Auckland Rugby Union
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| Union | New Zealand Rugby Union |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1883 |
| Location | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Region | Blues |
| Ground(s) | Eden Park (Capacity: 50,000) |
| Coach(es) | Paul Feeney |
| Captain(s) | Tom McCartney |
| League(s) |
Mitre 10 Cup Women's Provincial Championship |
| 2012 | 2nd |
| Official website | |
| www |
|
The Auckland Rugby Union (ARU) is the governing body for rugby union in a portion of the Auckland Region of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hooped design. The ARFU govern the running of the Auckland representative team which have won New Zealand's first-tier domestic competition National Provincial Championship (Air New Zealand Cup and ITM Cup) 16 times—more than any other team. Their most recent victory was the 2007 competition. Auckland also acts as a primary feeder to the Blues, who play in the Super Rugby competition.
The union is coached by Paul Feeney the union also administers all club rugby within the region, including the Gallaher Shield and other senior club rugby. As well, the union is responsible for school rugby.
The Auckland Rugby Football Union (ARFU) was officially formed in 1884, when it joined the Canterbury, Wellington and Otago unions in the fledgling New Zealand Rugby Football Union.
Auckland has been the most successful union in New Zealand rugby history, having won a record 16 ITM Cup (and predecessor competition) titles. Auckland also holds the record for the most Ranfurly Shield wins (16), successful defences (148), and longest streak of successful defences (61). All Blacks statistics also reveal the extent of Auckland's influence: of the 1071 players to have worn the national jersey from 1888 to 2008, 133 were born in Auckland, compared to Christchurch (74), Wellington (60) and Dunedin (53).
In 1996, with the advent of professional rugby union, Auckland became the host, and primary feeder, to the Blues, known from 1996–99 as the Auckland Blues.
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