NZRL 9S GIRLS’ U16
SEMI FINALS
Manawatu 8 v Hawkes Bay 4
Waikato 12 v BOP 10
Wellington 20 v Auckland 4
Northern Swords 12 v Caterbury 10
FINALS
Hawkes Bay 52 v BOP 8
Waikato 20 v Manawatu 4
Auckland 14 v Canterbury 8
Wellington 20 v Northern Swords 6
U16 GIRLS’ TOURNAMENT TEAM
Tournament MVP: Trinity Tauaenai (Wellington)
NZRL 9S GIRLS’ U18
Canterbury 14 v Northland 0
Wellington 30 v BOP 4
Auckland Red 18 v Auckland Blue 4
Auckland White 12 v Waikato 8
Northland 14 v BOP 6
Canterbury 16 v Wellington 14
Auckland Blue 18 v Waikato 16
Auckland Red 20 v Auckland White 4
U18 GIRLS’ TOURNAMENT TEAM
TOURNAMENT MVP: Silalotoga Tamisha Tulua (Auckland)
NZRL 9S BOYS’ U16
Waikato 14 v Northland 6
Auckland 24 v Coastline 4
Canterbury 24 v BOP 0
Manawatu 24 v Wellington 6
Coastline 18 v Northland 10
Auckland 14 v Waikato 12
Wellington 16 v BOP 4
Manawatu 18 v Canterbury 14
U16 BOYS’ TOURNAMENT TEAM
TOURNAMENT MVP: Rewiti Ngarimu (Wellington)
NZRL 9S BOYS’ U18
Manawatu 32 v Hauraki 0
Waikato 28 v BOP 4
Auckland 14 v Wellington 12
Canterbury 26 v Northern Swords 4
BOP 18 v Hauraki 8
Waikato 20 v Manawatu 10
Wellington 28 v Northern Swords 0
Auckland 24 v Canterbury 4
U18 BOYS’ TOURNAMENT TEAM
TOURNAMENT MVP: Chelden Hayward (Canterbury)
1. Tanner Stowers-Smith – Canterbury, 2. Maretino Kaloudau – Canterbury (MVP), 3. Jacob Nyman – Canterbury, 4. Damion Hona-Mallinson – Bay of Plenty, 5. Jason Kameta – Bay of Plenty, 6. Liliano Franco Sabatini – Bay of Plenty, 7. Marak Atoa Aumua – Waikato, 8. Leka Halasima – Auckland, 9. Phillip Wilson – Auckland
1. Taleenza Nelson – Auckland, 2. Alexis Tauaneai – Wellington (MVP), 3. Kokako Raki – Bay of Plenty, 4. Michelle Taikato – Wellington, 5. Paris Pickering – Auckland, 6. Aleksandra Tunufai-Lio – Auckland, 7. Tafao Fa’aeaina Asaua – Auckland, 8. Angelica Vahai – Auckland, 9. Kimoana Niupala – Bay of Plenty
1. Meihana Pauling – Canterbury, 2. Chelden Hayward – Canterbury, 3. Semurana Fepulea’I – Wellington, 4. Patrick Kailahi – Waikato, 5. Compton Purcell – Auckland, 6. Maui Winitana-Patelesio – Wellington, 7. Ryder Williams – Auckland, 8. Timau Utairo – Waikato, 9. Mangaroa Mark – Waikato (MVP)
1. Seriah Maselina Palepale – Auckland (MVP), 2. Clover Evelyn Roberts – Auckland, 3. Josinah Talatupe Filisi Tauilili – Auckland, 4. Trinity Tauaneai – Wellington, 5. Hera Maihi – Wellington, 6. Anya Clark – Otago, 7. Liarna Barber-Salvation – Waikato, 8. Lialanie Muamua – Canterbury, 9. Isla Talau – Taranaki
The inaugural National District 9s Tournament will take place in early 2022 involving four age group divisions: 16s Boys, 16s Girls, 18s Boys and 18s Girls.
The National District 9s will entail three stages:
District Tournaments – Early 2022, the districts across New Zealand are invited to run 9s Tournaments for their clubs to enter, to which districts will then select teams for each applicable age group to enter the ‘Regional Tournaments.’
Regional Tournaments – Selected district teams will then battle it out at the Regional Qualifier Tournaments held throughout the country, managed by the zones and Auckland Rugby League (in Auckland), for a place in the National District 9s Tournament.
National District 9s Tournament – The top qualifying eight district teams (per age group) will compete in the National 9s Tournament in April 2022. The National District 9s Tournament will collectively see 32 teams compete with a 16s Boys Champion, 16s Girls Champion, 18s Boys Champion and 18s Girls Champion, all crowned at the conclusion of the tournament.
David McMeeken, National Football Operations Manager at NZRL, says: “The 9s format is a proven successful entry point for rugby league as it nurtures and grows the game at a district level.”
“Auckland Rugby League (ARL) is the only district in the country that offers a weekly competition in the girls’ space, to which they also accommodate two Waikato clubs in their competition. The ARL started with the 9s format to introduce the game and have seen evergrowing success since with seven U18s, 13 U16s and 12 U14s girls teams.
“The goal is to see other districts emulate this and build momentum and participation numbers in both boys’ and girls’ age groups. The new District 9s Tournament brings that competition back at a regional level while fostering and developing rangatahi talent throughout the country. It’s great for the game and an exciting addition to the football calendar.”
Luisa Avaiki, Head of Women’s Rugby League at NZRL, says: “There is significant and growing interest in the girls’ game across the country and it’s formats like the 9s that enable this.”
“We have 16 girls teams who have expressed interest to attend the inaugural NZRL National Secondary Schools Girl’s Tournament in August. A lot of this comes down to the mahi done by ARL and even New Zealand Māori Rugby League (NZMRL), who offer a platform for Kotiro to represent their people at the Rangatahi tournaments.
“I’m beyond delighted that we can now offer a National District 9s Tournament to continue this momentum. It’s a significant milestone and one that hopefully encourages girls from every district across New Zealand to get involved and fall in love with rugby league.”
NZRL will release further details on confirmed National District 9 Tournament dates and locations in due course.
