Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union

The union was preceded by the "South Auckland" sub-union of the Auckland Rugby Football Union, the sub-union being founded in 1926. This became a full union, with the name "South Auckland Counties", in 1955. The name was shortened to "Counties" just a year later.[1] The history of Counties has been very much about adventurous football and taking risks, and this was certainly the case initially as the team strove to establish an identity and tradition. Their first game (As Counties) was against Auckland in Waiuku in 1955, which they lost 95–3, led by Barry Baxter. In that inaugural year the team defeated a Wellington XV twice, the first 19 – 6 on Bledisloe Park, Pukekohe, where the union's first All Black, Pat Walsh scored twice.

Barry Bracewell, coach from 1961–63 and 1967–75, adopted a style in conflict with the ethos of the day of forward dominance and percentage safety from the backs. Bracewell and Tauroa after him, selected mobile forwards and loose forwards with exciting backs that excuted attacking game plans.

Winning the NPC, The first Championship was won in 1979, with wins over Waikato, Wellington, North Auckland, Thames Valley, Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay, South Canterbury, Manawatu, Taranaki, Otago, Canterbury and Southland. That same Year Counties also bet Victoria and Argentina.

From winning the NPC in 1979, Counties were invited to play in the Inter-Dominion Championships (A pre Super 10 style championship) in 1980. They bet Queensland 26-18 at Ballymore Stadium, with Brett Codlin being the top points scorer.

The 1981 Shield challenge against Waikato ended in a 21 all draw after Counties conceded two late and controversial penalties.

In 1982, playing Canterbury not only for the Ranfurly Shield but also the NPC championship, with Counties ahead 15 – 12 with only minutes remaining, Robert Kururangi intercepted a Canterbury pass and was about to score when the referee dubiously judged him offside, awarding Canterbury the penalty which Robbie Deans successfully kicked to win the championship and retain the shield. The 1982 team also beat Australia 15 – 9, which included greats such as David Campese.[2]

A third Ranfurly Shield attempt in 1985 against Auckland had Counties down 3 – 12 and were denied what appeared to be a perfectly legitimate try to Dave Trombik after the referee received some subtle persuasion by Auckland skipper Andy Haden. Later in the game Warren McClean scored a try for Counties, making the final score 9–12.

Counties played against France at Pukekohe in 1989 losing by 21-24. Stu Holler scored all 21 points with 6 penalty kicks and a drop goal.[3]

The name Counties Manukau was adopted in 1995.

Counties finally improved during the mid-1990s with a forward packing containing New Zealand Maori Captain Errol Brain, Jim Coe, New Maori and future Japanese International Glen Marsh, Junior Paramore. The backs including future french international centre Tony Marsh, Samoa's George Leaupepe, Blair Feeney, All Blacks Jonah Lomu and Joeli Vidiri along with Dean Sheppard, proved one of the best Counties side ever. They made the NPC finals twice. In 1996 beating Canturbury at home in a semi final then losing to Auckland at Auckland in the Final.

In 1997 during the semi-final in Hamilton, behind at one stage 9–33 and stung by a ground announcement advertising tickets for a home Waikato final next week, Counties fought back with a 43–40 win. They then traveled to Christchurch to play Canturbury in the Final of which they lost, affter losing lock Jim Coe early in the match to a later discovered broken ankle.

After a steady decline since then, Counties lost a promotion-relegation match in 2001, and dropped to the second division, where Counties could not retain their best players and lost the likes of Stephen Donald, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Casey Laulala, and Kieran Read to other unions.

In 2006 Counties was selected to rejoin the top sides in the new Air New Zealand Cup Premier Division, and they still retain their exciting attacking style of rugby. Success has been limited, a win over Auckland in 2008 being a highlight.

Former All Black captain Tana Umaga joined Counties as player/coach in 2010 and was appointed head coach in December 2011. In 2013, after 24 previous unsuccessful Ranfurly Shield challenges – including two draws – the Umaga-coached team finally gave Steelers fans something to celebrate when captain Fritz Lee lifted the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in the province's history following a dramatic 27–24 win over Hawkes Bay in Napier. They would go onto defend it 6 times, keeping over the Summer of 2013 before losing midway through the 2014 season.

1955- City Ramblers (1)

1956- Papakura (1)

1957- Papakura (2)

1958- Papakura (3) /Waiuku (1)

1959- Onewhero Utd (1)

1960- Ardmore(1)/Pukekohe (1)

1961- Manurewa (1)

1962- Manurewa (2)

1963- Manurewa (3)

1964- Pukekohe (2)

1965- Manurewa (4)

1966- Manurewa (5)

1967- Manurewa (6)

1968- Papakura (4)

1969- Manurewa (7)

1970- Manurewa (8)

1971- Manurewa (9)

1972- Papakura (5)

1973- Papakura (6)

1974- Papakura (7)/Manurewa (10)

1975- Manurewa (11)

1976- Manurewa (12)

1977- Manurewa (13)

1978- Manurewa (14)

1979- Ardmore (2)

1980- Manurewa (15)

1981- Ardmore (3)

1982- Papakura (8)

1983- Ardmore (4)

1984- Manurewa (16)

1985- Bombay (1)

1986- Manurewa (17)

1987- Bombay (2)

1988- Manurewa(18)

1989- Bombay (3)

1990- Manurewa (19)

1991- Manurewa (20)

1992- Manurewa (21)

1993- Manurewa (22)

1994- Manurewa (23)

1995- Manurewa (24)

1996- Papakura (9)

1997- Manurewa (25)

1998- Manurewa (26)

1999- Pukekohe (3)

2000- Waiuku (2)

2001- Ardmore Marist (1)

2002- Ardmore Marist (2)

2003- Waiuku (3)

2004- Pukekohe (4)

2005- Pukekohe (5)

2006- Patumahoe (1)

2007- Pukekohe (6)

2008- Ardmore Marist (3)

2009- Patumahoe (2)

2010- Waiuku (4)

2011- Pukekohe (7)

2012- Patumahoe (3)

2013- Ardmore Marist(4)

2014- Bombay (4)

2015- Bombay (5)

2016- Bombay (6)

2017- Bombay (7)

2018- Ardmore Marist (5)

2019- Bombay (8)

2020- Season abandoned

2021- Karaka (1)

2022 - Manurewa (27)

2023 - Manurewa (28)