Richmond Rovers

The Richmond Rovers Rugby League Club is a rugby league club based in Grey Lynn, New Zealand. The premier team is called the Richmond Bulldogs/Richmond Rovers and are competing in Auckland Rugby League's first grade 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. They didn't in fact play an official game until 1914 when they affiliated with the Grafton Athletic club and entered a team in the 4th grade and played in the Grafton Athletic colours.^[1]

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.^[2]

Richmond's first ever first grade game was against Athletic (Maritime) on April 22, 1922. They lost 14-2 with Henderson scoring their first ever points in the grade with a penalty.

Richmond enjoyed considerable success in the middle decades of the 1900s. They were the first club ever to win the Fox Memorial, Roope Rooster, and Stormont Shield in a single season (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).^[4]^[5] 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 as a joint venture with the Marist Saints between 2000 and 2005. This team was called the Marist Richmond Brothers.

Notable players

48 Richmond Juniors have played for the New Zealand national rugby league team including Nigel Vagana, Fred Ah Kuoi, Steve Matai, David Solomona and Evarn Tuimavave. In addition 19 women have represented the New Zealand Women's team.^[6]

Other Warriors such as Tevita Latu, Steve Matai, Sam Lousi, Sione Lousi, John Palavi, Wayne McDade, Daniel Vasau, Evarn Tuimavave, Faavae Kalolo, & Malo Solomona were also Richmond juniors.

American actor Geno Segers had a stint with the club.^[7]

A team of the century was named in 2013, and consisted of: 1. Bert Cooke, 2. Nigel Vagana, 3. Tom Baxter, 4. Maurie Robertson, 5. Vern Bakalich, 6. Fred Ah Kuoi, 7. Shane Varley, 8. Joe Vagana, 9. John Lasher, 10. Cliff Johnson (c), 11. Jim Riddell, 12. Se'e Solomona and 13. Raymond Williams.^[8]^[2]

Richmond Senior Team Records (1915-1945, 1993-2004 + 2022-23)

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

Club Titles

Richmond Rovers grade championships (1910-1944)

1921 Sixth Grade
1922 Fourth Grade
1923 Fifth Grade
1924 Second Grade B Section winners (lost final to Otahuhu 17-5, who won the A Section), Fourth Grade B Section winners (lost final to Ponsonby, who were A Section winners), Fifth Grade knockout (Section B)
1925 Second Grade, Fourth Grade, Fifth Grade, Sixth Grade A, & Sixth Grade B
1926 Third Grade Intermediate, & Fifth Grade
1927 Third Grade Intermediate and Third Grade knockout competition, Fourth Grade (Hospital Cup), & Sixth Grade B (Myers Cup)
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 & Fourth Grade knockout, Seventh Grade & Seventh Grade knockout, & Schoolboys (Richmond Schools A)
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 (1922-1945)

The point scoring lists are compiled from first grade matches in the championship, Roope Rooster, Phelan Shield, Sharman Cup and official exhibition matches including organised preseason rounds.

References

^ "Richmond Club". New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15585. 17 April 1914. p. 10. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
^ a b "History". Richmond Rovers Rugby League. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
^ "Opening of the Season/Standard of Play Moderate". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LIX, no. 18073. 24 April 1922. p. 9. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
^ "Thrilling League/Champion Club Teams/Richmond Takes Honours/Western Suburbs Beaten". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. LXXI, no. 21919. 1 October 1934. p. 13. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
^ "Sydney Team Defeated/Richmond's Second Success/Spectacular Low-Scoring Game". Auckland Star. Vol. LXV, no. 238. 8 October 1934. p. 13. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
^ "Roll of Honour". Richmond Rovers Rugby League. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
^ Geno Seger's Bio at Disney XD Archived July 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Richmond Rovers Team of the Century". Richmond Rovers Rugby League. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2019.

External links

Official Site
Auckland Rugby League