The Point Chevalier Pirates are an

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

club based in

Point Chevalier Point Chevalier (; commonly known as Point Chev and an original colonial name of Point Bunbury after Thomas Bunbury) is a residential suburb and peninsula in the city of Auckland in the north of New Zealand. It is located five kilometres to t ...

. The Pirates currently compete in the Fox Memorial (First Division) competition run by the

Auckland Rugby League The Auckland Rugby League (ARL) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region, including both club and school rugby league. It began in 1910 when the fir ...

History

Point Chevalier v Otahuhu 1919 B Grade final

The club was founded in

1919 Events January * January 1 ** The Czechoslovak Legions occupy much of the self-proclaimed "free city" of Pressburg (now Bratislava), enforcing its incorporation into the new republic of Czechoslovakia. ** HMY ''Iolaire'' sinks off the ...

."Yo ho ho and ninety years done" ''Superleague'', Issue 1 2010. p.27. On April 5, 1919 the

Auckland Star The ''Auckland Star'' was an evening daily newspaper published in Auckland, New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and th ...

reported that a "new club that has just been affiliated is the

Eden Ramblers Eden Ramblers was a rugby league club in Auckland which played in the Auckland Rugby League competition from 1911 to 1913. They were based in the Avondale suburb of Auckland where they largely trained and played and held meetings in Point Cheva ...

, boys from Avondale and

". In 1911 a club named

had formed in the area and played at the Avondale racecourse with the club rooms in Point Chevalier. However they ceased fielding teams during 1913 and effectively folded in the same year. The new team however was not to become known as the Eden Ramblers but in fact were named Point Chevalier rugby league club. Point Chevalier did not field any teams in

and were not officially registered with the Auckland Rugby League until

1920 Events January * January 1 ** Polish–Soviet War in 1920: The Russian Red Army increases its troops along the Polish border from 4 divisions to 20. ** Kauniainen, completely surrounded by the city of Espoo, secedes from Espoo as its own m ...

when they entered a side in the third grade therefore their true beginnings were more likely 1920 than 1919. Their first ever match was played at Walker Park on May 8, 1920 against

Devonport United The North Shore Albions were a rugby league club based on the North Shore of Auckland in Devonport before moving to Bayswater at a later time. They formed in 1909 and folded in the early 2000s due to a lack of playing numbers. At the start of ...

(North Shore Albions). The shore side won 22-6. Point Chevalier won their first ever Fox Memorial title in 1953. In the 1980s and 1990s the club's senior team merged with the City club to form City-Point Chevalier.

2010 and beyond resurgence

In 2010

Awen Guttenbeil Awen Guttenbeil (born 14 March 1976) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. Since retiring after a playing career spanning fifteen years, he went on to work as a broadcaster for Sky Network Televisio ...

returned to the club as coach. Former professional players

Stacey Jones Stacey William Jones (born 7 May 1976) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He played as a , but he has also briefly played at during his disting ...

Wairangi Koopu Dane Wairangi Manurea Koopu (born 2 April 1980) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played for the New Zealand Warriors and the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League. Koopu primarily played in the , and as a ...

Monty Betham La’auli Montgomery Junior "Monty" Betham (born 12 March 1978) is a professional boxer, and former professional rugby league footballer. A New Zealand international representative and , he played club football for the New Zealand Warriors in ...

and

Karl Te Nana Karl Solomon Te Nana (born 15 July 1975) is a New Zealand former rugby union and rugby league footballer, and currently works in broadcasting as a rugby commentator. A professional rugby union player, Te Nana won a gold medal as part of the Ne ...

all joined the squad for the club's 90th year as the team easily won the Phelan Shield. This began a rapid rise for the club as they won the Sharman Cup (second division) the following year, gaining promotion to the Fox Memorial for 2012. The Pirates finished the season third, but in their final match against the

Marist Saints The Marist Saints is a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. They currently compete in the top grade in Auckland Rugby League, the Fox Memorial Premiership. History Founded in 1919, the Marist club first won the Fox Memorial in 1 ...

, the Pirates fielded a third-string side and were beaten 102–0, and denied

Papakura Papakura is a southern suburb of Auckland, in northern New Zealand. It is located on the shores of the Pahurehure Inlet, approximately 32 kilometres south of the Auckland CBD. It is under the authority of the Auckland Council. Papakura is a ...

, who had beaten the Pirates on both occasions the teams had met earlier in the year, a place in the semi-finals to play the Pirates again the following week. Papakura appealed to the

, and the Pirates were found guilty of bringing discredit on the game and were ejected from the play-offs.Tanking allegation could cost Pirates their playoff place
''New Zealand Herald'', 1 August 2012 The Pirates came back stronger the following year and won the Fox Memorial in 2013, 2014 & 2015. Only 3 other clubs have won 3 in a row in the history of the 1st grade competition. They won the Fox Memorial again in 2018. They failed to make the final in 2019 and then the 2020 and 2021 seasons were cancelled due to covid. They had been in second position after 8 rounds in 2020 when the season was cancelled. Then in 2021 they had progressed unbeaten through the qualifying competition with 11 wins and were unbeaten through the Fox Premiership games with another 7 wins however the season was once again cancelled prior to their semi final with Glenora. In 2022 a shortened competition was run and Point Chevalier won their 6th title with a 14-12 win over recent rivals

Glenora Bears The Glenora Bears are a rugby league football club based in Glen Eden, New Zealand who compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. History The club was established in 1931 when the Auckland Rugby League Junior Management Com ...

Point Chevalier Pirates celebrate winning 2022 Fox Memorial

Notable players

Notable players to play for the club include

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

representative

Karl Harrison Karl Harrison (born 20 February 1964) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s, and coached in the 2000s and 2010s. He played at representative level for both Great Britain and England, and at ...

and Samoan international

Hutch Maiava Hutch Maiava (born 26 October 1976) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NRL as a . He previously played for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Hull F.C. Playing ...

. Arden McCarthy, Players to play for the

New Zealand national rugby league team The New Zealand national rugby league team ( Māori: Tīma rīki motu Aotearoa) has represented New Zealand in rugby league since 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird o ...

include Doug Anderson, Vic Belsham,

Shane Varley Shane Varley is a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand. Playing career Varley played for Richmond and the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League competition and represented Auckland.Coffey, John and Bernie ...

Jack Russell-Green Jack may refer to: Places * Jack, Alabama, US, an unincorporated community * Jack, Missouri, US, an unincorporated community * Jack County, Texas, a county in Texas, USA People and fictional characters * Jack (given name), a male given name, ...

, Bill Schultz, Paul Schultz,

Bob McGuinn Bob McGuinn is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in the 1970 World Cup. Playing career McGuinn played for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League competition and also represented Auckland. ...

, Henry Maxwell, Duncan MacRae,

Ken Stirling Kenneth Lorrie Stirling is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer, coach and administrator who represented New Zealand in the 1975 World Championship. Playing career Stirling played for the Ellerslie club in the Auckland Rugby League ...

Gordon Moncur Gordon may refer to: People * Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters * Gordon (surname), the surname * Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War * Clan Gordon, ...

Graham Mattson Graham Victor Mattson is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer, and coach who represented New Zealand and later coached Tonga. Playing career Mattson was a Point Chevalier Pirates player in the Auckland Rugby League competition and also ...

Dennis Key Dennis or Denis is a first or last name from the Greco-Roman name Dionysius, via one of the Christian saints named Dionysius. The name came from Dionysus, the Greek god of ecstatic states, particularly those produced by wine, which is someti ...

John Sparnon John Sparnon (died 15 November 2014) was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand. Playing career Sparnon played for the Richmond and Point Chevalier clubs in the Auckland Rugby League. He represented Auckland. In the 19 ...

, Stacey Jones

Fuifui Moimoi Fuifui Moimoi (born 26 September 1980) is a rugby league footballer who plays as a . He most notably played for the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League (NRL) from 2004 to 2014, in addition to playing for Leigh Centurions in the RFL Cha ...

, Tawhiao Rogers,

Henry Paul Henry Paul (born 10 February 1974), also known by the nickname of "HP", is a former dual-code international rugby league and rugby union footballer. Paul represented New Zealand in rugby league and England in rugby union and rugby sevens. He ...

Evarn Tuimavave Evarn Tuimavave (born 28 June 1984) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played as a . Playing career Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Tuimavave played his junior football for the Pt Chev Pirates, Richmond Rovers and ...

Tevita Latu, Wairangi Koopu, Paki Afu, The club has also produced three test referees: Vic Belsham,

John Percival John Percival (3 April 1779 – 7 September 1862), known as Mad Jack Percival, was a celebrated officer in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France, the War of 1812, the campaign against West Indies pirates, and the Mexican–Amer ...

and

Ray Shrimpton Ray may refer to: Fish * Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea * Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin Science and mathematics * Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point * Ray (g ...

Point Chevalier Senior Team Records (1920-1944 + 2020-2022)

The season record for the most senior men’s team in the club.

References

External links

Official ARL SiteField of dreams By Alan Perrott, Aug 23, 2010 New Zealand Herald
{{Rugby League in Auckland Rugby clubs established in 1919