- Richmond Premiers kick off season

Richmond Bulldogs Premiers kick off season this weekend!

The Richmond Bulldogs Premier grade and Premier 1st grade kick off this weekend with an away game to the Bay Roskill Vikings. Both teams have had trial games in recent weeks and are raring to go. Richmond boast a number of players from the Warriors development and under 20s grade team and have the experience from last season's SAS Sharman cup grand final champions. Coaches John Teina and Ricky Henry have done a superb job of working the boys hard in the pre-season and capped this off with a fine team performance against the Warriors development at Cornwall park on the 28th Feb. Prop forward Nogo Watch had an outstanding game as did new recruits wing Taironne Filiva'a and forward James Gavet. There will certainly be a lot of revising for the two coaches as there is an abundance of talented Richmond players on hand for the 2009 season.

Richmond are set to play Bay Roskill at Blockhouse Bay #3 at 2.30pm with the Premier 1st game to commence at 12.45pm.

Please get on down with your Richmond colours and support the boys as they strive to compete in the Fox Memorial grading round competition.

Team line up named

For those of you who have not had the opportunity to catch the 2008 Richmond Premier grade team there team highlights are accessible on popular website www.youtube.com or simply click on the below tabs.

Richmond Bulldogs 2008 team highlights - part 1

Richmond Bulldogs 2008 team highlights - part 2

Good luck to everyone and see you all at the game!

Bite Em Bulldogs!

- Richmond AGM

RICHMOND AGM

To be held at the Richmond Rovers Rugby league club. We will go ahead and schedule our AGM for Monday 30th March 2009, 6.30pm.
 
AGM to be advertised in local papers.

- Richmond Muster

CALLING ALL RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYERS - RICHMOND MUSTER

Happy New Year to all Richmond players new and old! The Richmond Bulldogs Rugby league club would like to warmly invite you to join there club for the 2009 season.

2009 Junior Registrations will be as follows: Tuesday 3rd March,  from 4pm - 6pm. Thursday 5th March same time frame and every following Tuesday / Thursday at the same time frame until grade numbers have been achieved.

For more information contact Richmond on (09) 376 6755 or pop on down to 1a Elgin Street, Grey Lynn park.

- RICHMOND NEWS

RICHMOND ROVERS REUNION 2009

Following on from the successful function held at the Grey Lynn RSA on 15th February 2008 when 65 former players and administrators of the club were present... some of whom had travelled over from Australia... it has been decided to hold a similar function in 2009. Accordingly it is planned to hold the next event at the Richmond clubrooms, Grey Lynn Park on Friday, 13th February 2009 commencing from 6.00pm
The current Richmond Club Committee is very keen for former members to have some form of association with the club and therefore they have generously made the clubrooms available for the occasion. As with last year’s gathering there will be an entry fee of $10.00 per head to cover for the provision of some food on the night and there will be a cash bar system in operation.

To assist with the catering details please advise your intention to attend the evening by using one of the following means of response:
a) Fill in the RSVP form and post back
b) Phone to either Rod Rowe (09) 478-8445 or Hec Martin (09) 426-6551
c) Email Rod Rowe (linda@prouse.co.nz) or hector.martin@xtra.co.nz

Also, if you know of any former Richmond member/s who would like to be present at the function please advise Rod or Hec of their full name and address details to allow us to send them a copy of this invitation.
    

- Pre-season training

Richmond Pre-season training dates

Saturday 17th Jan 9:00am Grey Lynn Park (Bring Running Shoes). ALL PLAYERS ARE WELCOME. For more information contact Ricky Henry 0275521221 or John Teina 0274666406

- Kiwi's Triumphant

World Champion Kiwi's Triumphant

Congratluations to the World Cup Champions the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns (Women's) & New Zealand Kiwi's.

Peter Ah Koui who travelled with the NZ Police rugby league team watched the Women’s Kiwi Team against Australia and reported:

No doubt our girls stood up and were all truly amazing as the Kiwis shut out the Aussies in the final. Louie (Avaiki) led from the front and scored a blockbusting try late in the second half to contribute to the score line. Lorina (Buckley) was her perpetual motion self and was outstanding through the whole match taking on the Aussies on attack and ferocious defence. Cynthia "Monkey" (Tuala) was a tower of strength in the forwards and also scored in the final, as Tafale (chang-Ting) who I thought was the Player of the Final. She hit the opposing props like a steam train on defence and ignited the backs on attack.

In the backs Tasha (Tapu) was brilliant on defence and on kick returns there was no one better in the tournament. Sharlene also was resolute in her game and let nothing through on defence. I watched the game with Anthony MURRAY and his family and we were all blown away, not only by the girls’ performance as Richmond representatives, but that they were playing for the highest honour this sport can give them, The Kiwis and representing New Zealand.

Well done to all the girls who represented NZ so proudly. You definitely made us all proud on the day. Too bad about the last conversion Louie, but it was good to see the direct approach to kicking as opposed to the round the corner style. Throughout the whole tournament the girls played strongly in every game and were professional in their actions off the field too. They are a credit to our club.

Peter Ah Kuoi

- Pre-season training

Richmond Pre-season training dates

- Joe Gwynne

Tribute to Joe Gwynne

Joe passed away this morning. His wife, Betty was at Mt Smart on Saturday to cheer on Richmond & Otahuhu. Joe was Premiers Coach during our golden era of 1979, 1980 winning consecutive Auckland Fox Memorial Finals against our old arch-rivals, Otahuhu (Joe's former club). Our Richmond thoughts and prayers are with the Gywnne family.

- Bulldogs are 2008 SAS Sharman Cup Champions

Richmond thrash Manurewa Marlins in GRAND FINAL

Richmond is the 2008 SAS Sharman Cup Grand Final Champions. Richmond won the game with a convincing 42 - 22 victory over a club team that won three consecutive grand finals. Auckland Rugby league Man of the Match went to top try scorer centre Niuvao Taka. Taka had the perfect game coaches Ricky Henry & John Teina had expected with Taka bagging 4 tries in the Grand Final. On top form was full back Meke Unasa who relentlessly broke the Marlins line at will and bagged a hatrick of tries. Corey Teina and Brad Watkins brought the team razzle dazzle type footwork returning the ball with enthusiasm against a big and strong Marlins pack. As usual the efforts of the outside backs were dominantly set up from the engine room. Up front were the ever hard men Moses Robertson and Quincy Ikifana who consistently threw there bodies in to a bigger Marlins pack. Supported well by Caine Nahu, Wendell Schaumkel and Meli Koliavu who always ate up metres each time they received the ball. Loose forward Karl Semiti bagged two tries in the opening 20 minutes with a try to Taka taking the lead to an 18-0 lead. At the half time break Richmond were ahead 24-4.

It was however the Marlins who struck first after the break with a try taking the Marlins to a 24-8 margin. For the remainder of this match the Bulldogs turned up another level. Centre Cale Baker found many gaping holes that were exposed with brilliant lead up work from interchange prop Nahu. Final score 42-22. Captain Rob Va'ai thanked the clubs supporters, sponsors and the team's management for there efforts in bringing a Championship to the Richmond Bulldogs club. 

The last time Richmond had won a championship was in 1997 (11 years) and it was the young enthusiasm and talent that allowed for the wealth of knowledge from Senior players like Vae Kalolo, Matthew Kennedy, Rob Va'ai, Caine Nahu and Tere Strickland that helped push the younger players to a triumphant victory. The co-coaches and team management should be proud of there effort in 2008 as Richmond hold 2 of the 4 ARL trophies available for 2008 which includes the Stormont Shield won earlier in the year against last years Fox Champions, the Manurewa Marlins.

Best Forward went to Moses Robertson, Best Back went to Meke Unasa (Jnr) and player of the day went to Richmond's top try scorer Niuvao Taka. Bite Em Bulldogs!!! 

- Coaches & Managers for 2009

Coaches & Managers required for the 2009 season.
Premiers / Premier 1st & 2nds / Ladies / Under 20s down to Under 6s. Minimum requirement for anyone wishing to coach the premier and premier 1st grade is Level 2. All applications must be submitted no later than 30th September 2008 in writing to the:
 
Club secretary
Richmond Rovers RLFC
P O Box 47118
Ponsonby
Email: purcelln1@hotmail.com

Richmond anticipate interviews will be held around 6/ 7 October 2008