Auckland Rugby League honour international champion team of 1977

The month of June will mark 40 years since the 'remarkable grand slam' when the Auckland premier representative team beat Australia, Great Britain and France at Carlaw Park in 1977.
Squaring off against the international sides, the provincial team made headlines for their magnificent and historic performance in taking down Australia 19-15 on June 1, Great Britain 14-10 on June 14 and France 17-0 on June 21 – ‘the treble against international sides had been completed’.
Former Kiwis prop and Auckland player Lyndsay Proctor who played in the infamous fixtures has set out to reunite all 19 players to remember the nights played under the lights at Carlaw Park and their supreme victories.
“I am very proud to be a player of the Auckland side of 1977,” said Proctor.
“We were named the best Auckland team to represent our province, and most certainly the most successful on record.”
“Looking back, it certainly was a great time for us all. We all played part in a team that made its mark on Auckland Rugby League history.”
Of the 19 players to take the field of dreams that month, 14 played for the Kiwis or went on to represent New Zealand, five were named Kiwi captains and three were inducted into New Zealand Rugby League’s Legends of League. Former Kiwi loose forward and Auckland player Mark Graham was also named New Zealand Rugby League’s Player of the Century.
The record-setting side will be guests of honour at the Vodafone Warriors match when they play the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Mt Smart Stadium on Friday June 23 (8.00pm kick-off).
On Saturday, the Auckland Rugby League will pay tribute to the side at the home of the Richmond Bulldogs (Grey Lynn Park) where clubs, players and fans can join them in celebrating their reunion of 40 years.
“In 2007, the Warriors acknowledged our 30-year anniversary and paid homage to the team by playing in replica Auckland jerseys that night,” said Proctor.
“It was a special occasion and I think it was the first time I’ve been cheered by supporters, compared to the boo's I received at Carlaw Park all those years ago – thank god for the memories,” he quipped.
“It’s been ten years since our last get together and both the Auckland Rugby League and Warriors have been wonderful in helping me organise this special occasion.”
“Our guys are coming from Australia, Auckland and the rural towns of the North Island for a weekend affair.
“We are all excited for what will be a great weekend of footy and as you can imagine, lots of laughs.”

What: 40-year reunion of the 1977 Auckland international champion team with ‘grand slam’ wins over Australia, Great Britain and France.

Who: Auckland’s 1977 international champion team. All players will be attending including Dave Lepper, Alan McCarthy, Dane O’Hara, Mark Lowe, Dave Sorensen, Luther Toloa, Gary Kemble, Kurt Sorensen, Lyndsay Proctor, Mark Graham, Stan Napa, John Smith, Fred Ah Kuoi, Dennis Williams (captain), Chris Jordan, Warren Winter, Glen Taylor, Olsen Filipaina, John Wilson and masseur Graham Coutts.

When/Where: Friday June 23 – Guests at Warriors home game v Bulldogs at Mt Smart Stadium, Saturday June 24 – Richmond Rovers Rugby League Club Game of the Round (SAS Fox Memorial ) VS Northcote Tigers at Grey Lynn Park

Auckland Rugby League club the Richmond Rovers today announced that LJ Hooker Ponsonby has renewed major sponsorship for the 2017 season as Naming Rights of the Richmond Rovers Premier Team.

The partnership complements the real estate’s relationship with Richmond members who are influential community-engaged residents supporting the first grade side of a Fox Memorial first division team. It also builds on the company’s role as preferred real estate agent for the local Grey Lynn, Ponsonby and Western Springs area which many club members reside in.

Announcing the sponsorship, owner Steven Glucina said backing the Richmond club was a great alignment for the real estate agent where Glucina has been major sponsor of the 2011-2012 Richmond Junior Academy, Richmond’s 2013 Championship Under 20s and the Premier team since 2014.

“Through our partnership with Richmond, the LJ Hooker Ponsonby logo will appear on the Premier team’s playing jerseys, as well as other official team apparel and ground signage at Grey Lynn Park for the 2017 season,” Mr Glucina said.

Richmond club members and supporters can also expect to see plenty of the LJ Hooker Ponsonby brand during the season. As a long-time sponsor of sports across Auckland, LJ Hooker Ponsonby is known for supporting and enhancing spectator and fan experience.

Richmond Chairman Gus Fepuleai said he was delighted to welcome back a good community friend LJ Hooker Ponsonby to the sponsor family.

“The LJ Hooker Ponsonby partnership is a significant 2017 sponsorship agreement for the Richmond club and we welcome them back to the sponsor family. The LJ Hooker Ponsonby brand will take pride of place on both our playing and training apparel,” Mr Fepuleai said.

They join us at an exciting time in the evolution of the Richmond Rovers club on and off the field and we look forward to a successful future together.

Richmond Rovers Rugby League Club is proud to announce the return of sponsor The Surrey Hotel in 2017.

The Surrey Hotel in Grey Lynn has aligned themselves with one of the oldest and largest sports clubs in the inner Auckland city region as a returning sponsor. It is exciting times for the club with the growth of rugby league continuing through the exposure of its players represented in the Vodafone Warriors and International rugby league teams (including woman's grades). This relationship was forged in 2013 when Richmond celebrated its 100th centenary year over the Queen’s birthday weekend. Since then both the Richmond club and The Surrey Hotel have enjoyed many events including Richmond Senior End of Year Award Prize Giving evenings, 100 club events and Board of Director (Committee) meetings. 

The Surrey Hotel’s high profile sits comfortably with Richmond’s own profile within the larger Grey Lynn community. Club Chairman Gus Fepuleai commented “it is tough for the Richmond Rovers club to maintain our high standards both on the field and off. The generous support of The Surrey Hotel allows us to continue our development. As the Club celebrated its 100th centenary we are continuing to set a high benchmark for our club both on and off the field for the next 100 years”. We can only do this off the back of generous sponsors. 

Denise King of The Surrey Hotel, added “The Surrey Hotel is delighted to be again partner with one of Grey Lynn’s, if not the greater inner city regions, most successful sports clubs which has had over 50 Kiwi International players developed from this local club. We see it as a great opportunity to assist the club with the development of their junior and senior players from the Richmond juniors ages five up to the Premiers as well as senior club members. The Richmond club is dedicated to making rugby league accessible and fun for everyone from the social player to those more serious”.

Over recent years the Richmond Rovers club has developed a strong and growing Junior Academy programme which assists younger players who show talent early on and helps them progress into potentially representing rep teams and maybe even New Zealand one day. A special discount is offered for ALL Richmond financial members on food and drinks (excluding specials) when you present your 2017 CLUB membership card.
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The Richmond Rovers Rugby League (Juniors) 1st MUSTER or REGISTRATION for 2017 will take place on Thursday 2 February, from 3.30pm to 7.00pm at Mt Albert Rugby League, Fowlds Park, Auckland in alignment with the Downer NRL Auckland Nines CLUB DAY. Registration for ALL Grades Under 6s to Under 18s as well as female players for the Under 15s and Under 17s age groups! Head towards the Richmond Registration tent and sign up!!!!

The first 15 players to REGISTER AND PAY FEES IN FULL will receive a "mystery" NRL pack - be in it to win it!

New players are welcomed!

Further Richmond Junior registrations dates to note: Thursdays, February 9th, 16th and 23rd from 5.30pm to 7pm at the Richmond Clubrooms and each Tuesday and Thursday in March and April from 5pm to 6.30pm.

Any questions, to contact Melissa Rereiti, 021-362-425