The Auckland Rugby League is a partner of the New Zealand Rugby Association. It is the governing body for rugby in the region around Auckland. All the national level matches are held in the Carlaw Park, owned by the association.
The Auckland Rugby League had four representatives in the Lion Red Cup, which preceded the Bartercard Cup. They were the Auckland City Vulcans, Counties-Manukau Heroes, North Harbour Sea Eagles and Waitakere Raiders. The Auckland Warrior Colts replaced the Auckland City Vulcans in 1995.
Some of the teams which are part of the Auckland Rugby League are:
- Auckland City Vulcans: The Auckland City Vulcans used to represent Auckland City till at the Lion red Cup till 1994. In 1995, they were replaced by the Auckland Warriors Colts.
- Auckland Lions: The Auckland Lions will take part in the Sydney-based New South Wales Rugby League Premier League from this year. The team is coached by Graeme Norton and has a great reputation for partying hard off the field.
- Counties Manukau Heroes: This club had represented Manukau County in the Lion Red Cup from 1994-96. Since then the club has lost its prominence in the national circuit.
- Counties Manukau Jetz: The Counties Manukau Jetz is another team from the Manukau County. They first played in the Bartercard Cup in 2004 but finished a lowly seventh. Their performance, however, improved in the following years, having made the cut.
- Eastern Tornadoes: The Eastern Tornadoes was created in order to represent local rugby league clubs in East Auckland. The club originally represented the Ellerslie Eagles formed the Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards in 2004 after merging with the Otahuhu Leopards.
- Glenora Bears: The Glenora Bears used to play in the Bartercard Cup previously but now they only take part in the Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. They were the only team from Waitakere City at the Bartercard Cup but was replaced by the Waitakere Rangers.
- Harbor League: Harbour League represents the Auckland North Shore. It was created in 2006 with an aim to take over from the Hibiscus Coast Raiders and the North Harbour Tigers after the New Zealand Rugby Football League decided to reduce the number of Auckland teams in favor of more regional sides.
- Hibiscus Coast Raiders: Previously a Bartercard Cup side, the Hibiscus Coast Raiders now plays in the Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition.
Besides these clubs there are other sides like Manurewa Marlins, Marist Richmond Brothers, Mt Albert Lions, New Zealand Warriors, North Harbor Sea Eagles, Northcote Tigers, Otahuhu Leopards, Tamaki Leopards, Waitakere City Raiders, Waitakere Rangers.
