ABOUT ARU

On behalf of the 20 clubs within the province, The Auckland Rugby Union is responsible for the, management, administration, marketing and development of rugby in the area.

It is a job everyone associated with the Union takes great pride in. Based at Eden Park, the home of many of New Zealand's greatest rugby moments, the union facilitates the running of school, club and representative competitions in which Auckland teams participate.

These include primary school competitions like the Bill McLaren trophy, Club competitions such as the world renowned Gallaher Shield, right up to the Bunnings Warehouse NPC and FPC.

The development of the game is assisted through such schemes as the Auckland Rugby Academy and numerous coaching courses.

Another developmental innovation at Auckland Rugby is the "Pro-Sport Programme", which is designed to give young Aucklanders experience in all areas of rugby, including coaching, training and event management. The Pro Sport Programme is also responsible for the development of rugby at primary school level and each year they run coaching clinics at more than 300 primary schools.

Volunteers are a vital part of our rugby community, and as a union we absolutely appreciate their efforts and do what we can to support them. 

One of the most valued and crucial volunteer groups are referees. Games simply do not go ahead without them and it is important they are well supported on and off the field.  From those who are controlling premier games to all the Mum or Dad coaches that find themselves with a whistle, all of them deserve courtesy and respect from those on the field as well as the sideline.

HISTORY

There have been many notable eras in the team's history. It went undefeated for six seasons from 1897, and there was a ground breaking run in the early 1920s under Sir Vincent Meredith.

The 1960–63 period, known as the Golden Era, was summed up in The Golden Years written by Don Cameron in 1983. Sir Wilson Whineray, who captained Auckland through those years, describes the period as one of "excitement, drama and fervor that transformed Eden Park into an oasis of magic during the winters of 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1963."

There was also a relatively undisturbed spell of success from 1982 through to the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup victory. Auckland won 16 of the 26 Air NZ NPC titles available in that time – a period that included 61 Ranfurly Shield defences.

Auckland were the first holders of the shield in 1902 and have won 153 out of 194 shield matches up to 2007 – the most successful record of any provincial union. Since 1902 there have been three notable shield eras: from 1905 to 1913 there were 23 challenges repelled, another 25 between 1960 and 1963, and 61 challenges in the period from 1985 to 1993. Players like Andy Haden, Sean Fitzpatrick, John Drake, Olo Brown, Zinzan and Robin Brooke, Gary and Alan Whetton, Michael Jones, Steve McDowell, Grant Fox, Bernie McCahill,Grant Dickson, Mark Carter, Joe Stanley, John Kirwan and Terry Wright were important in Auckland's success in that last period.

With six titles in the 1990s, and four so far in the new century, Auckland's domination of the New Zealand rugby landscape continues. The 2007 team was the first since the 1990 side to remain unbeaten in a season and win the Ranfurly Shield and the provincial championship.