Counties Manukau
CMRFU official emblem
UnionCounties Manukau Rugby Football Union
Nickname(s)Steelers
Founded1955; 69 years ago (1955)
LocationPukekohe, Auckland, New Zealand
Ground(s)Navigation Homes Stadium (Capacity: 12,000)
CEOAaron Lawton[1]
Coach(es)Reon Graham
Captain(s)Sean Reidy
Most appearancesAlan Dawson (201)
Top scorerDanny Love (698)
Most triesAlan Dawson (58)
League(s)Bunnings NPC
20239th
Team kit
Official website
www.steelers.co.nz

Counties Manukau (often known as the Counties Manukau Steelers) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Pukekohe, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1955, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe in the Auckland region. The team is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are black, white and red.

Current squad

The Counties Manukau Steelers squad for the 2023 Bunnings NPC is:[2]

Counties Manukau Steelers squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Half-backs (scrum-halves)

  • New Zealand Cohen Brady-Leathem
  • New Zealand Liam Daniela
  • New Zealand Kanavale Helu
  • New Zealand Cam Roigard

First five-eighths (fly-halves)

Midfielders (centres)

Outside backs

(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped, REP denotes a replacement squad player.
  1. ^ Taupaki wasn't named in the original Counties Manukau squad, but was announced in the side for Round 1.[3]
  2. ^ Muli wasn't named in the original Counties Manukau squad, but was announced in the side for Round 2.[4]

Honours

Counties Manukau have been overall Champions on one occasion, winning the title in 1979. Their full list of honours include:[5][6]

National Provincial Championship First Division
National Provincial Championship Second Division
ITM Cup Championship Division

Current Super Rugby players

Players named in the 2023 Counties Manukau Steelers squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for any side participating in the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

Player Team
Suetena Asomua Moana Pasifika
Nikolai Foliaki Force
Riley Hohepa Hurricanes
Ezekiel Lindenmuth Moana Pasifika
Peniasi Malimali Chiefs
Alex McRobbie Moana Pasifika
Ioane Moananu Crusaders
Alamanda Motuga Moana Pasifika
Etene Nanai-Seturo Chiefs
Dalton Papalii Blues
Toni Pulu Force
Cam Roigard Hurricanes
Sam Slade Moana Pasifika
Hoskins Sotutu Blues
Zuriel Togiatama Drua

References

  1. ^ "Staff". Counties Manukau Rugby. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  2. ^ "2023 PIC Steelers squad confirmed" (Press release). Counties Manukau Rugby. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Bunnings NPC Round 1: Team Lists". Bunnings NPC. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Bunnings NPC Round 2: Team Lists". Bunnings NPC. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  5. ^ "National Provincial Championship winners, 1976–2014". Te Ara. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Mitre 10 Cup". Rugby Heartland. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Match Centre - Super Rugby - Moana Pasifika v Fijian Drua". SANZAAR. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Six changes made to take on Moana Pasifika" (Press release). Western Force. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Hurricanes named to take on Moana Pasifika on Saturday" (Press release). Hurricanes. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Moana Pasifika name 2023 DHL Super Rugby Pacific Squad". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Gallagher Chiefs squad announced for 2023" (Press release). Chiefs. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Squad Naming - Round Three v Drua" (Press release). Crusaders. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  13. ^ "2023 Squad announced". Blues (Press release). 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Western Force 2023 Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific squad revealed" (Press release). Western Force. 20 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  15. ^ "Hurricanes 2023 squad announced" (Press release). Hurricanes. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Fijian Drua unveil 2023 squad and first ever development group" (Press release). Fijian Drua. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.

External links

National Provincial Championship (2006–present)
Counties Manukau – current squad
Rugby union in Auckland
Categories