The Richmond Rovers Rugby League Club is a

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

club based in

Grey Lynn Grey Lynn is an inner suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, located to the west of the city centre. Originally a separate borough, Grey Lynn amalgamated with Auckland City in 1914. Grey Lynn is centred on Grey Lynn Park, which was not part of the ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. The premier team is called the Richmond Bulldogs and compete in

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 competition.

Early history

The club was formed in 1913 by employees at Mr. B. W. Davis' Boot Factory and Elliott's, following a scratch game in 1912. The club was originally affiliated with the Eden Ramblers club. In 1883 the land surrounding Grey Lynn Park was subdivided and the houses were built. The area that is now Grey Lynn Park was too steep to build houses on and so, in 1914, the area was drained and flattened so sport could be played. Flood lights were installed at the park in the 1950s. Richmond enjoyed considerable success in the middle decades of the 1900s. They were the first club to win the

Fox Memorial 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 ...

, Roope Rooster, and Stormont Shield in 1934. They went on to win these trophies several more times in the following years. They also defeated 4 Australian club teams from 1934 to 1939 (including the Sydney champions - Western Suburbs 18–16, and 10–3 in 1934). This saw them win the Rangatira Shield, played for between Sydney and Auckland clubs. They won the Fox Memorial in 1934, 1935, 1937, 1940, 1946, 1949 , 1951, 1955 and 1956.

Bartercard Cup

The Richmond club were involved in the

Bartercard Cup The Bartercard Cup (successor of the Lion Red 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 Zeala ...

as a joint venture with the

Marist Saints The Marist Saints is a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. They currently compete in the top grade in Auckland Rugby League, the Fox Memorial Premiership. History Founded in 1919, the Marist club first won the Fox Memorial in 1 ...

between 2000 and 2005. This team was called the

Marist Richmond Brothers The Marist Richmond Brothers were a New Zealand rugby league franchise that played in the Bartercard Cup. They were a joint venture between two Auckland Rugby League clubs, the Richmond Bulldogs and the Marist Saints. In 2005 the competition w ...

Notable players

48 Richmond Juniors have played for the

New Zealand national rugby league team The New Zealand national rugby league team (Māori: Tīma rīki motu Aotearoa) has represented New Zealand in rugby league since 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of ...

including

Nigel Vagana Nigel Faletoese Vagana (born 7 February 1975), also known by the nicknames of "Pablo", and "Chiko", is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s, as a and . A New Zealand and Samoa international represen ...

Fred Ah Kuoi Fred "Freddie" Ah Kuoi (born 7 June 1956) is a Samoa-born New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand. Early years Ah Kuoi was born in Apia, Western Samoa, in 1956 and emigrated to New Zealand in 1962 wit ...

Steve Matai Stephen Matai (born 5 August 1984) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the National Rugby League (NRL )from 2005 to 2016. A New Zealand national representative centre, he played for Australian club the Ma ...

, David Solomona and

Evarn Tuimavave Evarn Tuimavave (born 28 June 1984) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played as a . Playing career Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Tuimavave played his junior football for the Pt Chev Pirates, Richmond Rovers and ...

. In addition 19 women have represented the New Zealand Women's team. Other

Warriors A warrior is a person specializing in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based warrior culture society that recognizes a separate warrior aristocracies, class, or caste. History Warriors seem to have be ...

such as

Tevita Latu Tevita Leo-Latu (born 3 July 1981) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Point Chevalier Pirates. He previously played for the New Zealand Warriors and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL and the Wakefield Tri ...

, Sam Lousi, Sione Lousi, John Palavi, Wayne McDade, Daniel Vasau,

, Faavae Kalolo, &

Malo Solomona Malofou Solomona (born 10 May 1987) is a former Samoa national rugby league team, Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays on the for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League. Background Solomona was born in Auckl ...

were also Richmond juniors. American actor

Geno Segers Lonnie G. "Geno" Segers Jr. is an American actor known for his roles as Chayton Littlestone in the Cinemax original series ''Banshee'', Dwayne in NBC's Perfect Harmony, Mason Makoola in the Disney XD television series ''Pair of Kings'', Kincaid ...

had a stint with the club.Geno Seger's Bio at Disney XD
A team of the century was named in 2013, and consisted of: 1.

Bert Cooke Herbert Michael Cooke was a football manager. He managed Tranmere Rovers from 1912–1935, the longest spell of any manager at the club. He oversaw their first Football League match in 1921. Management career Born in Birkenhead in 1882, Co ...

, 2.

, 3.

Tom Baxter Tom Baxter (born Thomas Baxter Gleave, 29 October 1973) is an English singer-songwriter based in London. He was born in Ipswich, Suffolk, and grew up in Camborne Cornwall with his 4 siblings. The second son of Jeff and Julie Gleave (who were r ...

, 4.

Maurie Robertson Maurice Hunter Wilson Robertson (also known as Maurie or Morrie) was a New Zealand rugby league player, captain and coach who represented, captained and coached New Zealand. He was sibling to Bruce Robertson who also represented New Zealand, a ...

, 5. Vern Bakalich, 6.

, 7. Shane Varley, 8.

Joe Vagana Joseph Sonny Vagana (born 21 January 1975), also known by the nickname of "Big Joe", is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a Prop forward in the 1990s and 2000s. During his career Vagana played for the Auckland Warriors, ...

, 9. John Lasher, 10. Cliff Johnson (c), 11. Jim Riddell, 12.

Se'e Solomona Maseese (Se'e) David Solomona (born 9 March 1965) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who represented both New Zealand and Western Samoa. Background Solomona was born in New Zealand. Playing career Solomona started his ...

and 13.

Raymond Williams Raymond Henry Williams (31 August 1921 – 26 January 1988) was a Welsh socialist writer, academic, novelist and critic influential within the New Left and in wider culture. His writings on politics, culture, the media and literature contribu ...

Richmond Senior Team Records (1915-1944 + 2022)

The season record for the most senior men's team in the club.

Club Titles

Richmond Rovers grade championships (1910-1942)

* 1921 Sixth Grade * 1922 Fourth Grade * 1923 Fifth Grade * 1925 Second Grade, Fourth Grade, Sixth Grade A, & Sixth Grade B * 1926 Third Grade Intermediate, & Fifth Grade * 1927 Fourth Grade, & Sixth Grade B * 1928 Third Grade Open, Third Grade Intermediate, & Fourth Grade * 1929 Third Grade Open, Fifth Grade, Sixth Grade A, & Sixth Grade B * 1930 Second Grade, Fourth Grade, Sixth Grade B, & Schoolboys (senior) * 1931 Third Grade Intermediate, & Seventh Grade * 1932 Reserve Grade, & Sixth Grade * 1933 Reserve Grade, Fifth Grade, & Seventh Grade * 1934 First Grade (Fox Memorial), Reserve Grade, Third Grade Open, & Seventh Grade * 1935 First Grade (Fox Memorial), Second Grade, Fifth Grade, Sixth Grade A, Seventh Grade, & Schoolboys (Senior) * 1936 Sixth Grade A, & Schoolboys (Senior) * 1937 First Grade (Fox Memorial), Reserve Grade, Fourth Grade, Schoolboys (Senior) * 1938 Reserve Grade, Third Grade Open, Seventh Grade, Schoolboy (Senior), Schoolboy (Intermediate) * 1939 Reserve Grade, Sixth Grade A, Seventh Grade * 1940 First Grade (Fox Memorial), Reserve Grade, Fifth Grade, Seventh Grade, Schoolboys (Senior) * 1941 Sixth Grade

Other titles

* 1926 Roope Rooster * 1927 Roope Rooster * 1933 Roope Rooster * 1934 Roope Rooster, & Stormont Shield * 1935 Stormont Shield * 1936 Stormont Shield * 1938 Roope Rooster, & Stormont Shield * 1940 Roope Rooster * 1942 Roope Rooster

All time top point scorers (1922-1943)

The point scoring lists are compiled from matches played in matches from the first grade championship, the Roope Rooster, Phelan Shield, and Sharman Cup only. One off matches and exhibition matches are not included.

References

External links

Official SiteAuckland Rugby League
Richmond Bulldogs players Rugby clubs established in 1913 1913 establishments in New Zealand {{Rugbyleague-team-stub