Northland Rugby Union

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Northland Taniwha
Full name	Northland Rugby Football Union
Nickname(s)	Taniwha
Founded	1920
Union	NZRU
Ground	ITM Stadium, Whangarei, New Zealand
Capacity	25,000
CEO	Rod Malone
Coach	Mark Anscombe
Captain	David Howell
League	Air New Zealand Cup
Home colours		Away colours
Official website
www.taniwha.co.nz

The Northland Rugby Football Union (NRFU) is the governing body of rugby union in the Northland region of New Zealand.

Contents 1 History 2 Ranfurly Shield 3 Representative Rugby 3.1 Air New Zealand Cup 3.1.1 2006 squad 3.1.2 Current staff 3.1.3 2006 Results 3.1.3.1 Round 1 3.1.3.2 Round 2 3.2 Super Rugby 3.2.1 Waikato Chiefs 1995-1998 3.2.2 Auckland Blues 1999-present 4 Sub-Unions 5 Clubs 5.1 Bay of Islands 5.2 Hokianga 5.3 Mangonui 5.4 Northern Wairoa 5.5 Otamatea/Rodney 5.6 Whangarei City 6 Players and coaches of note 6.1 Former coaches 6.2 Notable former players

[edit] History

Northland was founded in 1920, as North Auckland Rugby Union.

[edit] Ranfurly Shield

Northland, as North Auckland, have held the Shield on 4 occasions. 1950, 1960, 1971 & 1978.

[edit] Representative Rugby

[edit] Air New Zealand Cup

Its representative team, called the Northland Taniwha, competes in the Air New Zealand Cup, the country's top-level professional competition, which replaced Division One of the National Provincial Championship. The union is based in Whangarei, where the Taniwha play their home fixtures at ITM Stadium. The Taniwha play in a predominantly sky blue strip with dark blue trim.

Apparel is supplied by Canterbury of New Zealand. Main sponsor is United Carriers Ltd. Other sponsors:

• Lion Red
• Digital Mobile
• ITM
• Pacific Motor Group Ford
• Lotto

[edit] 2006 squad

The squad at the start of the 2006 season will include:

Props Tony Coughlan (on loan from North Harbour) Stan Wright Bronson Murray Justin Davies Hookers Tim Dow Jamie Pinder Jamie McQueen Locks Vula Maimuri Brad Taylor Kira Tahere Mascott Tane Taniwha

Loose forwards Jake Paringatai Justin Collins (on loan from Auckland) Joel McKenty Eroni Gndolo John Cocker Scott Uren Daniel Goodwin (on loan from BOP) Half Backs John Senio David Gibson (on loan from Auckland) Rhyan Caine Corey Tamou

Fly Halfs David Holwell (Captain) Daniel Bowden Centres Josh Levi Manu Burkhardt-Macrae Isaia Nauaqa Wings Rene Ranger Matt Faleuka Isoa Neivua Tony Koonwaiyou (on loan from Auckland) Solo Korovatu (on loan from Waikato) Full Backs Gavin Clarke Marshall Milroy Hayden Taylor

[edit] Current staff

• Mark Anscombe(Head Coach 2006-)

[edit] 2006 Results

[edit] Round 1

Week 1
Sunday July 30th	Northland	21-36	Southland	ITM Stadium, Whangarei	2:35 PM
Tries:	Holwell; Ranger;		Te Whare; MacDonald; Bates; Thompson;
Conversions:	Holwell;		Stewart (2);
Penalties:	Holwell (3);		Stewart (4);

Week 2
Saturday August 5th	Northland	11-25	Canterbury	ITM Stadium, Whangarei	2:35 PM
Tries:	Milroy;		Senio; Bateman; Ross; O'Neill;
Conversions:			McIntyre;
Penalties:	Bowden;		McIntyre;

Week 3
Sunday August 13th	Otago	37-6	Northland	House of Pain, Dunedin	4:35 PM
Tries:	MacDonald; Evans; Brew; Zampach;
Conversions:	Evans (4);
Penalties:	Evans (3);		Bowden (2);

Week 4
Sunday August 20th	Counties-Manukau	17-21	Northland	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland	12:30 PM
Tries:	Ta'auso; Feeney;		Howell; Levi; Paringatai;
Conversions:	Feeney (2);		Howell (3);
Penalties:	Feeney;

Week 5
Sunday August 27th	Northland	24-24	Hawke's Bay	ITM Stadium, Whangarei	4:35 PM
Tries:	Paringatai; Taylor		Ioasa; Mauger (2);
Conversions:	Holwell;		Clarke (3);
Penalties:	Holwell (4);		Clarke;

Week 6
	Northland	vs	Bye

[edit] Round 2

[edit] Super Rugby

Because the Northland union is linked with the Blues Super 14 franchise, Taniwha players are eligible for selection to the Blues without a drafting system or negotiations with other franchises.

[edit] Waikato Chiefs 1995-1998

When NZRU were initially deciding the team compositions for the Super 12 in 1995 it was decided that to have the Blues franchise encompass the North Harbour, Counties-Manukau, Northland and Auckland provincial rugby unions would be unfair. This was due to the preponderance of All Blacks (players representing New Zealand) who came from North Harbour, Counties-Manukau and Auckland at the time. Hence if the Blues were to consist of these unions, they would field an All Blacks team in all but name.

This led to North Harbour and Northland being represented by the nearest other team, the Chiefs (at the time named the Waikato Chiefs).

[edit] Auckland Blues 1999-present

By the end of the 1990s the number of All Blacks from these unions had decreased. This led the Blues and the Chiefs to arrange a swap, where the Chiefs would represent Thames Valley and Counties Manukau in exchange for the Blues representing Northland and North Harbour.

[edit] Sub-Unions

Due to the large size of the Northland province, the Northland rugby union is divided into 7 sub-unions. Each sub-union represents a number of rugby clubs.

Bay of Islands Hokianga

Mangonui Northern Wairoa

Otamatea Rodney

Whangarei City

[edit] Clubs

[edit] Bay of Islands

Kaeo RFC Kaikohe RFC Kerikeri RFC

Moerewa RF Sports Club Ohaeawai RF and Sports Club Okaihau RUF and Sports Club

Otiria RUF and Sports Club United Kawakawa RFC Waitangi RFC

[edit] Hokianga

Horeke RFC Mangamuka RFC Motukohu RFC

Opononi RFC Panguru RFC Whirinaki RFC Rawene RFC

[edit] Mangonui

Aupouri RF and Sports Club Awanui RFC Eastern United RFC

Kaitaia City RFC Kaitaia Pirates RFC Mangonui Women's Rugby Club

Rarawa RFC Takahue RFC Waipapakauri RFC

Western United RFC

[edit] Northern Wairoa

Dargaville Old Boys Football and Softball Club Dargaville Rugby and Sports Club Kaihu Valley RFC

Ruawai RFC Southern RFC Western Sharks

[edit] Otamatea/Rodney

Otamatea Hawks RFC Paparoa RFC Port Albert RFC

Tomarata RFC Wellsford RFC

[edit] Whangarei City

City RFC Hikurangi RUFC Hora Hora RUFC Kamo Rugby and Squash Club

Manaia RFC Mangakahia RFC Marist Rugby Club Mid Northern RFC

Mid Western Rugby and Squash Club Old Boys Rugby and Sports Club Onerahi RFC Pipiwai RFC

Tikipunga RFC Waimarie Rugby Club Waipu Rugby and Squash Club Whangaruru RFC

[edit] Players and coaches of note

[edit] Former coaches

• Wayne Pivac
• Sid Going
• Donny Stevenson
• Bryce Woodward

[edit] Notable former players

Rupeni Caucaunibuca Ian 'Kamo' Jones Joe Morgan Glen Taylor Alan Tubbs Brent Wakaa Norman Berryman Tony Monaghan Norman Maxwell Sid Going Peter Sloane Mike Storey Jason Shoemark

Errol Brain Fred Woodman Kawhena Woodman Ian Dunn Derren Witcombe Con Barrell Richie Guy Bill Heke Bunny Finlayson Eddie Dunn Victor Yates Johnny Smith Murray Jones

Ian Irvine Blair Larsen Ken Going Chippie Semenoff Hamish Macdonald Alf Waterman Michael Speight Des Webb Mike Burgoyne Robbie Johnson Jared Going Brian Going Geoff Crawford

Milton Going "Big" Joe Veitayaki Peter 'Kumara' Jones Bevan Holmes Lindsay Townsend Wayne Neville Nau Paora 'Brownie' Cherrington Julian Huxley Sam Payne Sam Pinder Mose Tuiali'i Mark "ziggy" Seymour Nick White Fero Lasagavaibau Bold text==External links== Official site Fan site v • d • e Rugby union in New Zealand 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 [[fr:Northland Rugby Union]