site: [1]
- Unofficial sites: [2], [3], [4]
- Clubs: -- Ardmore-Marist [5], [6], -- Manurewa [7]
- News: TVNZ, NZHerald
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| Federation: | New Zealand Rugby Football Union |
| National teams: | All Blacks • Junior All Blacks • New Zealand Sevens • New Zealand Māori • Black Ferns |
| International Competitions: | Rugby World Cup • Tri Nations • Super 14 • Pacific Nations Cup • Bledisloe Cup • Churchill Cup • Rugby World Cup Sevens • IRB Sevens World Series • Wellington Sevens |
| Super 14 teams: | Blues • Chiefs • Crusaders • Highlanders • Hurricanes |
| Domestic Competitions: | Air New Zealand Cup • Heartland Championship • Ranfurly Shield • Hanan Shield |
| Air New Zealand Cup teams: | Auckland • Bay of Plenty • Canterbury • Counties Manukau • Hawke's Bay • Manawatu • North Harbour • Northland • Otago • Southland • Taranaki • Tasman • Waikato • Wellington |
| Heartland Championship teams: | Buller • East Coast • Horowhenua-Kapiti • King Country • Mid Canterbury • North Otago • Poverty Bay • South Canterbury • Thames Valley • Wairarapa Bush • Wanganui • West Coast |
