1908–1988: Early years Wellington played its first game on 24 August 1908 when they took on
Auckland at
Victoria Park, Auckland in the first provincial game of rugby league in New Zealand. The following
All Golds played for Wellington in that first match:
Edward Tyne,
Hercules Richard Wright,
Tom Cross,
Conrad Byrne,
Daniel Gilchrist,
Daniel Fraser and
James Barber. During 1909, 1910 and 1911 Wellington continued to play a number of provincial games, and in 1909 defeated Auckland, in Auckland 22–19, the first of only five victories over Auckland in over 100 years. They defeated Auckland 33–18 on 27 September 1913. It was not until 1988 that they were again victorious over an Auckland side. The 1913 side was: A.Anderson, B.Whitley,
W.Kelly,
A.House (Petone),
G.Bradley (Athletic),
K.George,
J.Barber,
Jim Parker (Petone),
J.Spencer, T.Turner, A.Bensmann,
L.Campbell (Newtown),
W.Wilson (Athletic). Bench: H.McGuire, B.Childs. During the
1951 French rugby league tour of Australasia the Wellington side hosted a match against the tourists. During the
1988 Great Britain Lions tour, Wellington were defeated by the Britons 18 – 24 at
Porirua Park before a crowd of 4,428.
1989–1990: Rugby League Cup On several occasions Wellington has held the
Rugby League Cup (previously known as the
Northern Union Cup 1910–1969) for interprovincial competition played on a challenge basis. Wellington won it off the West Coast in 1947 for the first time and held it for three years. Wellington held it last in 1990.
1990–1994: Great Britain Tour In 1990 Wellington defeated the touring
Great Britain side 30–22. This was Wellington's first, and to date only, win over a touring side.
2010–present: NZRL National Competition Wellington was put in the
NZRL National Competition after the
Bartercard Premiership disbanded. Wellington were called the "Wellington Orcas" through the competition. ==Rugby League Tour Matches==