Canterbury Bulls
Encyclopedia
The Canterbury rugby league team are a rugby league
team who represent the Canterbury Rugby League
. They are currently nicknamed the Bulls but have previously had other nicknames such as the Reds. They are based at Rugby League Park
in Christchurch
.
Canterbury played its first match on 7 September 1912 against Wellington at the Show Grounds
, losing 4-5. The following weekend the hosted the touring New South Wales
side and lost 5-28. Included in the Canterbury team was captain Charlie Pearce, Jim Auld
, Abbie Shadbolt
, Billy Mitchell
, Bill Bussell
and David McPhail
.
Canterbury's first win was in their third match, against Hawke's Bay, with Canterbury winning 10-8 in Napier. Jim Auld
and Abbie Shadbolt
scored tries and Shadbolt kicked two goals.
24-12. They defeated Great Britain
18-10, in 1990.
and included players such as Quentin Pongia
, Terry Hermansson
, Whetu Taewa
, Logan Edwards
, Brendon Tuuta
and Mike Dorreen. With the creation of the Lion Red Cup however, many moved franchises and eventually ended up in Australia or England. Canterbury defeated Auckland in the 1993 final, winning 36-12.
In the Lion Red Cup
, from 1994–1996, Canterbury Rugby League
was represented by the Christchurch City Shiners
and the Canterbury Country Cardinals
. When this was folded Canterbury reverted to having one representative team, initially called "the Reds". However eventually "the Bulls" was adopted as a nickname and this was used when the Bartercard Cup
was formed.
. Out of the seven seasons they only missed the finals once, in 2002.
The Bulls were the only team from the South Island
to ever compete in the Bartercard Cup and were the only club to compete in every season. During this time they were coached by Ged Stokes and Phil Prescott.
26-20 in the non-elimination Semifinal. This qualified them for the Qualifying Semifinal which they lost to the Auckland Lions
27-14 at Western Springs Stadium
. They bounced back in the preliminary final, smashing the Tamaki Leopards
30-6 but could not defeat the Lions, losing the Grand Final 25-18.
. The Bulls finished the regular season in 3rd place. The highlight of the season was a 72-8 thrashing of the Waicoa Bay Stallions
. The Bulls lost the Preliminary Final to Harbour League
.
in the 2009 final.
the team was replaced in national competitions by one represented the new South Island Zone
. Canterbury however still holds the Rugby League Cup, after winning it from Auckland in 2009.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
team who represent the Canterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand...
. They are currently nicknamed the Bulls but have previously had other nicknames such as the Reds. They are based at Rugby League Park
Rugby League Park
Rugby League Park is a rugby league stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand. Formerly called the Addington Showgrounds, the ground is owned by the Canterbury Rugby League.-History:...
in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
.
Early History
Canterbury played its first match on 7 September 1912 against Wellington at the Show Grounds
Rugby League Park
Rugby League Park is a rugby league stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand. Formerly called the Addington Showgrounds, the ground is owned by the Canterbury Rugby League.-History:...
, losing 4-5. The following weekend the hosted the touring New South Wales
New South Wales rugby league team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
side and lost 5-28. Included in the Canterbury team was captain Charlie Pearce, Jim Auld
Jim Auld
James Wilton "Jim" Auld was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented his country in 1913.-Playing career:In 1912 Auld was part of the first ever Canterbury side. Canterbury went down 4-5 to Wellington on 7 September....
, Abbie Shadbolt
Abbie Shadbolt
Albert "Abbie" Shadbolt was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented his country.-Playing career:Shadbolt began his career playing rugby union for the Merivale club alongside fellow future New Zealand rugby league international Bill Mitchell...
, Billy Mitchell
Billy Mitchell (rugby)
William James "Billy" Mitchell was a New Zealand rugby footballer who represented his country in both rugby union and rugby league.-Early years:...
, Bill Bussell
Bill Bussell
William Samuel "Bill" Bussell was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented his country. Bussell was killed in action during World War I.-Personal life:Bussell was the son of William and Hester Bussell and lived in St Albans, Christchurch....
and David McPhail
David McPhail (rugby league)
David McPhail was a New Zealand rugby league player who played professionally for St Helens and Wigan.-Playing career:McPhail arrived in England aboard the S.S. Arawa, on 15 November 1909, together with Lance Todd...
.
Canterbury's first win was in their third match, against Hawke's Bay, with Canterbury winning 10-8 in Napier. Jim Auld
Jim Auld
James Wilton "Jim" Auld was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented his country in 1913.-Playing career:In 1912 Auld was part of the first ever Canterbury side. Canterbury went down 4-5 to Wellington on 7 September....
and Abbie Shadbolt
Abbie Shadbolt
Albert "Abbie" Shadbolt was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented his country.-Playing career:Shadbolt began his career playing rugby union for the Merivale club alongside fellow future New Zealand rugby league international Bill Mitchell...
scored tries and Shadbolt kicked two goals.
Touring teams
In 1955 Canterbury defeated the touring French sideFrance national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
24-12. They defeated Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
18-10, in 1990.
The 90's
The early nineties saw a Canterbury side that included many future stars. The side was coached by Frank EndacottFrank Endacott
Frank Morris Endacott, ONZM is a retired rugby league player and coach from New Zealand. His son, Shane, also played rugby league.-Playing career:Endacott played for Addington and Hornby in the Canterbury Rugby League competition...
and included players such as Quentin Pongia
Quentin Pongia
Quentin Lee Pongia is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who represented his country. He is the grandson of fellow Kiwi international Jim Calder and his sister Megan Tahapeehi has also represented the Kiwi Ferns.-Playing career:Originally from the West Coast,...
, Terry Hermansson
Terry Hermansson
Terry "The Rock" Hermansson is a former New Zealand rugby league player. An international representative prop forward, he played club football in England, Australia and New Zealand.-Playing career:...
, Whetu Taewa
Whetu Taewa
Whetu Taewa is a former professional rugby league player who represented his country six times between 1989 and 1996.-New Zealand:...
, Logan Edwards
Logan Edwards
-Domestic career:Edwards played for the dominating Canterbury provincial side of the early 1990s alongside such talent as Quentin Pongia, Mike Dorreen, Whetu Taewa and coach Frank Endacott. This side continued its success as the Canterbury Cardinals in the 1994 Lion Red Cup...
, Brendon Tuuta
Brendon Tuuta
Brendon Ephia Tuuta is a New Zealand former rugby league player.Tuuta played a variety of positions including Stand Off, Halfback, Second Row and Lock. He was known as "the baby-faced assassin" and had a reputation as a brawler...
and Mike Dorreen. With the creation of the Lion Red Cup however, many moved franchises and eventually ended up in Australia or England. Canterbury defeated Auckland in the 1993 final, winning 36-12.
In the Lion Red Cup
Lion Red Cup
The Lion Red Cup was a New Zealand domestic rugby league competition that ran from 1994-1996 sponsored by brewers Lion Nathan. It was created due to the increase in public awareness of domestic rugby league due to the Auckland Warriors being accepted into the Winfield Cup. The competition was a...
, from 1994–1996, Canterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League
Canterbury Rugby League is the regional body that administers rugby league in Canterbury, New Zealand. CRL manages local competitions from senior level down to age group competitions. Canterbury Rugby League also manages the Canterbury rugby league team which represents the region in New Zealand...
was represented by the Christchurch City Shiners
Christchurch City Shiners
The Christchurch City Shiners were a New Zealand rugby league club that represented Christchurch in the Lion Red Cup from 1994 to 1996. They were administered by the Canterbury Rugby League.Feeder clubs included Addington, Sydenham and Linwood.-Players:...
and the Canterbury Country Cardinals
Canterbury Country Cardinals
The Canterbury Country Cardinals were a New Zealand rugby league club that represented Canterbury in the Lion Red Cup from 1994 to 1996. They were administered by the Canterbury Rugby League....
. When this was folded Canterbury reverted to having one representative team, initially called "the Reds". However eventually "the Bulls" was adopted as a nickname and this was used when the Bartercard Cup
Bartercard Cup
The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
was formed.
Bartercard Cup
Between 2000 and 2007 the Bulls played in the now defunct Bartercard Cup. They won two Bartercard Cup trophies, in 2000 and 2003. In addition, they were defeated in the last seconds of the 2004 final. This makes them one of the most successful teams in the competition, alongside the Mt Albert LionsMt Albert Lions
The Mount Albert Lions are a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. The Lions home ground is at Fowlds Park. Their patron is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark. In 2008 and 2009 the Lions won the Fox Memorial....
. Out of the seven seasons they only missed the finals once, in 2002.
The Bulls were the only team from the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
to ever compete in the Bartercard Cup and were the only club to compete in every season. During this time they were coached by Ged Stokes and Phil Prescott.
| Season | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Position (Teams) | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 658 | 525 | 133 | 30 | Second (Twelve) | Champions |
| 2001 | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 882 | 489 | 393 | 29 | Third (Twelve) | Defeated in Preliminary Final |
| 2002 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 386 | 531 | ||||
| 10 | Tenth (Twelve) | N/A | ||||||||
| 2003 | 16 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 648 | 370 | 278 | 26 | Minor Premiers (Twelve) | Champions |
| 2004 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 562 | 374 | 188 | 18 | Fifth (Twelve) | Defeated in Elimination Play-off |
| 2005 | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 543 | 388 | 155 | 22 | Second (Twelve) | Runners Up |
| 2006 | 18 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 583 | 376 | 207 | 26 | Second (Ten) | Runners Up |
| 2007 | 18 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 659 | 430 | 229 | 24 | Third (Ten) | Defeated in Preliminary Final |
2006 Results
They finished second in the 2006 season standings and defeated the Waitakere RangersWaitakere Rangers
The Waitakere Rangers were a franchise in the now defunct Bartercard Cup rugby league competition in New Zealand. They represented five clubs based in Waitakere City including the Glenora Bears who previously represented the City in the Bartercard Cup. The other four clubs were the Waitemata...
26-20 in the non-elimination Semifinal. This qualified them for the Qualifying Semifinal which they lost to the Auckland Lions
Auckland Lions
The Auckland Lions were a rugby league club that had teams in both the New Zealand Bartercard Cup and the NSWRL Premier League. They were mostly based around the Mt Albert Lions Rugby League club...
27-14 at Western Springs Stadium
Western Springs Stadium
Western Springs Stadium is an entertainment venue in Auckland, New Zealand, that consists of a natural amphitheatre. During the winter it is used for club rugby union matches and over summer it is used for speedway. It is also occasionally used for large music concerts and festivals.Western Springs...
. They bounced back in the preliminary final, smashing the Tamaki Leopards
Tamaki Leopards
The Tamaki Titans were a franchise in the now defunct New Zealand rugby league Bartercard Cup competition. They represented Eastern Auckland, this area was previously represented by the Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards and the Eastern Tornadoes...
30-6 but could not defeat the Lions, losing the Grand Final 25-18.
| 2006 Finals Series | Winner | Loser | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Semifinal | Canterbury Bulls | 26 | Waitakere Rangers | 20 |
| Qualification Semifinal | Auckland Lions | 27 | Canterbury Bulls | 14 |
| Preliminary Final | Canterbury Bulls | 30 | Tamaki Leopards | 6 |
| Grand Final | Auckland Lions | 25 | Canterbury Bulls | 18 |
2007 Results
Before the start of the 2007 season legendary coach Philip Prescott retired and was replaced by former New Zealand Kiwis prop Brent StuartBrent Stuart
Brent Clifford Stuart is a rugby league coach and former player who represented his country.-Playing career:A West Coast and Canterbury representative, Stuart spent two years in the Northern Territory in the mid-1980s and represented the Territory against Parramatta. In 1993 he was invited to be...
. The Bulls finished the regular season in 3rd place. The highlight of the season was a 72-8 thrashing of the Waicoa Bay Stallions
Waicoa Bay Stallions
The Waicoa Bay Stallions are a rugby league team that represent the Upper Central Zone in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. This is a vast area that includes Hamilton, Rotorua and Taupo...
. The Bulls lost the Preliminary Final to Harbour League
Harbour League
Harbour League were a franchise in the now defunct Bartercard Cup rugby league competition in New Zealand. They represented Aucklands North Shore City...
.
| Date | Match | Winner | Loser | Venue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 August | Elimination Semifinal | Canterbury Bulls | 35 | Waitakere Rangers | 18 | Waitemata Stadium |
| 1 September | Preliminary Final | Harbour League | 28 | Canterbury Bulls | 24 | Waitemata Stadium |
Bartercard Premiership
In 2008 and 2009 they played in the Bartercard Premiership where they made both grand finals. They finished minor premiers both years and defeated AucklandAuckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
in the 2009 final.
Current
In 20102010 New Zealand rugby league season
The New Zealand rugby league season 2010 was the one hundred and third season of rugby league that was played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the new National Zonal competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League...
the team was replaced in national competitions by one represented the new South Island Zone
South Island rugby league team
The South Island rugby league team represents the Southern Zone in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. The Zone represented the Southland, Otago, West Coast, Canterbury and Tasman districts. They are nicknamed the Scorpions...
. Canterbury however still holds the Rugby League Cup, after winning it from Auckland in 2009.