Point Chevalier Pirates

Point Chev v Waitemata in 2010.

The club was founded in 1919.[1] On April 5, 1919 the Auckland Star reported that a "new club that has just been affiliated is the Eden Ramblers, boys from Avondale and Point Chevalier". In 1911 a club named Eden Ramblers had formed in the area and played at the Avondale racecourse with the club rooms in Point Chevalier. However they ceased fielding teams during 1913 and effectively folded in the same year. The new team however was not to become known as the Eden Ramblers but in fact were named Point Chevalier rugby league club.[2] Point Chevalier did not field any teams in 1919 and were not officially registered with the Auckland Rugby League until 1920 when they entered a side in the third grade therefore their true beginnings were more likely 1920 than 1919.[3]

In the 1980s and 1990s the club's senior team merged with the City club to form City-Pt Chevalier.

In 2010 Awen Guttenbeil returned to the club as coach. Former professional players Stacey Jones, Wairangi Koopu, Monty Betham and Karl Te Nana all joined the squad for the club's 90th year as the team easily won the Phelan Shield.[4][5]

This began a rapid rise for the club as they won the Sharman Cup (second division) the following year, gaining promotion to the Fox Memorial for 2012. The Pirates finished the season third, but in their final match against the Marist Saints, the Pirates fielded a third-string side and were beaten 102–0, and denied Papakura, who had beaten the Pirates on both occasions the teams had met earlier in the year, a place in the semi-finals to play the Pirates again the following week. Papakura appealed to the Auckland Rugby League, and the Pirates were found guilty of bringing discredit on the game and were ejected from the play-offs.[6][7]

The Pirates came back stronger the following year and won the Fox Memorial in 2013 & 2014 & 2015. Only 3 other clubs have done 3 in a row in the History of the Fox. Northcote (4 in a row) Glenora & Mt Albert & now Pt Chev under the Coaching of Grant Pocklington (2013,2014,2015,2018) (4 Fox Memorial Wins) & Team Manager Wilard Hyndman 4 Fox Memorial Wins (2013,2014,2015,2018) & 2 Runner ups (2016,2017).

Notable players to play for the club include Great Britain representative Karl Harrison and Samoan international Hutch Maiava. Arden McCarthy,

Players to play for the New Zealand national rugby league team include Doug Anderson, Vic Belsham, Shane Varley, Jack Russell-Green, Bill Schultz, Paul Schultz, Bob McGuinn, Henry Maxwell, Duncan MacRae, Ken Stirling, Gordon Moncur, Graham Mattson, Dennis Key, John Sparnon, Awen Guttenbeil, Stacey Jones Fuifui Moimoi, Tawhiao Rogers, Henry Paul, Evarn Tuimavave Tevita Latu, Wairangi Koopu, Paki Afu,

The club has also produced three test referees: Vic Belsham, John Percival and Ray Shrimpton.

The season record for the most senior men’s team in the club.

• Official ARL Site
• Field of dreams By Alan Perrott, Aug 23, 2010 New Zealand Herald