The Peter Leitch QSM Challenge Trophy (often shortened to "the Peter Leitch Challenge Trophy") is a rugby league challenge trophy that is contested when the New Zealand national rugby league team play a Pacific island side in non-Rugby League World Cup internationals. Rugby League Four Nations games, however, do count and the challenge trophy has been contested at both the 2010 and 2014 editions. The trophy is named after New Zealand businessmen, philanthropist and Rugby League advocate Peter Leitch.
| Sport | Rugby league |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 |
| Administrator | New Zealand Rugby League |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country | Cook Islands Fiji New Zealand Papua New Guinea Samoa Tonga |
| Most recent champion | New Zealand |
| Most titles | New Zealand (5 defences) |
History
On 15 October 2008 New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) chairman Ray Haffenden announced that the Kiwis vs Tonga Test Match would be used to launch the Peter Leitch QSM Challenge Trophy. The NZRL wished to "acknowledged the close affinity and involvement [Leitch] has had with the Pacific Island and rugby league communities in New Zealand for many years."
While held infrequently it was the NZRL's intention that the trophy will "be at stake in future internationals between the Kiwis and our Pacific neighbours.”
The 2011 edition was cancelled by the NZRL due to a high number of injured New Zealand players. This match would have been the first Rugby League test between the Cooks Islands and New Zealand.
Results
| 6 October 2011 |
| Cook Islands | Cancelled by the NZRL | New Zealand |
| Report |
| Avarua Tereora Stadium, Rarotonga Attendance: Match cancelled |
30 October 2010 |
| New Zealand | 76–12 | Papua New Guinea |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Ben Cummins |
1 November 2014 |
| New Zealand | 14–12 | Samoa |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Toll Stadium, Whangārei Attendance: 16,912 Referee: Henry Perenara Player of the Match: Kieran Foran |
22 June 2019 |
| New Zealand | 34–14 | Tonga |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 23,624 Referee: Ben Cummins |
Results by team
| Country | Challenges | Defences | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Tonga | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Samoa | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Papua New Guinea | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Cook Islands | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fiji | 0 | 0 | 0 |
See also
- List of international rugby league teams
- List of rugby league competitions
- Rugby League Four Nations
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