The 1955 New Zealand rugby league season was the 48th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.

International competitions

New Zealand drew a series against France, 1-all. The New Zealand side for the Test series included; Roy Moore, Bob Hawes,

Ron McKay Ron McKay is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand national rugby league team, New Zealand in the 1954 Rugby League World Cup, 1954 World Cup. Playing career McKay played in the Taranaki Rugby League competition ...

, captain

Tommy Baxter Thomas Owen Baxter (c. 1930 – 26 May 2014) was a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in twenty nine tests between 1949 and 1956. In 2007 he was named in the New Zealand Rugby League's Team of the Century. Pl ...

, Bruce Robertson,

Bill Sorensen William Sorensen was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand national rugby league team, New Zealand in the 1954 Rugby League World Cup, 1954, 1957 Rugby League World Cup, 1957 and 1960 Rugby League World Cup, 1960 World ...

Pat Creedy Patrick Joseph Creedy (18 November 1927 – 7 April 2011) was a New Zealand rugby football player who represented New Zealand in rugby league. Playing career Creedy originally played rugby union and represented both the Southland Rugby Union an ...

, Cliff Johnson,

Lory Blanchard David Lory Blanchard (4 September 1924 – 1 January 2013) was a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league football player who played representative rugby league (RL) for New Zealand in the 1954 World Cup and coached them at ...

, Bill McLennan, George McDonald,

Jock Butterfield John Rutherford "Jock" Butterfield (18 January 1932 – 14 February 2004) was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He was named amongst the finest that New Zealand produced during the 20th century. A New Zeala ...

Alister Atkinson Alister James Atkinson (1925-2002) was a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played representative rugby league (RL) for New Zealand in the 1954 World Cup. His position of preference was at Loose forward. Play ...

Jim Riddell Charles James Riddell is a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand in the 1957 World Cup. Playing career Riddell played in the Auckland Rugby League competition and first represented Auckland in 1953 against the American Al ...

and George Menzies. Canterbury defeated the touring French side 24–12, while Auckland defeated France 17–15.Coffey and Wood ''The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League'' Auckland included Dick Haggie,

Vern Bakalich Vernon Andrew Neville Bakalich (8 July 1929 – 21 November 2015) was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand in the 1957 World Cup. Playing career Bakalich played for Richmond in the Auckland Rugby League competition and w ...

, captain

Cyril Eastlake Cyril Aston Eastlake (21 August 1930 – 30 September 2007) was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented his nation in the sport. He captained New Zealand at the 1954 World Cup and also played at the 1960 World Cup. Early years Eastl ...

, Royce Craike,

, Sel Belsham,

Joe Ratima Joe or JOE may refer to: Arts Film and television * ''Joe'' (1970 film), starring Peter Boyle * ''Joe'' (2013 film), starring Nicolas Cage * ''Joe'' (TV series), a British TV series airing from 1966 to 1971 * ''Joe'', a 2002 Canadian animated ...

, Arch McInteer, Henry Maxwell,

, Keith Bell and

Ian Grey Ian Grey (5 May 1918 – 5 June 1996) was a New Zealand-born historian of Russian history. Biography He began his career as a lawyer, a member of the New South Wales Bar (law), Bar. In 1941 he joined the Royal Australian Navy, Australian navy a ...

. France defeated the

West Coast West Coast or west coast may refer to: Geography Australia * Western Australia *Regions of South Australia#Weather forecasting, West Coast of South Australia * West Coast, Tasmania **West Coast Range, mountain range in the region Canada * Britis ...

18–12, Wellington 19–14, Taranaki 46-17 but lost to the New Zealand Māori 28–20.Les Chanticleers Tour 1955
''rugbyleagueproject.org'' New Zealand then toured Great Britain and France, losing both Test series 1–2. The team was coached by

Harold Tetley Harold Gill TetleyTETLEY, Harold Gill - 1935, 1937 - 38
''nzleague.co.n ...

and included; Roy Moore, captain

, Bruce Robertson,

, Bill McLennan, Trevor Kilkelly, Henry Maxwell,

, George McDonald, Dick Haggie, Bob Hawes,

, Keith Roberts, Les McNicol,

, John Bond,

, Sel Belsham,

Rex Percy Rex William Percy (26 January 1934 – 2 May 2015) was a New Zealand rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played representative rugby league for New Zealand in the 1957 World Cup. Playing career Born in Thames, Percy orig ...

and George Menzies. Cliff Johnson was originally selected but withdrew and was replaced by Maxwell. Vern Bakalich scored a then record twenty six tries while on tour. The Kiwis were so ravaged by injuries that they only had twelve fully fit players available for the final Test against France.

National competitions

Northern Union Cup

Auckland again held the Northern Union Cup at the end of the season. During the season the

also held the trophy.

Inter-island competition

The

South Island The South Island, also officially named , is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand in surface area, the other being the smaller but more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman ...

included

at halfback.

Inter-district competition

Canterbury hosted two teams during

Queen's Birthday The King's Official Birthday (alternatively the Queen's Official Birthday when the monarch is female) is the selected day in the United Kingdom and most Commonwealth realms on which the birthday of the monarch is officially celebrated in those ...

weekend; they defeated Wellington 14–5 on the Saturday and the

17–15 on the Monday. Both games were played at the Show Grounds. Later in the season they drew 18-all with Auckland at Carlaw Park in June and lost 8–19 to the

in a Northern Union Cup challenge at

Wingham Park Wingham Park is a rugby league stadium in Greymouth, New Zealand. The ground is owned by the West Coast Rugby League. History Wingham Park is the home of rugby league on the West Coast and hosts the West Coast Rugby League grand final each year. ...

.Coffey, John. ''Canterbury XIII'', Christchurch, 1987.1912 – 2009
''Significant Results in Canterbury Rugby League'' Auckland also hosted the West Coast at Carlaw Park, drawing 19-all in May.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood ''Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009'', 2009. . Auckland included

and

. Canterbury included Trevor Kilkelly,

, John Bond,

, Keith Roberts and

. The West Coast included George Menzies and Bill McLennan.

Club competitions

Auckland

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

won the

Auckland Rugby League The Auckland Rugby League (ARL) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region, including both club and school rugby league. It began in 1910 when the fi ...

's Fox Memorial Trophy.Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1990 ''New Zealand Rugby League'', 1990. p. 72 They shared the Rukutai Shield with North Shore. Ellerslie won the Roope Rooster and Stormont Shield. The Te Atatu Roosters were founded in 1955.

Wellington

St George won the

Wellington Rugby League Wellington Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Greater Wellington region. It is responsible for the local competition of the same name, as well as its representative team, the Wellingto ...

's Appleton Shield.

Canterbury

Sydenham won the Canterbury Rugby League's Massetti Cup.

played for Sydenham.

Other Competitions

Sydenham defeated Greymouth Marist 22–13 to win the Thacker Shield.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1955 New Zealand Rugby League Season Rugby league season