Counties Manukau Rugby Union
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| Nickname(s) | Steelers |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1955 as South Auckland Counties |
| Region | Chiefs |
| Ground(s) | ECO Light Stadium, Pukekohe (Capacity: 12,000) |
| Coach(es) | Darryl Suasua |
| League(s) |
ITM Cup Women's Provincial Championship |
| 2015 | Finished 5th |
The Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union (CMRFU) is the governing body of rugby union in Southern Auckland and the Franklin district of New Zealand. The Steelers colours are red, white, and black horizontal bands. The 'Steelers' moniker is a reference to the Glenbrook steel factory, which is in the area. The Union is based in Pukekohe, and plays at ECOLight Stadium in Pukekohe.
The union was preceded by the South Auckland sub-union of the Auckland Rugby Football Union, the sub-union being founded in 1926. This became a full union, with the name South Auckland Counties, in 1955. The name was shortened to Counties just a year later. The name Counties Manukau was adopted in 1995.
The history of Counties has been very much about adventurous football and taking risks, and this was certainly the case initially as the team strove to establish an identity and tradition. Counties' first game was against Auckland in Waiuku in 1955, which they lost 95–3, led by Barry Baxter. In that inaugural year the team defeated an Wellington XV twice, the first 19 – 6 on Bledisloe Park, Pukekohe, where the union's first All Black, Pat Walsh scored twice. Barry Bracewell, coach from 1961–63 and 1967–75, adopted a style in conflict with the ethos of the day of forward dominance and percentage safety from the backs. Bracewell, and Tauroa after him, selected mobile forwards and loose forwards with exciting backs with attacking game plans.
The Counties team of this era had many highlights. The first was winning the NPC championship in 1979, with wins over Waikato, Wellington, North Auckland, Thames Valley, Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay, South Canterbury, Manawatu, Taranaki, Otago, Canterbury, and Southland, also beating Victoria and Argentina that year. Winning the Inter-Dominion Championship (forerunner to the Super 10) against Queensland in Brisbane was another achievement, while the 1982 team beat Australia 15 – 9, which included greats such as David Campese.
In 1982, playing Canterbury not only for the Ranfurly Shield but also the NPC championship, with Counties ahead 15 – 12 with only minutes remaining, Robert Kururangi intercepted a Canterbury pass and was about to score when the referee dubiously judged him offside, awarding Canterbury the penalty which Robbie Deans successfully kicked to win the championship and retain the shield. The previous season the shield challenge against Waikato also ended in a draw (21 all) after Counties conceded two late and controversial penalties. The third Ranfurly Shield agony came three years later in 1985 against Auckland, when Counties, down 3 – 12, were denied what appeared to be a perfectly legitimate try to Dave Trombik after the referee received some subtle persuasion by Auckland skipper Andy Haden. Later in the game Warren McClean scored a try for Counties, making the final score 9–12, with Counties on the losing side.
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