Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union

Counties Manukau
Rugby Football Union

Sport	Rugby union
Jurisdiction	Franklin District
Abbreviation	CMRFU
Founded	1955 (1955)
Affiliation	New Zealand Rugby
Headquarters	Pukekohe
Official website
www.steelers.co.nz

The Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union (CMRFU) is the governing body of rugby union in Southern Auckland and the Franklin district of New Zealand. Nicknamed the Steelers, their colours are red, white, and black horizontal bands. The Steelers moniker is a reference to the Glenbrook steel factory, which is in the area. The union is based in Pukekohe, and plays at Navigation Homes Stadium.

History

Beginings

The union was preceded by the "South Auckland" sub-union of the Auckland Rugby Football Union, the sub-union being founded in 1926. This became a full union, with the name "South Auckland Counties", in 1955. The name was shortened to "Counties" just a year later. The history of Counties has been very much about adventurous football and taking risks, and this was certainly the case initially as the team strove to establish an identity and tradition. Their first game (As Counties) was against Auckland in Waiuku in 1955, which they lost 95–3, led by Barry Baxter. In that inaugural year the team defeated a Wellington XV twice, the first 19 – 6 on Bledisloe Park, Pukekohe, where the union's first All Black, Pat Walsh scored twice.

The 60's

Barry Bracewell, coach from 1961–63 and 1967–75, adopted a style in conflict with the ethos of the day of forward dominance and percentage safety from the backs. Bracewell and Tauroa after him, selected mobile forwards and loose forwards with exciting backs that excuted attacking game plans.

The 70's

Winning the NPC, The first Championship was won in 1979, with wins over Waikato, Wellington, North Auckland, Thames Valley, Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay, South Canterbury, Manawatu, Taranaki, Otago, Canterbury and Southland. That same Year Counties also bet Victoria and Argentina.

The 80's - International tours, Shield fever and Inter-Dominion Success

From winning the NPC in 1979, Counties were invited to play in the Inter-Dominion Championships (A pre Super 10 style championship) in 1980. They bet Queensland 26-18 at Ballymore Stadium, with Brett Codlin being the top points scorer.

The 1981 Shield challenge against Waikato ended in a 21 all draw after Counties conceded two late and controversial penalties.

In 1982, playing Canterbury not only for the Ranfurly Shield but also the NPC championship, with Counties ahead 15 – 12 with only minutes remaining, Robert Kururangi intercepted a Canterbury pass and was about to score when the referee dubiously judged him offside, awarding Canterbury the penalty which Robbie Deans successfully kicked to win the championship and retain the shield. The 1982 team also beat Australia 15 – 9, which included greats such as David Campese.

A third Ranfurly Shield attempt in 1985 against Auckland had Counties down 3 – 12 and were denied what appeared to be a perfectly legitimate try to Dave Trombik after the referee received some subtle persuasion by Auckland skipper Andy Haden. Later in the game Warren McClean scored a try for Counties, making the final score 9–12.

Counties played against France at Pukekohe in 1989 losing by 21-24. Stu Holler scored all 21 points with 6 penalty kicks and a drop goal.

The 90's Name changes, Finals and the arrival of Jonah & Joeli

The name Counties Manukau was adopted in 1995.

Counties Manukau Steelers former logo

Counties finally improved during the mid-1990s with a forward packing containing New Zealand Maori Captain Errol Brain, Jim Coe, New Maori and future Japanese International Glen Marsh, Junior Paramore. The backs including future french international centre Tony Marsh, Samoa's George Leaupepe, Blair Feeney, All Blacks Jonah Lomu and Joeli Vidiri along with Dean Sheppard, proved one of the best Counties side ever. They made the NPC finals twice. In 1996 beating Canturbury at home in a semi final then losing to Auckland at Auckland in the Final.

In 1997 during the semi-final in Hamilton, behind at one stage 9–33 and stung by a ground announcement advertising tickets for a home Waikato final next week, Counties fought back with a 43–40 win. They then traveled to Christchurch to play Canturbury in the Final of which they lost, affter losing lock Jim Coe early in the match to a later discovered broken ankle.

2000-2010 Relegation and loss of key players

After a steady decline since then, Counties lost a promotion-relegation match in 2001, and dropped to the second division, where Counties could not retain their best players and lost the likes of Stephen Donald, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Casey Laulala, and Kieran Read to other unions.

In 2006 Counties was selected to rejoin the top sides in the new Air New Zealand Cup Premier Division, and they still retain their exciting attacking style of rugby. Success has been limited, a win over Auckland in 2008 being a highlight.

2010 Winning the Shield, Game of 3 halves and onward thinking

Former All Black captain Tana Umaga joined Counties as player/coach in 2010 and was appointed head coach in December 2011. In 2013, after 24 previous unsuccessful Ranfurly Shield challenges – including two draws – the Umaga-coached team finally gave Steelers fans something to celebrate when captain Fritz Lee lifted the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in the province's history following a dramatic 27–24 win over Hawkes Bay in Napier. They would go onto defend it 6 times, keeping over the Summer of 2013 before losing midway through the 2014 season.

All Blacks, NZ Maori and Centurions

All Black & NZ Maori represenatives

• Pat Walsh (1955–63)
• Kevin Skinner (1956)
• Mick Cossey (1958)
• Bruce McLeod (1964–70)
• Michael Knight (1968)
• Bob Lendrum (1973)
• Bruce Robertson (1972–81)
• John Spiers (1976, 79–81)
• Rod Ketels (1979–81)
• Andy Dalton (1977–85)
• Robert Kururangi (1978)
• Nicky Allen (1980)
• Brett Codlin (1980)
• Errol Brain (1989-1998) NZ Maori Captain
• Brett Wilson (1983)
• Mark Cooksley (1992–93)
• Jonah Lomu (1994–99)
• Joeli Vidiri (1998)
• Lelia Masaga (2009)
• Frank Halai (2013)
• Augustine Pulu (2014)

Other International / Special Selection teams

• Jonah Lomu - NZ Barbarians 1996
• Joeli Vidiri - NZ Barbarians 1996
• Sam Vaka - Provincial Barbarians 2014
• Luteru Laulala - Provincial Barbarians 2014
• Jim Coe - NZ Colts 1985, NZ Development Team 1990, NZ Divisional XV 1993, NZ Divisional Team 1993
• Etene Nanai-Seturo - NZ Comm Games 7's 2018, NZU20 2019, NZ Olympic 7's 2020, NZ XV 2023,
• Sione Molia - NZ 7's

Noteable Historical Stats

Players reaching 100 games or more

Player Name	Union Club	Total
Alan Dawson		202
Andy Dalton		123
Bob Lendrom
Ean McRobbie
Graham Taylor
Henk Harbraken		133
Henry Maxwell
Jim Coe	Waiuku	180
John Spiers	Pukekohe
John Hughes
Lee Lidgard
Lindsay Raki
Mark Moore
Paul Tuoro
Peter Clotworthy
Rod Ketels	Pukekohe
Roy Craig	Waiuku	100
Warren Mclean
Errol Brain	Manurewa	146
Bruce Robertson		135
Grant Henson	Waiuku	101

Clubs

The Counties Manukau union does not include all clubs in the area of the former Manukau City. Clubs such as Manukau Rovers RFC and the Papatoetoe RFC are members of the Auckland Rugby Union.

The clubs in the Counties Manukau union are:

Ardmore Marist Beachlands - Maraetai Bombay Drury Karaka Manukau Inst. Tech. Manurewa Maramarua Mercer Onewhero Papakura

Patumahoe Pukekohe Puni Te Kauwhata Te Kohanga Tuakau Waiuku Weymouth, Manukau

T.P. McNamara Memorial Cup

The teams in the Counties Manukau Premier Grade Club rugby competition play for the T.P. McNamara Memorial Cup. Club finals are usually held in the month of July at Pukekohe Stadium.

T.P. McNamara Memorial Cup Winners Roll of Honour

1955- City Ramblers (1)

1956- Papakura (1)

1957- Papakura (2)

1958- Papakura (3) /Waiuku (1)

1959- Onewhero Utd (1)

1960- Ardmore(1)/Pukekohe (1)

1961- Manurewa (1)

1962- Manurewa (2)

1963- Manurewa (3)

1964- Pukekohe (2)

1965- Manurewa (4)

1966- Manurewa (5)

1967- Manurewa (6)

1968- Papakura (4)

1969- Manurewa (7)

1970- Manurewa (8)

1971- Manurewa (9)

1972- Papakura (5)

1973- Papakura (6)

1974- Papakura (7)/Manurewa (10)

1975- Manurewa (11)

1976- Manurewa (12)

1977- Manurewa (13)

1978- Manurewa (14)

1979- Ardmore (2)

1980- Manurewa (15)

1981- Ardmore (3)

1982- Papakura (8)

1983- Ardmore (4)

1984- Manurewa (16)

1985- Bombay (1)

1986- Manurewa (17)

1987- Bombay (2)

1988- Manurewa(18)

1989- Bombay (3)

1990- Manurewa (19)

1991- Manurewa (20)

1992- Manurewa (21)

1993- Manurewa (22)

1994- Manurewa (23)

1995- Manurewa (24)

1996- Papakura (9)

1997- Manurewa (25)

1998- Manurewa (26)

1999- Pukekohe (3)

2000- Waiuku (2)

2001- Ardmore Marist (1)

2002- Ardmore Marist (2)

2003- Waiuku (3)

2004- Pukekohe (4)

2005- Pukekohe (5)

2006- Patumahoe (1)

2007- Pukekohe (6)

2008- Ardmore Marist (3)

2009- Patumahoe (2)

2010- Waiuku (4)

2011- Pukekohe (7)

2012- Patumahoe (3)

2013- Ardmore Marist(4)

2014- Bombay (4)

2015- Bombay (5)

2016- Bombay (6)

2017- Bombay (7)

2018- Ardmore Marist (5)

2019- Bombay (8)

2020- Season abandoned

2021- Karaka (1)

2022 - Manurewa (27)

2023 - Manurewa (28)

Club Championship Titles by Club

T.P. McNamara Memorial Cup Winners
Club	Number of Titles
Manurewa	28
Papakura	8
Bombay	8
Pukekohe	7
Ardmore Marist	5
Ardmore	4
Patumahoe	3
Waiuku	3
Karaka	1
Onewhero	1
City Ramblers	1

A previous logo of the union

Counties Manukau in Super Rugby

When Super Rugby began, Counties Manukau were not considered as a team to be choosen so they were associated with the Blues. Since 1999 it has been aligned to the Chiefs.

Women's Rugby

Counties Manukau has a women's team that is part of Women's Provincial Championship. Counties were crowned champions for the first time in 2016 taking down the eight time defending champs Auckland 41-22. Counties made it to the final of the 2017 competition after finishing top of the table for the second year running. They were defeated 13-7 in the final by Canterbury.

External links

• Official site