Division 1
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Bay of Plenty | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 195 | 112 | +83 | 25 | 17 |
| 2 |  Manawatu (RS) | 10 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 142 | 104 | +38 | 17 | 15 |
| 3 |  Auckland | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 160 | 133 | +27 | 19 | 13 |
| 4 |  Canterbury | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 153 | 118 | +35 | 20 | 12 |
| 5 |  Counties | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 118 | 107 | +11 | 20 | 12 |
| 6 |  Wellington | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 165 | 122 | +43 | 20 | 11 |
| 7 |  Otago | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 106 | 148 | +42 | 11 | 10 |
| 8 |  Hawke's Bay | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 125 | 130 | −5 | 18 | 8 |
| 9 |  Marlborough | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 146 | 192 | −46 | 19 | 6 |
| 10 |  Southland | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 105 | 161 | −56 | 13 | 5 |
| 11 |  North Auckland | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 76 | 164 | −88 | 8 | 1 |
Results
May
| 12 May 1976 |
| Hawke's Bay | 7–10 | Auckland |
| Try: Robbie Stuart Pen: Roger Whinham | Try: Tua Mose Saseve Pen: Steve Watt Drop: Mark Sisam |
| McLean Park, Napier Referee: Bill Adlam (Wanganui) |
| 19 May 1976 |
| Canterbury | 23–9 | Marlborough |
| Try: Scott Cartwright Terry Mitchell Murray McEwan John Phillips Con: Doug Heffernan (2) Pen: Doug Heffernan | Pen: Steve Marfell (3) |
| Lancaster Park, Christchurch Referee: Dave Millar (Otago) |
June
| 7 June 1976 |
| Manawatu | 23–13 | Wellington |
| Try: Doug Rollerson (2) Kenneth Granger Con: Doug Rollerson Pen: Doug Rollerson (2) | Try: Geoff Skipper Con: Clive Currie (2) Pen: Brian Cederwall |
| Showgrounds Oval, Palmerston North Referee: Colin Patrick Gregan (Waikato) |
| 16 June 1976 |
| Counties | 12–19 | Auckland |
| Try: John Hughes Andy Dalton Patrick Yates | Try: Terry Morrison (2) Con: Steve Watt Pen: Steve Watt (2) Drop: Perry Parlane |
| The Stadium, Pukekohe Referee: Ian James Clarke (Waikato) |
| 26 June 1976 |
| North Auckland | 3–12 | Auckland |
| Pen: Chippy Semenoff | Try: Dave Palmer Con: Steve Watt Pen: Steve Watt Drop: Joe Whiu |
| Okara Park, Whangārei Referee: Kevin Hugh Lynch (Poverty Bay) |
| 26 June 1976 |
| Counties | 4–15 | Wellington |
| Try: Patrick Yates | Try: Grant Griffith Con: Clive Currie Pen: Clive Currie (3) |
| The Stadium, Pukekohe Referee: Mike Farnworth (Auckland) |
July
| 3 July 1976 |
| Bay of Plenty | 9–10 | Counties |
| Pen: Tuck Waaka (2) Drop: John Brake | Try: Richard Palmer Henk Habraken Con: Graeme Taylor |
| The Stadium, Rotorua Referee: D. Cooper (Poverty Bay) |
| 8 July 1976 |
| Manawatu | 19–6 | North Auckland |
| Try: Murray Watts Mark Donaldson Grant Bowater Con: Doug Rollerson (2) Drop: Doug Rollerson | Pen: Brian McCarroll (2) |
| Showgrounds Oval, Palmerston North Referee: Brian Walter Duffy (Taranaki) |
| 10 July 1976 |
| Wellington | 13–0 | North Auckland |
| Try: Stu Wilson Kevin Phelan Con: Clive Currie Pen: Clive Currie |
| Athletic Park, Wellington Referee: Barry Williams (West Coast) |
| 13 July 1976 |
| Marlborough | 24–17 | North Auckland |
| Try: Dave Neal (2) Brian Dwyer Con: Kevin Sutherland (3) Pen: Kevin Sutherland Drop: Ray Gordon | Try: Phil Halse (2) David Haynes Con: Brian McCarroll Pen: Brian McCarroll |
| Lansdowne Park, Blenheim Referee: Norm Thomas (Manawatu) |
| 17 July 1976 |
| Southland | 9–23 | Manawatu |
| Try: Ron Davis Con: Geoff Valli Pen: Geoff Valli | Try: Paul Broederlow Ken Maharey Mark Wright Doug Rollerson Con: Doug Rollerson (2) Drop: Doug Rollerson |
| Rugby Park, Invercargill Referee: Lester Te Au (South Canterbury) |
| 20 July 1976 |
| Otago | 0–0 | Manawatu |
| Carisbrook Ground, Dunedin Referee: John Gordon Macdonald(North Otago) |
| 20 July 1976 |
| Marlborough | 15–25 | Auckland |
| Try: Dave Neal Mark Best Con: Kevin Sutherland (2) Pen: Kevin Sutherland | Try: Terry Morrison Joe Whiu Barry Ashworth Glenn Rich Con: Steve Watt (3) Pen: Steve Watt |
| Lansdowne Park, Blenheim Referee: Allan Creighton (Otago) |
| 24 July 1976 |
| Hawke's Bay | 33–10 | Marlborough |
| Try: Robbie Hunter (3) Ian Grant Roger Bremmer Con: Richard Cox (2) Pen: Richard Cox (3) | Try: Mark Best Pen: Kevin Sutherland Drop: Ray Gordon |
| Nelson Park, Hastings Referee: D. R. Buckland (Wellington) |
| 27 July 1976 |
| Counties | 10–6 | Marlborough |
| Try: Richard Palmer Pen: Bob Lendrum Drop: Bob Lendrum | Try: Steve Marfell Con: Kevin Sutherland |
| The Stadium, Pukekohe Referee: Bob Francis (Wairarapa Bush) |
| 31 July 1976 |
| Marlborough | 13–24 | Bay of Plenty |
| Try: Philip Neal Pen: Kevin Sutherland (3) | Try: Eddie Stokes (2) Barry Spry Allan McNaughton Graham Moore Con: Greg Rowlands |
| Lansdowne Park, Blenheim Referee: Nelson Burton Whittaker (Manawatu) |
August
| 4 August 1976 |
| Wellington | 18–18 | Bay of Plenty |
| Try: Geoff Skipper Con: Brian Cederwall Pen: Brian Cederwall (4) | Pen: Greg Rowlands (4) Tuck Waaka Drop: Greg Rowlands |
| Athletic Park, Wellington Referee: Mike Farnworth (Auckland) |
| 7 August 1976 |
| Manawatu | 9–28 | Bay of Plenty |
| Pen: Doug Rollerson (2) Sheridan Martin Murphy | Try: Eddie Stokes Mark Taylor Jimmy Kamizona Lawrence Keepa Con: Greg Rowlands (3) Pen: Greg Rowlands (2) |
| Showgrounds Oval, Palmerston North Referee: Bob Watson (North Auckland) |
| 7 August 1976 |
| Southland | 9–10 | Otago |
| Pen: Geoff Valli (2) Drop: John Polson | Try: Kenneth Mitchell Pen: Bevan Wilson Drop: Bevin Guthrie |
| Rugby Park, Invercargill Referee: Tom Doocey (Canterbury) |
| 11 August 1976 |
| Otago | 6–18 | Hawke's Bay |
| Pen: Bevan Wilson (2) | Try: Tim Carter Pat Ryan Jock McCarroll Con: Richard Cox (3) |
| Carisbrook Ground, Dunedin Referee: Barry Williams (West Coast) |
| 11 August 1976 |
| Manawatu | 15–10 | Canterbury |
| Try: Paul Broederlow Con: Doug Rollerson Pen: Doug Rollerson (2) Drop: Brian Morris | Try: Vance Stewart Doug Heffernan Con: Doug Heffernan |
| Showgrounds Oval, Palmerston North Referee: Bill Adlam (Wanganui) |
| 14 August 1976 |
| Southland | 6–7 | Hawke's Bay |
| Pen: Geoff Valli (2) | Try: Robbie Stuart Pen: Richard Cox |
| Rugby Park, Invercargill Referee: Jeff Walker (Otago) |
| 14 August 1976 |
| North Auckland | 13–21 | Canterbury |
| Try: Mike Gunson Pen: Brian McCarroll (2) David Laurie | Try: Scott Cartwright (2) John Phillips Andy Jefferd Con: Doug Heffernan Pen: Doug Heffernan |
| Okara Park, Whangārei Referee: Jim Innes (Counties) |
| 17 August 1976 |
| Bay of Plenty | 12–6 | Canterbury |
| Try: Graham Moore Con: Greg Rowlands Pen: Greg Rowlands Drop: John Brake | Pen: Richard Wilson (2) |
| The Domain, Tauranga Referee: Kevin Hugh Lynch (Poverty Bay) |
| 18 August 1976 |
| Auckland (RS) | 9–9 | Southland |
| Pen: Steve Watt (3) | Try: Dave Saunders Con: Geoff Valli Pen: Geoff Valli |
| Eden Park, Auckland Referee: Brian Walter Duffy (Taranaki) |
| 21 August 1976 |
| Auckland (RS) | 10–12 | Manawatu |
| Try: Andy Haden Terry Morrison Con: Steve Watt | Try: Doug Rollerson Con: Duncan Hales Pen: Doug Rollerson Drop: Doug Rollerson |
| Eden Park, Auckland Referee: Colin Patrick Gregan (Waikato) |
| 21 August 1976 |
| Canterbury | 13–6 | Hawke's Bay |
| Try: Alex Wyllie Scott Cartwright Con: Doug Heffernan Pen: Doug Heffernan | Pen: Richard Cox (2) |
| Lancaster Park, Christchurch Referee: Graeme Harrison (Wellington) |
| 21 August 1976 |
| Bay of Plenty | 27–12 | Southland |
| Try: Eddie Stokes (2) Peter Horrocks Tony Brown Graham Moore Con: Greg Rowlands Tuck Waaka Pen: Greg Rowlands | Try: Leicester Rutledge Con: Geoff Valli Pen: Geoff Valli (2) |
| The Domain, Whakatāne Referee: John Pring (Auckland) |
| 24 August 1976 |
| Counties | 12–14 | Manawatu |
| Try: Patrick Yates (2) Con: Mark Codlin (2) | Try: Kenneth Granger Doug Rollerson Murray Watts Con: Duncan Hales |
| The Stadium, Pukekohe Referee: L. Paul (Counties) |
| 24 August 1976 |
| North Auckland | 9–15 | Southland |
| Try: Murray Dyer Con: Brian McCarroll Pen: Brian McCarroll | Try: Leicester Rutledge Ash McGregor Con: Geoff Valli (2) Pen: Geoff Valli |
| Okara Park, Whangārei Referee: Keith Harold Lawrence (Bay of Plenty) |
| 28 August 1976 |
| Auckland | 28–31 | Bay of Plenty |
| Try: Terry Morrison Denis Thorn Glenn Rich Con: Steve Watt (2) Pen: Steve Watt (3) Drop: Mike Richards | Try: Tony Brown Mark Taylor Graham Moore Con: Greg Rowlands (2) Pen: Greg Rowlands (4) Drop: John Brake |
| Eden Park, Auckland Referee: Dave Millar (Otago) |
| 28 August 1976 |
| Hawke's Bay | 25–16 | North Auckland |
| Try: Jock McCarroll (2) Peter Durham (2) Robbie Hunter Con: Richard Cox Pen: Richard Cox | Try: Harley Sowman David Haynes Mike Gunson Con: Brian McCarroll (2) |
| McLean Park, Napier Referee: Alan Bailey (Wellington) |
| 28 August 1976 |
| Otago | 16–6 | Counties |
| Try: Tim Burcher Pen: Bevan Wilson (3) Drop: Bevan Wilson | Pen: Mark Codlin (2) |
| Carisbrook Ground, Dunedin Referee: Alan Ralph Taylor (Canterbury) |
| 28 August 1976 |
| Wellington | 14–15 | Canterbury |
| Try: Stu Wilson (2) Pen: Richard Cleland (2) | Try: Paul Macfie Don Stewart Con: Doug Heffernan (2) Pen: Doug Heffernan |
| Athletic Park, Wellington Referee: Bill Adlam (Wanganui) |
September
| 1 September 1976 |
| Southland | 10–19 | Counties |
| Try: Murray Arthur Mitchell Geoff Valli Con: Geoff Valli | Try: Bob Lendrum Peter Clotworthy Joe Rawiri Con: Bob Lendrum (2) Pen: Bob Lendrum |
| Rugby Park, Invercargill Referee: S. C. Miller (South Canterbury) |
| 4 September 1976 |
| Auckland | 16–26 | Otago |
| Try: Lin Colling Glenn Rich Con: Steve Watt Pen: Steve Watt (2) | Try: Lindsay Clark Merv Jaffray Alistair Barton Bevan Wilson Con: Bevan Wilson (2) Pen: Bevan Wilson (2) |
| Eden Park, Auckland Referee: Peter Alan McDavitt (Wellington) |
| 4 September 1976 |
| Hawke's Bay | 13–25 | Wellington |
| Try: Junior Paraha Peter Durham Con: Richard Cox Pen: Richard Cox | Try: Warwick Procter (2) Stu Wilson (2) Con: Richard Cleland (3) Pen: Richard Cleland |
| Nelson Park, Hastings Referee: Kevin Hugh Lynch (Poverty Bay) |
| 4 September 1976 |
| Canterbury | 6–11 | Counties |
| Pen: Doug Heffernan (2) | Try: Patrick Yates (2) Drop: Bob Lendrum |
| Lancaster Park, Christchurch Referee: Barry McKay Dawson (Southland) |
| 4 September 1976 |
| Marlborough | 28–12 | Southland |
| Try: Brian Ford Ray Gordon John Davie Dave Neal Con: Kevin Sutherland (3) Pen: Kevin Sutherland Drop: Kerry Ross Hodges | Try: Leicester Rutledge (2) Con: Geoff Valli (2) |
| Lansdowne Park, Blenheim Referee: John Gordon Macdonald (North Otago) |
| 4 September 1976 |
| North Auckland | 3–17 | Bay of Plenty |
| Pen: David Laurie | Try: Graham Moore Mark Taylor Greg Rowlands Con: Greg Rowlands Pen: Greg Rowlands |
| Okara Park, Whangārei Referee: Colin Patrick Gregan (Waikato) |
| 8 September 1976 |
| North Auckland | 3–3 | Otago |
| Pen: David Laurie | Pen: Bevan Wilson |
| Okara Park, Whangārei Referee: Bob Watson (North Auckland) |
| 12 September 1976 |
| Canterbury | 16–7 | Southland |
| Try: Geoff Brain Pen: Doug Heffernan (4) | Try: Ron Davis Drop: Brian McKechnie |
| Lancaster Park, Christchurch Referee: Dave Millar (Otago) |
| 12 September 1976 |
| Manawatu (RS) | 15–3 | Hawke's Bay |
| Try: Murray Watts Alan Campbell Innes Con: Doug Rollerson (2) Pen: Doug Rollerson | Pen: Richard Cox |
| Showgrounds Oval, Palmerston North Referee: John Pring (Auckland) |
| 12 September 1976 |
| Wellington | 9–12 | Auckland |
| Try: Geoff Skipper Con: Richard Cleland Pen: Richard Cleland | Try: Terry Morrison Andy Haden Con: Steve Watt (2) |
| Athletic Park, Wellington Referee: Norm Thomas (Manawatu) |
| 13 September 1976 |
| Bay of Plenty | 19–6 | Otago |
| Try: Jimmy Kamizona Peter Horrocks John Brake Con: Greg Rowlands (2) Pen: Greg Rowlands | Pen: Bevan Wilson (2) |
| The Stadium, Rotorua Referee: Bill Adlam (Wanganui) |
| 15 September 1976 |
| Counties | 15–6 | North Auckland |
| Try: Ean McRobbie Bob Lendrum Con: Mark Codlin (2) Pen: Mark Codlin | Pen: Ross McAllister (2) |
| The Stadium, Pukekohe Referee: Brian Walter Duffy (Taranaki) |
| 16 September 1976 |
| Southland | 16–13 | Wellington |
| Try: John Wayne Ellis Roger Ramsey Dave Saunders Con: Geoff Valli (2) | Try: Geoff Skipper Warwick Procter Con: Richard Cleland Pen: Clive Currie |
| Rugby Park, Invercargill Referee: Barry Williams (West Coast) |
| 18 September 1976 |
| Auckland | 19–9 | Canterbury |
| Try: Denis Thorn Jon McLachlan Con: Steve Watt Pen: Steve Watt (3) | Pen: Doug Heffernan (3) |
| Eden Park, Auckland Referee: Nelson Burton Whittaker (Manawatu) |
| 18 September 1976 |
| Otago | 7–29 | Wellington |
| Try: John Colling Pen: Bevan Wilson | Try: Ian Stevens (2) Paul Quinn Stu Wilson Con: Clive Currie (2) Pen: Clive Currie (2) Drop: John Dougan |
| Carisbrook Ground, Dunedin Referee: Lester Te Au (South Canterbury) |
| 18 September 1976 |
| Marlborough | 13–12 | Manawatu |
| Try: John Davie Brian Ford Con: Kevin Sutherland Pen: Kevin Sutherland | Pen: Doug Rollerson (3) Drop: Brent Wright |
| Lansdowne Park, Blenheim Referee: G. L. Harrison (Wellington) |
| 18 September 1976 |
| Bay of Plenty | 10–7 | Hawke's Bay |
| Try: Greg Rowlands Pen: Greg Rowlands (2) | Try: Jock McCarroll Pen: Richard Cox |
| The Stadium Rotorua Referee: Jim Innes (Counties) |
| 22 September 1976 |
| Otago | 20–14 | Marlborough |
| Try: Tim Burcher Alistair Barton Merv Jaffray Con: Bevan Wilson Pen: Bevan Wilson Drop: Bevan Wilson | Try: Brian Ford Bruce Kenny Pen: Kevin Sutherland (2) |
| Carisbrook Ground, Dunedin Referee: Barry McKay Dawson (Southland) |
| 25 September 1976 |
| Canterbury | 34–12 | Otago |
| Try: Donald James Stewart (2) John Munro Andy Jefferd John Ashworth Con: Doug Heffernan (4) Pen: Doug Heffernan Drop: Terry Mehrtens | Try: Rob Roy Con: Bevan Wilson Pen: Bevan Wilson (2) |
| Lancaster Park, Christchurch Referee: Alan Bailey (Wellington) |
| 25 September 1976 |
| Wellington | 16–14 | Marlborough |
| Try: Stu Wilson Warwick Procter Con: Clive Currie Pen: Clive Currie (2) | Try: Alan Sutherland (3) Con: Kevin Sutherland |
| Athletic Park, Wellington Referee: Bob Francis (Wairarapa Bush) |
| 25 September 1976 |
| Hawke's Bay | 6–19 | Counties |
| Pen: Roger Whinham (2) | Try: Buff Milner (2) Patrick Yates Owen Trevor Burnside Drop: Bob Lendrum |
| McLean Park, Napier Referee: Peter Alan McDavitt (Wellington) |
