Wellington Rugby Football Union
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| Wellington Rugby Football Union | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname(s) | Wellington Lions | |||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1879 | |||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Westpac Stadium | |||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | 34,500 | |||||||||||||||||
| Chairman |  Joe Pope |
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| Coach | Aussie McLean |
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| League | Air New Zealand Cup | |||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | 2nd - Runners-up | |||||||||||||||||
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The Wellington Rugby Football Union (WRFU) is the official governing body of rugby union in the city of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. Also the cities of Porirua, Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt come under WRFU jurisdiction.
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[edit] International Super Rugby
Players from Wellington who are eligible to play in the Super 14 generally play for the Hurricanes, and traditionally contribute the core of the Hurricanes squad. This position is largely due to the Wellington basing of the Hurricanes. Further, Manawatu and Hawke's Bay, two Hurricane provinces and prolific talent producers, have been mired in the second division in recent years, allowing Wellington to lure the better players of these provinces with ease (Christian Cullen from Manawatu for example).
Since Super Rugby's inaugural season in 1996 the Wellington Hurricanes have had mixed results. They have reached the semi-finals three times losing to the ACT Brumbies in 1997 & the Canterbury Crusaders in both 2003 & 2005. They did one better in 2006 marking the franchises first ever grand final appearance but lost the game 19 - 12 to none other than the Crusaders.
[edit] National Representative Rugby
The senior Wellington representative team, the Wellington Lions play in the Air New Zealand Cup, replacing the National Provincial Championship in 2006, which the Lions have won four times since it's inception in 1976. The titles came in 1978, 1981, 1986 and most recently in 2000. Their colours are black and yellow as shown on the Lions jersey. The Lions play their home games at the Westpac Stadium, previously playing at Athletic Park until 1999. Even with an All-Star backline in the late 90's including Christian Cullen, Tana Umaga, Jonah Lomu and Alama Ieremia what was a superb team on paper never lived up to expectations and Wellington became known for it's inconsitency. More recently it should be noted however that Wellington have made it right up to the grand final in three out of the last four years. Losing to Auckland in 2003, to Canterbury in 2004 and most recently to Waikato in 2006 in the new Air New Zealand competition.
Aussie McLean was named on 16 November 2006 to replace John Plumtree as Wellington Lions coach for the 2007 season.
[edit] Ranfurly Shield
The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the 'Log o' Wood', is perhaps the most prestigious trophy in New Zealand domestic rugby. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies. The holding union must defend the Shield in challenge matches, and if a challenger defeats them, they become the new holder of the Shield.
Wellington won the first ever shield challenge winning it from Auckland in 1904 and defended it for 4 matches before losing it it back to Auckland in 1905. It wouldn't be until 1914 when Wellington would get the shield back by winning it off Taranaki. This marked the longest time Wellington have held the shield successfully defending it for 15 matches until losing it again to Southland in 1920. They beat Southland a year later to regain the shield before promptly losing to Hawkes Bay after only 2 matches. Wellington held the shield for only one match in 1930 and after losing it to Canterbury they would not regain the shield until 1953. Up until the 1980's Wellington had short stints desfending the shield but after losing it to Canterbury in 1981 they have not seen the Ranfurly Shield since.
[edit] Local Club Rugby
Club rugby is a large part of Wellington culture. Many All Blacks make appearances for there old clubs when available and much like the soccer fan base in England, Wellingtonians will have a club rugby side that they support. Wellington club rugby is a true expression of 'grass roots' rugby at it's best.
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[edit] Jersey
Main sponsor is Vodafone. Apparel is supplied by Canterbury of New Zealand. Other sponsors include:
- Dunlop
- Ricoh
- Tui
[edit] Squad
Wellington Lions squad for the 2006 Air New Zealand Cup:
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- Ross Kennedy (on loan to Counties Manukau)
- Miah Nikora (previously on loan to Taranaki, recalled during Round 2)
- Tane Tu'ipulotu (on loan to Manawatu)
[edit] Notable players
- Jerry Collins
- Christian Cullen
- Lome Fa'atau
- Ross Filipo
- Roy Kinikinilau
- Jonah Lomu
- Ma'a Nonu
- Kristian Ormsby
- Shannon Paku
- Semo Sititi
- Elvis Seveali'i
- Sireli Bobo
- Conrad Smith
- Rodney So'oialo
- Neemia Tialata
- Tana Umaga
- Piri Weepu
- David Holwell
[edit] External links
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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 |
