Auckland (National Provincial Championship) Explained

Teamname:Auckland
Union:Auckland Rugby Union
Location:Mount Eden, Auckland, New Zealand
Ground:Eden Park
Capacity:50,000
Ceo:Jarrod Bear[1]
Coach:Craig McGrath
Captain:Harry Plummer
Appearances:Grant Fox (189)
Top Scorer:Grant Fox (2,746)
Most Tries:Terry Wright (112)
League:Bunnings NPC
Season:2023
Position:6th
Quarterfinalist
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Url:https://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/

Auckland are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Auckland, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1883, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Eden Park in Auckland. The team is affiliated with the Blues Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are blue and white hoops.

Current squad

The Auckland squad for the 2023 Bunnings NPC is:[2]

Auckland squad
Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Half-backs (scrum-halves)

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

Midfielders (centres)

Outside backs

(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped, REP denotes a replacement squad player, INJ denotes an injured player.

Honours

Auckland have been overall Champions on 17 occasions. Their first title was in 1982 and their most recent title was in 2018. Their full list of honours include:[3] [4]

National Provincial Championship First Division
Air New Zealand Cup
Mitre 10 Cup Premiership Division

Current Super Rugby players

Players named in the 2023 Auckland squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

PlayerTeam
Leni Apisai
Adrian Choat
Caleb Clarke
Vaiolini Ekuasi
Corey Evans
Taufa Funaki
Josh Fusitua
Bryce Heem
Alex Hodgman
Akira Ioane
Rieko Ioane
Niko Jones
AJ Lam
James Lay
Harry Plummer
Salesi Rayasi
Marcel Renata
Joe Royal
Zarn Sullivan
Angus Ta'avao
Caleb Tangitau
Tanielu Teleʻa
Kalani Thomas
Sione Tuipulotu
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Soane Vikena

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Board and Staff. Auckland Rugby Union. 9 September 2020.
  2. Auckland Rugby names squad to compete in 2023 Bunnings Warehouse NPC . Auckland Rugby . 26 July 2023 . 29 July 2023.
  3. Web site: National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014. Te Ara. 17 September 2020.
  4. Web site: Mitre 10 Cup. Rugby Heartland. 17 September 2020. 27 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200927173633/http://rugbyheartland.co.nz/wp/mitre10-cup/. dead.
  5. Highlanders 2023 Squad Announcement . Highlanders . 26 October 2022 . 26 October 2022.
  6. 2023 Squad announced . Blues . 26 October 2022 . 26 October 2022.
  7. Rebels announce signing of experienced trio . Melbourne Rebels . 27 January 2023 . 27 January 2023.
  8. Moana Pasifika team named for historic Apia clash against Reds . Moana Pasifika . 12 April 2023 . 12 April 2023.
  9. Hurricanes 2023 squad announced . Hurricanes . 26 October 2022 . 26 October 2022.
  10. Moana Pasifika Name Exciting New Line-up to Face Hurricanes . Moana Pasifika . 11 May 2023 . 11 May 2023.
  11. Gallagher Chiefs squad announced for 2023 . Chiefs . 26 October 2022 . 26 October 2022.
  12. Queensland Reds announce 2023 Super Rugby Pacific Squad . Queensland Reds . 30 November 2022 . 1 December 2022.
  13. Moana Pasifika name 2023 DHL Super Rugby Pacific Squad . Moana Pasifika . 22 November 2022 . 22 November 2022.