The Fox Memorial is awarded to the premier club rugby league champions in the Auckland Rugby League. It was first awarded in 1931 and is named after Edward Vincent Fox who played for North Shore Albions, and represented Auckland in 1914. He fought in World War I and received leg injuries in 1916 which ended his playing career. The first ever grand final was played in 1958 between Ponsonby and Otahuhu. Prior to this the trophy was awarded to the team at the top of the standings from the regular season though occasionally a playoff was needed to decide the champion (for a list of these teams see below). The majority of the grand finals were played at Carlaw Park, but after the ground was vacated by Auckland Rugby League in the early 2000s the games have usually been played at Mt Smart Stadium.
Fox Memorial grand final appearances
| Team | Winner | Runner Up |
|---|---|---|
| Mt Albert | 12 | 9 |
| Otahuhu | 10 | 14 |
| Northcote | 7 | 2 |
| Point Chevalier | 6 | 2 |
| Glenora | 5 | 8 |
| Ponsonby | 4 | 3 |
| Eastern United | 4 | 0 |
| Richmond | 3 | 4 |
| Marist Brothers | 2 | 2 |
| Howick | 2 | 0 |
| Manurewa | 2 | 0 |
| Mangere East | 1 | 6 |
| Papakura | 1 | 5 |
| Te Atatu | 1 | 3 |
| Southern Districts (Otahuhu, Papakura & Papatoetoe) | 1 | 1 |
| Ellerslie | 1 | 1 |
| Hibiscus Coast | 1 | 1 |
| Western United (Mt Albert & Pt Chevalier) | 1 | 0 |
| Mt Wellington | 1 | 0 |
| Otara | 1 | 0 |
| Manukau | 0 | 1 |
Fox Memorial grand finals
In brackets is the number of championships each club has won following their wins.
| Year | Winners | Score | Runners Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Ponsonby (9) | 16–7 | Otahuhu |
| 1959 | Western United
(Mt Albert & Pt Chevalier) (1) |
15–0 | Richmond |
| 1960 | Eastern United (1) & Southern Districts
(Otahuhu, Papakura & Papatoetoe) (1) |
7–7 *title shared | |
| 1961 | Eastern United (2) | 24–7 | Glenora |
| 1962 | Eastern United (3) & Glenora (1) | 17–17 *title shared | |
| 1963 | Eastern United (4) | 8–0 | Southern Districts |
| 1964 | Otahuhu (2) | no final* | |
| 1965 | Marist Brothers (5) | 19–6 | Glenora |
| 1966 | Marist Brothers (6) | 24–7 | Ponsonby |
| 1967 | Ponsonby (10) | 12–9 | Otahuhu |
| 1968 | Mt Albert (5) | 12–7 | Ponsonby |
| 1969 | Mt Albert (6) | 20–0 | Marist Brothers |
| 1970 | Otahuhu (3) | 10–5 | Mt Albert |
| 1971 | Otahuhu (4) | 25–12 | Mt Albert |
| 1972 | Ponsonby (11) | 14–12 | Ellerslie |
| 1973 | Ponsonby (12) | 15–5 | Otahuhu |
| 1974 | Ellerslie (2) | 16–8 | Ponsonby |
| 1975 | Otahuhu (5) | 22–8 | Northcote |
| 1976 | Mt Wellington (1) | 20–12 | Glenora |
| 1977 | Otahuhu (6) | 11–3 | Richmond |
| 1978 | Otahuhu (7) | 18–4 | Mangere East |
| 1979 | Richmond (10) | 16–15 | Otahuhu |
| 1980 | Richmond (11) | 21–15 | Otahuhu |
| 1981 | Mt Albert (7) | 18–7 | Glenora |
| 1982 | Mt Albert (8) | 18–8 | Otahuhu |
| 1983 | Otahuhu (8) | 14–11 | Mt Albert |
| 1984 | Mt Albert (9) | 25–6 | Otahuhu |
| 1985 | Mt Albert (10) | 24–19 | Manukau Magpies |
| 1986 | Mount Albert Lions (11) | 31–4 | Te Atatu Roosters |
| 1987 | Northcote Tigers (1) | 12–8 | Mangere East Hawks |
| 1988 | Te Atatu Roosters (1) | 22–16 | Glenora Bears |
| 1989 | Northcote Tigers (2) | 30–14 | Mangere East Hawks |
| 1990 | Otahuhu Leopards (9) | 28–14 | Te Atatu Roosters |
| 1991 | Northcote Tigers (3) | 23–20 | Otahuhu Leopards |
| 1992 | Northcote Tigers (4) | 16–11 | Mt Albert |
| 1993 | Northcote (5) | 29–10 | Te Atatu |
| 1994 | Northcote (6) | 32–12 | Otahuhu |
| 1995 | Otahuhu (10) | 32–0 | Marist Brothers |
| 1996 | Otara (1) | 36–28 (triple extra time) | Otahuhu |
| 1997 | Glenora (2) | 34–14 | Mangere East |
| 1998 | Glenora (3) | 35–6 | Mangere East |
| 1999 | Glenora (4) | 24–4 | Otahuhu |
| 2000 | Otahuhu (11) | 21–14 | Richmond |
| 2001 | Northcote (7) | 30–29 | Richmond |
| 2002 | Hibiscus Coast (1) | 44–40 (double extra time) | Otahuhu |
| 2003 | Mangere East (1) | 30–29 | Hibiscus Coast |
| 2004 | Mt Albert (12) | 14–10 | Mangere East |
| 2005 | Manurewa (1) | 34–24 | Papakura |
| 2006 | Mt Albert (13) | 49–6 | Papakura |
| 2007 | Manurewa (2) | 28–20 | Papakura |
| 2008 | Mt Albert (14) | 24–22 | Otahuhu |
| 2009 | Mt Albert (15) | 32–10 | Papakura |
| 2010 | Otahuhu (12) | 22–18 | Mt Albert |
| 2011 | Howick (1) | 24–14 | Otahuhu |
| 2012 | Mt Albert (16) | 58–10 | Glenora |
| 2013 | Pt Chevalier (2) | 24–22 | Mt Albert |
| 2014 | Pt Chevalier (3) | 18–17 | Mt Albert |
| 2015 | Pt Chevalier (4) | 22–10 | Mt Albert |
| 2016 | Papakura (1) | 12–8 | Pt Chevalier |
| 2017 | Glenora (5) | 26–0 | Pt Chevalier |
| 2018 | Pt Chevalier (5) | 6–0 | Glenora |
| 2019 | Howick (2) | 22–18 (aet: 18–18) | Mt Albert |
| 2020 | Not Played | ||
| 2021 | Not Played | ||
| 2022 | Point Chevalier Pirates (6) | 14–12 | Glenora Bears |
| 2023 | Point Chevalier Pirates (7) | 24-16 | Richmond |
| 2024 | Richmond (12) | 15-14 (aet: 14–14) | Papakura |
- In 1964 the competition was reverting to its original composition with individual suburban clubs. Auckland Rugby League had enforced a district competition for several years with clubs merging to form teams geographically. As a result, there was a larger first division in 1964 and no final was played as a way of reintroducing the club competition.
| Year | Winners |
|---|---|
| 1910 | City (1) |
| 1911 | City (2) |
| 1912 | Newton (1) |
| 1913 | North Shore (1) |
| 1914 | North Shore (2) |
| 1915 | Grafton (1) |
| 1916 | City (3) |
| 1917 | Ponsonby (1) |
| 1918 | Ponsonby (2) |
| 1919 | Ponsonby (3) |
| 1920 | Maritime (1) |
| 1921 | City (4) |
| 1922 | City (5) |
| 1923 | City (6) |
| 1924 | Marist Brothers (1) |
| 1925 | City (7) |
| 1926 | Ponsonby (4) |
| 1927 | Newton (2) |
| 1928 | Devonport (1) |
| 1929 | Ponsonby (5) |
| 1930 | Ponsonby (6) |
| 1931 | Marist Brothers (2) |
| 1932 | Devonport (2) |
| 1933 | Devonport (3) |
| 1934 | Richmond (1) |
| 1935 | Richmond (2) |
| 1936 | Manukau (1) |
| 1937 | Richmond (3) |
| 1938 | Marist Brothers (3) |
| 1939 | Mt Albert (1) |
| 1940 | Richmond (4) |
| 1941 | North Shore (3) |
| 1942 | Manukau (2) |
| 1943 | Manukau (3) |
| 1944 | City (8) |
| 1945 | Otahuhu (1) |
| 1946 | Richmond (5) |
| 1947 | Mt Albert (2) |
| 1948 | Marist Brothers (4) |
| 1949 | Richmond (6) |
| 1950 | Mt Albert (3) |
| 1951 | Richmond (7) & Mt Albert (4) |
| 1952 | Ponsonby (7) |
| 1953 | Pt Chevalier (1) |
| 1954 | Ponsonby (8) |
| 1955 | Richmond (8) |
| 1956 | Richmond (9) |
| 1957 | Ellerslie (1) |
References
- "Auckland Rugby League – Fox Memorial". www.aucklandleague.co.nz.
- Richmond Rovers (21 December 2019). "Richmond Rovers vs Otahuhu Leopards 1980 Grand Final – 1st half" – via YouTube.
- Richmond Rovers (21 December 2019). "Richmond Rovers vs Otahuhu Leopards 1980 Grand Final – 2nd half" – via YouTube.
- Lou Sutton (2 December 2013). "Fox Memorial Final 1981 : Mt Albert vs Glenora" – via YouTube.
- Warwick Freeman (30 March 2017). "Fox Memorial Grand Final 1988" – via YouTube.
- Lou Sutton (8 December 2013). "Fox Final : 1992 Mt Albert Vs Northcote 1st Half" – via YouTube.
- Lou Sutton (8 December 2013). "Fox Final 1992 : Mt Albert Vs Northcote, 2nd half" – via YouTube.
- Manurewa Marlins RLC (22 May 2016). "2005 Fox Memorial final Manurewa Marlins vs Papakura 1st half" – via YouTube.
- "League: Marlins land the Fox". Stuff. 31 January 2009.
- Alan Apted (10 October 2008). "In search of silver-ware". Manukau Courier. Retrieved 27 November 2023 – via Press Reader.
- Alan Apted (9 September 2009). "Better luck next year in Fox hunt". Manukau Courier – via PressReader.
- "Historic win for Hornets". 24 August 2011.
- "Mt Albert romps to Fox Memorial win". Stuff. 21 August 2012.
- Auckland League (31 August 2014). "Pt Chevalier captain Dylan Moses hoists the Fox Memorial Shield following their grand final victory" – via YouTube.
- "Pt Chev Pirates dominate Fox Memorial grand final".
- "Papakura win first Fox Memorial title". aucklandleague.co.nz. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
- "Auckland Rugby League - Auckland Rugby League". Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
- "Glenora power past Pt Chevalier to claim SAS Fox Memorial Premiership title". www.aucklandleague.co.nz. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
- "Glenora power past Pt Chevalier to claim SAS Fox Memorial Premiership title". Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
- "Gritty Pt Chevalier overcome Glenora to win Fox title". Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- "Sting in Tail brings Fox back to the nest". Times Online. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- "MATCH REPORTS 2022 Fox Memorial Grand Finals". Auckland Rugby League. 6 August 2022.
- "Glenora Bears v Pt Chevalier Pirates Grand Final SAS Fox Memorial Premiership ARL TV". Auckland League. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
- "Pirates vs Bears". Auckland Rugby League. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.