The South Island rugby league team is a rugby league team that represents 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 ...

of New Zealand. They are nicknamed the Scorpions. The side previously represented the Southern Zone in the

Albert Baskerville Trophy The NZRL Men's National Competition (previously called the National Zonal Competition) is the top-level rugby league competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League. In 2010 the competition replaced the Bartercard Premiership following a Sparc fun ...

. However, they now only compete in the under 15 and under 17 National Competitions. Historically, teams representing the

played annual fixtures against the North Island and also played touring international sides. Southislandrugbyleagueteam

Touring Teams

The South Island last played an international side when they played France in 2001, losing 24–18. The team included

Robert Henare Robert Henare is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who played professionally for the St. George Dragons. Playing career In 1996 Henare was a junior with the Illawarra Steelers and also captained the Junior Kiwis. Henare spent 1997, ...

and

Aaron Whittaker Aaron Whittaker (born 9 July 1968) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer. A New Zealand international representative halfback, he played club football in Australia, England and New Zealand. Early years Whittaker grew up i ...

Inter island matches

1925

1926

1927

1928

1929

Len Scott Leonard Joseph Scott (25 February 1907 – 4 June 1986) was a rugby league player. He represented the New Zealand national rugby league team, New Zealand rugby league team in 5 tests between 1928 and 1936, becoming the 191st player to represent ...

was injured during the match and replaced by

Allan Seagar Allan Wilfred Seagar (20 June 1903 – 20 April 1984) was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand in 1930 in 9 matches, thus becoming New Zealand's 212th player. He also played for Auckland in 13 matches and played from 1923 to 1941 fo ...

for the North Island while for the South Island Sanders was injured and replaced by Doogan. In past years the North Island team was dominated by players from the Auckland competition however the North Island team on this occasion featured players from outside Auckland such as Ted Meyer, Dick Trautvetter, Bob Stephenson,

Joe Menzies Arthur Briton Menzies (13 May 1892 – 31 October 1960), also known by the nickname of "Joe", was a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s. He played at representative level for New Zealand ( Heritage No. 187), ...

, Tom Timms, and T Bergan.

1930

For the North Island v South Island trial the Devonport and Ponsonby clubs gave permission for their jerseys to be worn by the respective sides. Mick O’Brien of the South Island team broke his tibia late in the match.

1931

1932

Jim Amos left the field with an injured shoulder for the South Island team and was replaced by E O'Brien.

Not Played

1934

1935

This was the 10th inter-island match stretching back to 1925. The North Island had won 7, the South Island had won 1 in 1929, with a draw in 1930. Roy Bright,

Wilf Hassan Wilfred Thomson Hassan (9 February 1910 – 10 September 1967) was a rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in 1932 in a test match against England thus becoming Kiwi #221. He was also a champion diver and was Auckland diving cham ...

and McNeil (Richmond) were selected to play for the North Island but were unavailable. The North Island had 3 players debuting,

Bill Telford Bill "Snow" Telford was a New Zealand rugby league player and coach who coached his country several times, including in the 1957 World Cup. Playing career Telford played for the Richmond club in the Auckland Rugby League competition.Coffey, ...

, Ted Mincham, and W. Large (Hawke's Bay).

1936

During the match R Haslam was running with the ball when he began falling into a hole which had fallen into the ground. In the meantime he had passed the ball and play moved away but was forced to stop once the referee realised what had happened. It had formed near a drain where the water had washed away the soil beneath the ground. A ball boy was photographed standing in the hole ‘buried’ to his waist. The gate receipts for the match were £608 19/ with 15,000 in attendance at the match and the trial curtain-raiser.

Not played

1938

Brian Riley was initially named to play for the North Island side but as he was unable to get leave from work to potentially tour Australia if selected he was replaced in the North Island side.

1939

Wally Tittleton was chosen as the North Island captain while Rex King captained the South Island.

1940-43 Not Played

1944

John Newton and J Neale of the South Island rugby league team

North Island v South Island, 16 Sep 1944

This was the first time since 1939 that the North Island v South Island match had been played. The North Island won comfortably scoring 9 tries to 3. The North Island side featured 10 players from the Auckland competition.

References

External links

Southern Region
''NZRL.co.nz'' {{Rugby League in New Zealand New Zealand rugby league teams Rugby league in the South Island