Auckland Rugby 2021
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Top Auckland rugby club fined $15k for breaching rules
Auckland rugby club College Rifles have been found guilty of paying a player, therefore breaching the rules of the amateur game, and must pay a fine and costs of $15,000.
Perhaps even more significantly, the club will be docked 30 competition points should they be found guilty of a similar breach within the next three seasons.
The Herald revealed this morning the details of the Remuera club's transgression in agreeing to pay an Eden under-21 player what has been described as a "substantial" amount of money over two years.
The matter came to light after the player wanted to return to Eden after a couple of games for Rifles and told his original club of the contract which was understood to have been typed on a Rifles letterhead. This goes against the terms of the Club Participation Agreement.
Auckland Rugby informed the Herald on Friday of their sanction handed down to Rifles after mediation of the affair finished on Thursday night.
An ARU statement read: "A mediation process has concluded between Auckland Rugby and College Rifles Rugby Club. That process has found that there has been a breach of Clause 16, Material Benefit, of the Club Participation Agreement."Auckland Rugby takes the commitments made within the Club Participation Agreement seriously and as such has spent considerable time and resource to ensure a thorough and robust process has been conducted between the parties.
"College Rifles have agreed to pay an up-front fine, a donation to the New Zealand Rugby Foundation, and a contribution to the legal costs incurred by Auckland Rugby."It has also been agreed that there will be a suspended deduction of 30 competition points to be applied at Auckland Rugby's discretion should there be any further breach within three years."
The Herald has obtained a copy of the decision, co-signed by Auckland Rugby council of delegates chairman Brent Metson and Eden Rugby Club president Peter Kempson.
It found that College Rifles admitted the breach and "openly shared information to assist the investigation process" and that "the player in question played only a limited amount of rugby for the club".
It also found that the Participation Agreement was "limited" and needed further development. Specifically, it found there was a "lack of clarity over the consequences for any practices that are clearly outside the rules, and the spirit of the rules".
Rifles agreed to pay a fine of $5,000 to Auckland Rugby, plus a further $5000 to contribute towards AR's costs. Rifles will pay an additional $5,000 to the New Zealand Rugby Foundation. All must be paid within 21 days.
The suspended deduction of 30 competition points will be applied to College Rifles' senior teams – men's and women's premiers, first grade, and/or under-21 – should a further breach occur within the next three seasons.
College Rifles' men's premiers are currently on top of the table ahead of their final regular-season game against Grammar Tec on Saturday.
The club, which wields considerable influence in Auckland rugby circles due to its wealthy backers and connections within Auckland Rugby, would not comment on the matter when contacted this week.An Auckland club insider said the widespread rumours of clubs paying players was "massively frustrating".
"This is grassroots rugby and it's not a level playing field. Obviously, if we're trying to recruit and retain players and you have a club offering money then we're always going to lose to those kinds of clubs and it becomes an expectation for kids coming out of school and that sets a pretty bad precedent," the club insider claims.
"Rifles isn't the only club... Everyone knows what's happening. We all know there are players being paid.
"There are other clubs that probably don't want to speak about it because their backyard isn't that clean either."
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Auckland club rugby: University out to spoil Manukau Rovers' party
University thrashed them, but missed out on the playoffs on points differential.
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Auckland club rugby: University give Manukau Rovers little to celebrate
University needed to score as many points as possible to stay in the hunt for the playoffs
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- On Auckland Rugby Facebook page -
GALLAHER SHIELD SEMI-FINAL LIVESTREAM
We will be coming to you live from Western Springs Stadium for the Gallaher Shield Semi-Final between Ponsonby Rugby Club and Eden Rugby Club this weekend.
- On Auckland Rugby Facebook page -
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2021 Auckland Storm Squad
Forwards:
Aleisha-Pearl Nelson (College Rifles)
Aldora Itunu (Ponsonby)
Cilia-Marie Po’e (College Rifles)
Doris Taufateau (College Rifles)
Maama Vaipulu (College Rifles)
Sophie Fisher (Ponsonby)
Cristo Tofa (Ponsonby)
Alakoka Po’oi (Ponsonby)
Eloise Blackwell (Ponsonby) (Captain)
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (College Rifles)
Vineta Teutau (Marist)
Tafito Lafaele (College Rifles)
Shannon Leota (Ponsonby)
Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (College Rifles)
Chamaine McMenamin (Ponsonby)
Chey Tuli (Ponsonby)
Backs:
Luisa Togotogorua (Marist)
Patricia Maliepo (Marist)
Ruahei Demant (College Rifles)
Sylvia Brunt (Ponsonby)
Mele Hufanga (Marist)
Daynah Nankivell (Ponsonby)
Corinna Nanai Vai (College Rifles)
Princess Elliot (Ponsonby)
Natahlia Moors (Ponsonby)
Magali Harvey (Ponsonby)
Sam Curtis (College Rifles)
Taylor Curtis (College Rifles)
Abby Lockhart (Marist)
Elenoa Gukirewa (Marist)
Jennifer-Rose Reu (College Rifles)
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@daffy-jaffy Just three Clubs represented. Are they stockpiling all the best players between them or are they they only Auckland registered clubs ie does the Womens Competition include Counties and Nth Narbour affiliated clubs?
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@daffy-jaffy said in Auckland Rugby 2021:
- On Auckland Rugby Facebook page -
GALLAHER SHIELD SEMI-FINAL LIVESTREAM
We will be coming to you live from Western Springs Stadium for the Gallaher Shield Semi-Final between Ponsonby Rugby Club and Eden Rugby Club this weekend.
2:45 kickoff
The NZH even has a preview of the game. Good to see some coverage recently
Eden
1 Franck Friconnet, 2 Blake Hill (VC), 3 Emmanuel Ioane, 4 Jack Casey-Pickering, 5 Cameron Rutherford, 6 Paulo Sasulu, 7 James Rutherford (50th cap), 8 Conor Lawson, 9 Nicolas Costa, 10 Ignacio Costa (C), 11 Tapulaaia Pauli, 12 Andrew Kaveinga (50th cap), 13 Olivier Roux, 14 Sione Katoa, 15 Tevita Hala,
Reserves: 16 Derrick Soqeta, 17 Vunga Hala'ufia, 18 Joshua Devine, 19 Junior Toailoa, 20 Siaosi Malupo, 21 Sam Nash, 22 Simeon Latu, 23 Lawrence Taufa
Ponsonby
1 Conner Halangahu, 2 Harry Akeli, 3 Hamdahn Tuipulotu, 4 Aukusitino Ulugia, 5 Jamie Lane, 6 Blake Gibson, 7 Aleks Dabek (C), 8 Presley Tufuga, 9 Samuel Wye, 10 Wiseguy Faiane, 11 Morrison Siliko, 12 Reece Suesue, 13 William Talataina, 14 Cephus Salaivao, 15 Jordan Trainor
Reserves: 16 Tito Tuipulotu, 17 Romero Tagi, 18 Alex Matapo, 19 Katinali Tai, 20 Terrell Peita, 21 James Valentine, 22 Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck, 23 Kisione Ahki
Other team sheets here: https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=86b63b65-cb1c-4bee-8937-ce83f549b0e0
- On Auckland Rugby Facebook page -
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Auckland club rugby: Eden stun Ponsonby in Gallaher Shield
Eden or Grammar Tec will be this year's Gallaher Shield champions.
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@tim latest AKL signings... a reliable 10/12/15 who has experience in Provincial, A little Super and oversea's experience.
And a 11/13/14 from a Super team that has some experience playing Jail rugby (league) -
@dirtydoolan Interesting. Maybe Solomone Kata for the midfield/wing?
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@dirtydoolan Struggling on the 10/12/15, Maybe Matt McGahan? Most of the names that come to mind have played international rugby.
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