2006 in rugby league

List of years in sports
In rugby league
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
+...

This article contains information on rugby league played in 2006. The season commenced with the World Club Challenge in England in February and concluded with the Tri-Nations Final in Australia in November.

January

World Club Challenge

Main article: 2006 World Club Challenge

Bradford Bulls won the one-off match against Wests Tigers 30–10 at Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield.

Bradford Bulls 30–10 Wests Tigers 3/2/2006 20:00 – Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield
Ref: Steve Ganson (England)
Attendance: 19,207
Tries: Stuart Fielden (2), Marcus Bai (2), Stanley Gene Tries: Daniel Fitzhenry, Brett Hodgson
Goals: Iestyn Harris (5) Goals: Brett Hodgson (1)

February

National Rugby League trial matches

Week 1

Week 2

South Sydney Rabbitohs and the St George Illawarra Dragons played their annual Charity Shield match. The Rabbitohs narrowly took the shield with a score of 14–12, while most of the Dragons' top grade players were being rested on the bench in preparation for weeks to come.

South Sydney 14–12 St George Illawarra 18 February 2006 20:00 – Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Ref: Steve Clark
Attendance: 24,566
Tries: Paul Mellor, Shannon Hegarty, David Fa'alogo Tries: Trent Barrett, Ben Hornby
Goals: Ben Walker (1) Goals: Wes Naiqama (2)

Other results from this week of trials included:

Week 3

May

5 - Brisbane, Australia: The 2006 ANZAC Test is played at Suncorp Stadium between Australia and New Zealand is won by the Kangaroos 50-12.
12 - Dubbo, Australia: In the annual City vs Country Origin match, Country NSW defeated City NSW 12–10 at Apex Oval before a crowd of 11,423.[1]

July

5 July - Telstra Dome, Melbourne, Australia before a crowd of 54,833 the 2006 State of Origin series concludes with Queensland defeating New South Wales

August

September

  • 21st – Sydney, Australia: The 8th annual Tom Brock Lecture, entitled The Stuff of Dreams, or the Dream Stuffed? Rugby League, Media Empires, Sex Scandals, and Global Plays is delivered by Dr. David Rowe.[3]

October

The Brisbane Broncos won the 2006 NRL premiership.

November

Regular season matches

Super League XI

Main article: Super League XI

The Super League kicked off the weekend after the World Club Challenge with Hull F.C. defeating the newly promoted Castleford Tigers 42–18. This season saw the entry of Catalans Dragons, who are the first French team to compete since the demise of Paris Saint-Germain at the end of Super League II. The regular season would finish with St. Helens taking out the minor premiership and the Castleford Tigers being relegated to division one. The Super League Grand Final saw St. Helens claim a twelve championship with victory over Hull F.C. at Old Trafford in front of 73,000.

National Rugby League – Season 2006

Main article: 2006 NRL season

The 99th season of first grade rugby league in Australia was controversial before competition even began. The New Zealand Warriors were fined and penalised four competition points for salary cap breaches in 2004 and 2005. They were fined and started the season on -4 points. The season began on Friday, 10 March, when defending premiers Wests Tigers and early favourites St George Illawarra Dragons played at Telstra Stadium. Melbourne Storm won the Minor Premiership, however, lost to the Brisbane Broncos in the Grand Final in front of over 79,000.

Powergen Challenge Cup 2006

Main article: Challenge Cup 2006

The Powergen Rugby League Challenge Cup is the most prestigious knock-out competition in the world of Rugby League and the 2006 competition saw over a hundred clubs competing from countries including England, France, Russia, Scotland and Wales. The final would see St. Helens take victory 41–12 over the Huddersfield Giants at Twickenham Stadium in front of 65,187.

UK National Leagues

Main article: Rugby League National Leagues in 2006

The National Leagues kicked off on 7 April. There are three divisions, and the top team in National One has the opportunity to enter SuperLeague, subject to minimum standards.

AMNRL – Season 2006

Main article: 2006 AMNRL season

The American National Rugby League kicked off on Wednesday 17 June with the Glen Mills Bulls defeating the Philadelphia Fight 48–26. This season saw the entry of three new competition teams the Jacksonville Axemen, New Haven Warriors and the Boston Braves. At the conclusion of the AMNRL regular season, the Glen Mills Bulls won the Minor Premiership, only to lose lost to the Connecticut Wildcats in the Grand Final Championship match in front of over 2,500.

International

Summary

Tests

Country Matches Wins Losses Draws
 Australia 5 4 1 0
 Great Britain 2 1 1 0
 New Zealand 4 1 3 0

Internationals

Country Matches Wins Losses Draws
 Austria 2 1 1 0
 Cook Islands 6 1 5 0
 Czech Republic 1 0 1 0
 Estonia 2 0 2 0
 Fiji 7 4 3 0
 Georgia 2 2 0 0
 Germany 2 2 0 0
 Italy 2 0 2 0
 Lebanon 1 1 0 0
 Malta 1 0 1 0
 Netherlands 3 1 2 0
 Māori 4 3 1 0
 Russia 2 2 0 0
 Samoa 5 2 3 0
 Serbia 5 1 4 0
 South Africa 2 2 0 0
 Tokelau 3 1 2 0
 Tonga 5 4 1 0
 United States 1 1 0 0

'A'/'B' internationals

Country Matches Wins Losses Draws
 Fiji A 1 1 0 0
 France A 1 1 0 0
 France B 1 1 0 0
 Greece 1 0 1 0
 Ireland A 3 2 1 0
 Italy A 1 1 0 0
 Morocco 1 0 1 0
 Scotland A 3 1 2 0
Wales Wales A 4 1 3 0

Other international teams

Team Description Matches Wins Losses Draws
England England Lionhearts Players from England's totalRL.com Rugby League conference and LHF Healthplan National League Three 4 4 0 0
United Kingdom BARLA Players from the British Amateur Rugby League Association 2 2 0 0
Netherlands Netherlands 'Tasman' Players from clubs in the Netherlands 1 1 0 0
Australia Australian Prime Minister's XIII Players form the NRL not selected for the Tri-nations series 1 1 0 0

Results

Date Result Venue City Crowd Competition Match
26 January New Zealand Maori def. Fiji 12–6 Coffs Harbour International Stadium Coffs Harbour 10,000 Orara Valley Tournament
26 January USA def. Japan 40–10 Coffs Harbour International Stadium Coffs Harbour 10,000 Orara Valley Tournament
2 February Italy A def. USA 38–6 Marconi Stadium Sydney 2,000 Columbus Cup
23 February Tonga 64 – 0 Tokelau Ericsson Stadium Auckland 2,000 Pacific Cup 1
23 February Fiji 26 – 4 Samoa Ericsson Stadium Auckland 2,000 Pacific Cup 2
25 February Tonga 42 – 14 New Zealand Maori Trusts Stadium Auckland 2,500 Pacific Cup 3
25 February Fiji 40 – 18 Cook Islands Trusts Stadium Auckland 2,500 Pacific Cup 4
2 March New Zealand Maori 64 – 4 Tokelau Trusts Stadium Auckland Pacific Cup 5
2 March Cook Islands 42 – 0 Samoa Trusts Stadium Auckland Pacific Cup 6
5 March New Zealand Maori 44 – 14 Cook Islands Trusts Stadium Auckland 2,000 Pacific Cup Playoff
5 March Tokelau 34 – 28 Samoa Trusts Stadium Auckland 2,000 Pacific Cup Playoff
5 March Tonga 22 – 4 Fiji Trusts Stadium Auckland 2,000 Pacific Cup Final
28 April Russia def. Netherlands 40–14 Hook of Holland 250 2008 World Cup qualifier
1 May England Lionhearts 46–6 Serbia FK Radnički Stadium Belgrade
5 May Australia def. New Zealand 50–12 Suncorp Stadium Brisbane 44,191 ANZAC Test
6 May England Lionhearts 50–4 Serbia FK Mladost Stadium Novi Sad 400
13 May Georgia def. Serbia 45–10 FK Radnički Stadium Belgrade 500 2008 World Cup qualifier
23 May Great Britain Police def. Belgrade 64–0 FK Radnički Stadium Belgrade
26 May Georgia def. Netherlands 57–16 Locomotive Stadium Tbilisi 10,935 2008 World Cup qualifier
27 May Great Britain Police def. Serbia 58–8 FK Mladost Stadium Novi Sad
3 June Ireland A def. Scotland A 38–30 St Mary's RFC Limerick Skanska Amateur Four Nations
4 June Russia def. Serbia 44–6 FK Radnički Stadium Belgrade 200 2008 World Cup qualifier
9 June BARLA "B" def. Italy 38–18 Monselice Simone Franchini Memorial Tournament
9 June BARLA "A" def. South Africa 34–14 Monselice Simone Franchini Memorial Tournament
10 June France B def. Morocco 23–16 Stade Bernard Bardin Istres
12 June South Africa def. Italy 76–6 Monselice Simone Franchini Memorial Tournament
13 June South Africa def. Italy 60–20 Monselice Simone Franchini Memorial Tournament
17 June Netherlands def. Serbia 38–26 RC Rotterdamse Rotterdam 2008 World Cup qualifier
17 June France A def. Scotland A 31–16 Pollok Park Glasgow
25 June Germany def. Austria 34–32 Nonner Stadion Bad Reichenhall 358 Central Europe Development Tri-nations 1
27 June Great Britain def. New Zealand 46–14 Knowsley Road St. Helens 10,103 XXXX Test
15 July England Lionhearts def. Ireland A 44–23 Terenure RFC Dublin Skanska Amateur Four Nations
16 July Wales A def. Scotland A 22–16 Pollok Park Glasgow Skanska Amateur Four Nations
22 July Germany d. Estonia 38–24 Viimsi Stadium Tallinn 528 Central Europe Development Tri-nations 2
4 August Netherlands "Tasman" def. Czech Republic 34–28 RC Rotterdamse Rotterdam International Cup
12 August Serbia def. Czech Republic 38–26 RC Sparta Prague Slavic Cup
13 August England Lionhearts def. Scotland A. 46–14 GHA Rugby Club Glasgow Skanska Amateur Four Nations
19 August Ireland A. def. Wales A 24–10 Brewery Field Bridgend Skanska Amateur Four Nations
2 September Austria def. Estonia 56–32 Stier Arena Paternion, Carinthia 237 Central Europe Development Tri-nations 3
10 September England Lionhearts def. Wales A 30–26 Featherstone Rovers RL Featherstone Skanska Amateur Four Nations
29 September Tonga def. Cook Islands 56–14 Cambelltown Stadium Sydney 3,013 2008 World Cup qualifier
29 September Samoa def. Fiji 30–28 Cambelltown Stadium Sydney 3,013 2008 World Cup qualifier
30 September Australian Prime Minister's XIII def. Papua New Guinea 28–8 Lloyd Robson Oval Port Moresby 10,000
4 October Fiji def. Tonga 30–28 Western Weekender Stadium Sydney 3,813 2008 World Cup qualifier
4 October Samoa def. Cook Islands 46–6 Western Weekender Stadium Sydney 3,813 2008 World Cup qualifier
7 October Fiji def. Cook Islands 40–4 CUA Stadium Sydney 2008 World Cup qualifier
7 October Fiji A def. Greece 34–12 OKI Jubilee Stadium Sydney
8 October Lebanon def. Malta 36–10 Western Weekender Stadium Sydney Battle of the Phoenicians
14 October Australia def. New Zealand 30–18 Mt Smart Stadium Auckland 17,887 Tri-nations 1
21 October Australia def. New Zealand 20–15 Telstra Dome Melbourne 30,732 Tri-nations 2
22 October England def. France 26–10 Headingley, Leeds 5,547 Federation Shield 1
22 October Tonga def. Samoa 18–10 Headingley, Leeds 5,547 Federation Shield 2
22 October Ireland def. Russia 50–12 Sili Stadium Moscow 2008 World Cup qualifier
25 October Cumbria def. Tonga 28–16 Derwent Park Workington 1,639 Friendly
28 October Lebanon def. Russia 22–8 New River Stadium London 2008 World Cup qualifier
28 October USA def. Japan 54–18 Aston Community Center Field Aston 2008 World Cup qualifier
28 October Greece def. Serbia 44–26 Glyka Nera Football Club Athens 150 Friendly
28 October New Zealand def. Great Britain 18–14 Jade Stadium Christchurch 17,005 Tri-nations 3
29 October Scotland def. Wales 21–14 Brewery Field Bridgend 2,378 2008 World Cup qualifier
29 October France def. Samoa 28–6 Benichou Stadium Colomiers Federation Shield 3
29 October England def. Tonga 40–18 Twickenham Stoop London Federation Shield 4
4 November Great Britain def. Australia 23–12 Sydney Football Stadium Sydney 24,953 Tri-nations 4
5 November Ireland tied with Lebanon 18–18 Tolka Park Dublin 2008 World Cup qualifier
5 November Tonga def. France 48–10 Municipal Stadium Pierre Antoine Castres Federation Shield 5
5 November England def. Samoa 38–14 KC Stadium Hull 5,698 Federation Shield 6
11 November New Zealand 34 – 4 Great Britain Westpac Stadium Wellington Tri-nations 5
12 November England 32 – 14 Tonga Halton Stadium Widnes Federation Shield Final
18 November Australia 33 – 10 Great Britain Suncorp Stadium Brisbane 44,358 Tri-nations 6
25 November Australia 16 – 12 New Zealand Sydney Football Stadium Sydney Tri-nations Final

Sources

  1. ^ Australian Associated Press (13 May 2006). "Finch shines for Country". TVNZ. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  2. ^ Maddox, Gary (26 July 2007). "Lights, camera, scrum feed: league hits the big screen". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Digital. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  3. ^ David, Rowe (2007). "The stuff of dreams, or the dream stuffed? Rugby league, media empires, sex scandals, and global plays" (PDF). 8th Annual Tom Brock Lecture. Australia: Tom Brock Bequest Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2011.

Trial matches

State of Origin

International