The Waikato rugby league team (also known as the Waikato Cougars, formerly as South Auckland) is a New Zealand rugby league team that represents the Waikato Rugby League in New Zealand Rugby League competitions. They competed in the Lion Red Cup from 1994 to 1996, the Super League Challenge Cup in 1997 and the Bartercard Premiership in 2008 and 2009.

History Lion Red Cup Between 1994 and 1996, the Waikato region was represented by the Waikato Cougars in the Lion Red Cup competition. The team's inaugural captain was Tukere Barlow while Joe Gwynne was the coach. The team was originally going to be called the Stags or the Chiefs before the Cougars nickname was selected.

Notable players included; Martin Moana, Gavin Hill, Tama Hohaia, Francis Leota, Darryl Beazley, 1994 captain Tukere Barlow, Butch Tua, 1995 captain Aaron Tucker, Tony Waikato, Kiwi Mark Woods and Hekewaru Muru.Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1994. p.114Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1995, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1995. p.95

SeasonPldWDLPFPAPDPtsPositionFinals199422161558940518433 SecondLost Elimination Semifinal19952213184713799227 FourthLost Elimination Semifinal19962213185154724327 FourthLost preliminary final

Late 1990s The Waikato Cougars won the Super League Challenge Cup in 1997, defeating Canterbury in the final. During this year they also defeated Auckland at Carlaw Park for the first time since 1943 and won the Rugby League Cup. They defended the Rugby League Cup in 1998.

Bartercard Cup

The Waikato region was represented in the Bartercard Cup competition by the Waicoa Bay Stallions, a co-operative team involving players from Waikato, Coastline and Bay of Plenty federations.

SeasonPldWDLPFPAPDPtsPositionFinals2004164210380455-75109th (12)N/A2005163013368620-252612th (12)N/A2006185211494662-168128th (10)N/A2007185112418682-264117th (10)N/A

Bartercard Premiership Waikato Rugby League were one of the six teams that compete in the National Provincial Competition in 2008 and 2009. In both years they finished third.

SeasonPldWDLPFPAPDPtsPositionFinals20085302110138-286 ThirdN/A2009 5 3 0 2 130 108 22 6 ThirdLost semi-final

Rugby League Tour Matches Over the years Waikato has been an infrequent stop for touring international rugby league teams.

Game Date Result Venue Attendance Notes1 4 September 1913 New South Wales def. Waikato 20–14 Claudelands, Hamilton 1,500 1913 NSW Tour of New Zealand2 18 September 1919 Australia def. Waikato 58–5 Steele Park, Hamilton 1,500 1919 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand3 28 July 1924 England def. Waikato 30–12 Paterson Park, Ngāruawāhia 1924 Great Britain Lions tour4 20 July 1960 France def. Waikato 32–2 Davies Park, Hamilton 3,071 1960 French Tour of Australasia5 5 July 1961 Australia def. Waikato 26–8 Steele Park, Hamilton 866 1961 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand6 25 July 1962 Great Britain def. Waikato 59–20 Davies Park, Hamilton 3,461 1962 Great Britain Lions tour7 9 August 1964 France def. Waikato 23–16 Davies Park, Hamilton 2,737 1964 French Tour of Australasia8 23 June 1965 Australia def. Waikato 25–4 Davies Park, Hamilton 1,800 1965 Kangaroo tour of New Zealand9 3 August 1966 Great Britain def. Waikato 47–8 Davies Park, Hamilton 2,933 1966 Great Britain Lions tour10 10 May 1970 NSW Country def. Waikato 22–11 Davies Park, Hamilton 3,000 11 3 August 1976 Combined Sydney def. Waikato 41–3 Davies Park, Hamilton 12 20 September 1983 Papua New Guinea def. Waikato 28–24 Davies Park, Hamilton 1983 Papua New Guinea Kumuls tour13 5 July 1988 Papua New Guinea def. Waikato 38–12 Davies Park, Hamilton 1988 Papua New Guinea Kumuls tour

References