The Lion Red Cup was a New Zealand domestic rugby league competition that ran from 1994 to 1996 sponsored by brewers Lion Nathan. It was created due to the increase in public awareness of domestic rugby league due to the Auckland Warriors being accepted into the Winfield Cup. The competition was a huge success in its inaugural year, although it made a massive loss financially. Throughout its three-year history it continued to make a loss, eventually being scrapped by the New Zealand Rugby League.

Lion Red Cup
Lion Red Cup logo
SportRugby league
Inaugural season1994
Ceased1996
Replaced byBartercard Cup
Number of teams12
CountryNew Zealand
Last PremiersCounties Manukau (1989-2007)
Most titlesCounties Manukau (2 titles)

Teams

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The teams that participated were:

Team Seasons Played W D L PF PA PD Premierships Runner Up Minor Premierships Wooden Spoon
Auckland City Vulcans 1994 23 14 1 8 539 393 119 0 0 0 0
Auckland Warriors Colts 1995 24 19 0 5 711 398 323 0 1 1 0
Bay of Plenty Stags 1994-6 67 15 4 48 1024 2028 −1061 0 0 0 2
Canterbury Country Cardinals 1994-6 69 32 5 32 1504 1475 197 0 0 0 0
Christchurch City Shiners 1994-6 66 21 1 44 1173 1692 -519 0 0 0 1
Counties Manukau Heroes 1994-6 76 53 3 20 2115 1332 801 1 1 1 0
Hawkes Bay Unicorns 1994-6 66 24 2 40 1217 1545 -328 0 0 0 0
Hutt Valley Firehawks/Dolphins 1994-6 67 33 2 32 1460 1429 52 0 0 0 0
Manawatu Mustangs 1996 22 5 0 17 404 732 -328 0 0 0 0
North Harbour Sea Eagles 1994-6 75 50 1 24 1940 1235 1027 2 0 0 0
Taranaki Rockets 1994-6 66 23 2 41 1336 1744 -453 0 0 0 0
Waikato Cougars 1994-6 73 45 3 25 1696 1412 363 0 0 0 0
Waitakere City Raiders 1994-6 68 39 2 27 1705 1257 404 0 1 1 0
Wellington City Dukes 1994-6 66 27 2 37 1446 1554 -108 0 0 0 0

Seasons

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Year Champions Score Score Defeated Minor Premiers Wooden Spoon
1994 North Harbour Sea Eagles 24 16 Counties Manukau Heroes Counties Manukau Heroes Bay of Plenty Stags
1995 North Harbour Sea Eagles 28 21 Auckland Warriors Colts Auckland Warriors Colts Bay of Plenty Stags
1996 Counties Manukau Heroes 34 22 Waitakere City Raiders Waitakere City Raiders Christchurch City Shiners

Leading Scorers

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Top Point Scorers[1]

  • 500: Paul Howell (Wellington City/Hutt Valley)
  • 405: Blair Nickson (Taranaki)
  • 395: Earl Va’a (Wellington City/Hutt Valley)
  • 304: Ben Lythe (Waitakere City)

Top Try Scorers[1]

Most Appearances[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c New Zealand Rugby League Annual '98, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1998.
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