2025 Auckland Rugby League season
| Auckland Rugby League | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1909 |
| Responsibility | Auckland |
| Headquarters | Rugby League House, 17-19 Beasley Ave, Penrose, Auckland 1061 |
| Competitions | Fox Memorial Premiership, Sharman Cup, Steele-Shanks Women's Premiership |
| Website | aucklandleague.co.nz |
As of 05 April 2025 | |
The 2025 season is the 116th season since the founding of the Auckland Rugby League in 1909.
The men's senior season began with a 3-round qualifying competition for the Fox Memorial Shield where there were 3 pools of 4, with the top 2 teams from each qualifying for the Fox Memorial Premier competition. Richmond Rovers, Papakura Sea Eagles, Te Atatu Roosters, and Point Chevalier Pirates automatically qualified due to finishing in the top 4 in the previous season. The six teams who finished in the top two and won qualification to join them were Otahuhu Leopards, Mount Albert Lions, Manukau Magpies, Bay Roskill Vikings, Marist Saints, and for the first time in many years the Ponsonby Ponies. The teams who had been in the first division who were in the Sharman Cup for 2025 were Howick Hornets, Glenora Bears, and Otara Scorpions. The Steele-Shanks Women's Premiership reduced from seven teams to five with Richmond Roses dropping into the championship (2nd division), and Otara, Taniwharau, and Pakuranga failing to field senior women's teams at all. The competition was made up of teams from Mount Albert, Papakura, Otahuhu, Marist, and Mangere East.
The Otahuhu Leopards completed a remarkable season when they won the Fox Memorial Shield for the 13th time following a hard fought 8-4 win over the Mt Albert Lions at Trusts Arena in Henderson on August 17. They went undefeated with 17 consecutive wins while their reserve grade side also went undefeated to win their championship. The Papakura Sea Eagles women's team went back to back when they beat the Mt Albert Lionesses 32-24.The Otara Scorpions caused an upset when they beat Hibiscus Coast Raiders 22-20 and ruined their undefeated run in the competition. It was the third time Otara had won the Sharman Cup. Joshua Tanielu was awarded the Fox Memorial Player of the Year award, being the first time in Bay Roskill's history that one of their players had won the award.