Premiership kicks off with Auckland triple feature

Premiership kicks off with Auckland triple feature

Defending champions Rockcote Canterbury Bulls have drawn the opening bye week, as the 2015 NZRL National Premiership kicks off with a triple feature in Auckland on Sunday, August 30.

The Bulls were shock winners of last year’s national competition, after finishing third in the regular season, but progressing to the final when Counties Manukau Stingrays and Akarana Falcons were relegated for fielding ineligible players.

They defeated fourth-placed Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions to break the Auckland stranglehold on the crown, dating back to 2010.

But they will have an extra week to prepare their title defence, which begins with a finals rematch against the Stallions at Tauranga on September 5.

Bulls coach Darren Coad has a chance to scout his opposition, when the remaining six teams square off at one venue in the opening round. That venue will ultimately depend on whether live TV coverage is secured.

Akarana and Wellington Orcas will get the competition under way in a morning fixture, followed by Central Vipers v Northern Swords and Stingrays v Stallions.

The premiership will be played over seven rounds, culminating in an Auckland final on October 17, location again dependent on TV coverage.

Meanwhile, Canterbury Rugby League has confirmed a return to its spiritual home of Rugby League Park in Addington, now known as AMI Stadium, this season.

The agreement between CRL and the Christchurch Stadium Trust will see all three Bulls home games, plus the local club final, staged at the venue, which was occupied by Canterbury Rugby Union after Lancaster Park was damaged in the February 2011 earthquake.

"From Canterbury Rugby League's perspective, it's great, as we're trying to lift our profile, lift our brand and give our players exposure by playing at an international-quality stadium," enthuses CRL chief executive Terry Williamson.

The full 2015 NZRL National Premiership draw is:

ROUND ONE
Sunday, August 30
Akarana Falcons v Wellington Orcas, Auckland, 11.30am
Central Vipers v Northern Swords, Auckland, 1.15pm
Counties Manukau v Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions, Auckland, 3pm
Canterbury Bulls bye

ROUND TWO
Saturday, September 5
Northern Swords v Counties Manukau, Lindvart Park, Kaikohe, Noon
Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions v Rockcote Canterbury Bulls, Tauranga Domain, 2pm
Central Vipers v Wellington Orcas, Palmerston North, 3pm
Akarana Falcons bye

ROUND THREE
Saturday, September 12
Wellington Orcas v Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions, Porirua Park, Wellington, 1pm
Counties Manukau Stingrays v Central Vipers, Massey Park, Papakura, 1pm
Sunday, September 13
Rockcote Canterbury Bulls v Akarana Falcons, AMI Stadium, Christchurch, 2.30pm
Northern Swords bye

ROUND FOUR
Saturday, September 19
Northern Swords v Wellington Orcas, Lindvart Park, Kaikohe, Noon
Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions v Akarana Falcons, Resthills Park, Hamilton, 2.30pm
Rockcote Canterbury Bulls v Central Vipers, Christchurch, 2.30pm
Counties Manukau Stingrays bye

ROUND FIVE
Saturday, September 26
Wellington Orcas v Rockcote Canterbury Bulls, Porirua Park, Wellington, 2pm
Counties Manukau Stingrays v Akarana Falcons, Massey Park, Papakura, 2.30pm
Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions v Northern Swords, Rotorua
Central Vipers bye

ROUND SIX
Saturday, October 3
Akarana Falcons v Northern Swords, Auckland, 2.30pm
Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions v Central Vipers, Memorial Park, Tokoroa, 2.30pm
Rockcote Canterbury Bulls v Counties Manukau Stingrays, Christchurch, 2.30pm
Wellington Orcas bye

ROUND SEVEN
Saturday, October 10
Central Vipers v Akarana Falcons, New Plymouth, Noon
Northern Swords v Rockcote Canterbury Bulls, Toll Stadium, Whangarei, 1.30pm
Wellington Orcas v Counties Manukau Stingrays, Porirua Park, Wellington, 2pm
Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions bye

FINAL
Saturday, October 17
First v Second, Auckland

ENDS

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