Bay of Plenty Rugby League

Bay of Plenty Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand. Following the restructuring of the New Zealand Rugby League they are part of the Upper Central Zone along with Waikato Rugby League, Coastline Rugby League and Gisborne Tairawhiti Rugby League.

Current domestic teams

Premier Division clubs 2024

  • Arataki Bears (Tauranga) - Arataki Park
  • Forestland Falcons (Tokoroa) - Memorial Sports Ground
  • Pacific Sharks (Tokoroa) - Memorial Sports Ground
  • Pikiao Warriors (Mourea) - Pukaretu Reserve
  • Mangakino Hawks (Mangakino) - Mangakino Sports Fields
  • Taupō Phoenix (Taupō) - Hickling Park
  • Te Paamu/TePuke Tigers (Te Puke) - Pakowhai Park

Championship Division clubs for 2024

  • Central Pride (Rotorua) - Puketāwhero Park
  • Forestland Falcons (Tokoroa) - Memorial Sports Ground
  • Ngongotahā Chiefs (Rotorua) - Puketāwhero Park
  • Pacific Sharks (Tokoroa) - Memorial Sports Ground
  • Pāpāmoa Bulldogs (Pāpāmoa) - Gordon Spratt Reserve
  • Pikiao Warriors (Mourea) - Pukaretu Reserve
  • Tauranga Whalers (Tauranga) - Arataki Park
  • Tauhara Te Maunga (Taupō) - Hickling Park
  • Te Paamu/TePuke Tigers (Te Puke) - Pakowhai Park
Past winners Premier & Championship Grades
Season Premiership Grandfinal Minor Premiers Competition Season Championship Grandfinal
Premiers Score Runners up Champions Score Runners up
2024 Arataki 28-20 Pacific Arataki Bay of Plenty 2024 Pāpāmoa 36-30 Pikiao
2023 Forestlands 42-12 Pikiao Forestlands Bay of Plenty 2023 Te Paamu Tauranga
2022 Forestlands 30-22 Mangakino Forestlands Bay of Plenty 2022 Pāpāmoa
2021 Pacific 32-22 Mangakino Mangakino Bay of Plenty 2021 Forestlands
2020 Taupō 46-20 Pikiao Taupō Bay of Plenty 2020 No Grade (COVID 19)
2019 Taupō 32-24 Pacific Taupō Bay of Plenty 2019 Pacific
2018 Ngongotahā Mangakino Mangakino Bay of Plenty 2018 Tauhara
2017 Pikiao 10-8 Pacific Pikiao Bay of Plenty 2017
2016 Pacific Ces Mountford Winners (Local) Bay of Plenty 2016
2016 Hamilton City 24-19 Pacific Hamilton City WaiCoa Bay
2015 Pacific 34-30 Taupō Pacific Bay of Plenty 2015
2014 Pikiao 30-26 Pacific Pacific Bay of Plenty 2014 Reporoa Pacific
2013 Pacific Pikiao Pacific Bay of Plenty 2013 Central Pikiao
2012 Pacific Ces Mountford Winners (Local) Bay of Plenty 2012
2012 Hamilton City 26-12 Ngaruawāhia Hamilton City WaiCoa Bay
2011 Tauranga 24-18 Pacific Pikiao Bay of Plenty 2011
2011 Hamilton City 26-6 Taniwharau Hamilton City WaiCoa Bay
2010 Ōtumoetai 24-18 Ngongotahā Ōtumoetai Bay of Plenty 2010

Previous National Competitions

Between 1994 and 1996, the Bay of Plenty region was represented by the Bay of Plenty Stags in the Lion Red Cup competition.

Lion Red Cup results

Season Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Position Finals
1994 222020262800-5384Wooden SpoonN/A
1995 222119304752-4485Wooden SpoonN/A
1996 221138440441-125FifthLost Elimination Play-off

Bartercard Premiership results

Season Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Position Finals
2008 5104114186-722FifthN/A
2008 500570254-1840Wooden SpoonN/A

Bartercard Cup

The Bay of Plenty region has been represented by two separate teams in the Bartercard Cup competition.

  • The Ngongotaha Chiefs competed in the 2000 and 2001 seasons. The team is notable for losing the first sixteen matches of the 2001 season, causing the Chiefs to withdraw from the competition six rounds before the completion of the season.
  • The Waicoa Bay Stallions, a co-operative team involving players from Waikato, Coastline and Bay of Plenty federations, joined the competition in 2004, replacing the Taranaki Wildcats. The team is notable for having former international Tawera Nikau as head coach for their inaugural year. The Stallions folded along with the competition at the end of the 2007 season.
Team Season Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Position Finals
Chiefs2000 224018424685-2618Eleventh (Twelve)N/A
Chiefs2001 1600162821000-7180Twelfth (Twelve)N/A
Stallions2004 164210380455-7510Ninth (Twelve)N/A
Stallions2005 163013368620-2526Wooden Spoon (Twelve)N/A
Stallions2006 185211494662-16812Eighth (Ten)N/A
Stallions2007 185112418682-26411Seventh (10)N/A