2025 Bunnings NPC

Last updated

2025 Bunnings NPC season
Countries Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Date31 July – 25 October 2025
Matches played7
Tries scored49
(average 7 per match)
Top point scorer Kaleb Trask (Bay of Plenty)
19 points
Top try scorer5 players
2 tries
Official website
www.provincial.rugby
  2024
2026  

The 2025 Bunnings NPC season is the twentieth season of New Zealand's provincial rugby union competition, the National Provincial Championship, since it turned professional in 2006. It involves the top fourteen provincial rugby unions of New Zealand. For sponsorship reasons, the competition is known as the Bunnings NPC. The regular season begins on 31 July 2025, when Auckland hosts Waikato. The Final is scheduled for 25 October 2025.

Contents

Format

Under the current competition format, which is largely a continuation of that of 2023, the 14 provincial unions participating in the Bunnings NPC are grouped in one single division, ranked on one single competition table and play for one NPC title. [1] [2]

All provincial teams play ten games during the regular season (round robin): five games are played at the provincial union's home ground and five games are away games. The seven teams that finished the previous season in 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th place will play each other as well as four cross-over matches against the teams that finished 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th and 14th. Likewise, the teams that finished 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th and 14th will also play each other as well as four cross-over games against the provinces that were ranked 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th or 13th at the end of the previous season. [1] [2] The ten round robin games in 2025 are played over a period of ten weeks (starting on 31 July 2025); this period is one week longer than previous seasons because the competition schedule no longer includes a mid-week game. [3] [4]

The regular season is followed by quarter-finals to be played by the eight highest ranked teams on the competition table. The finals rankings are determined by the number of competition points earned during the regular season. Competition points can be gained in the following way: four points are awarded to the winning team, two points to each team for a draw, and no points for a loss. Teams can also receive a bonus point if they score four or more tries in a match, or lose by seven points or less. [5]

If two or more provincial teams finish with an equal number of competition points, the following tiebreaker rules apply. If two unions are tied, the union which has defeated the other in a head-to-head is placed higher. In case of a draw between them, the side with the biggest points difference is ranked higher. If three or more unions are tied and they have all played each other, the team with most competition points in that year against the other tied unions is ranked higher; if they have not all played each other, the team with the biggest points difference in the round robin is ranked higher. In all cases, if these unions are still tied, the ranking is decided by the highest number of tries scored, the most points scored, or a coin toss. [1]

The quarter-finals are played as follows, with the highest ranked team hosting:

QF 1: 1 v 8;
QF 2: 2 v 7;
QF 3: 3 v 6; and
QF 4: 4 v 5.

In the semi-finals, the highest-ranked quarter-final winner hosts the lowest-ranked quarter-final winner and the second highest-ranked quarter-final winner hosts the third highest-ranked quarter-final winner.

The NPC Final will be played between the two semi-final winners, again at the home venue of the team with the higher finals ranking. [1] [2]

The rules governing Ranfurly Shield Challenges state that every home game during the regular season played by the union that holds the Ranfurly Shield is a mandartory challenge match. No challenge matches will be played after the regular season has ended (i.e., during the finals). A holder who competes in the Bunnings NPC must also accept at least two challenges from unions competing in the Heartland Championship, including a challenge lodged by the winner of the Meads Cup at the end of the previous season. These non-mandatory challenge matches must be played before the start of the NPC season. [1]

Standings

The current standings for the 2025 Bunnings NPC season are:

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDTFTATBLBPtsQualification
1 Hawke's Bay 11005414+4082105 Bunnings NPC quarter-finals
2 Bay of Plenty 1100377+3051105
3 Canterbury 11003315+1852105
4 Manawatu 11003825+1353105
5 Waikato 11003635+164105
6 Taranaki (RS)1100233+2030004
7 Otago 11002415+932004
8 Auckland 10013536146112
9 Southland 10011524923000
10 North Harbour 100125381335000
11 Wellington 100115331825000
12 Northland 10013232003000
13 Tasman 10017373015000
14 Counties Manukau 100114544028000
Updated to match(es) played on 3 August 2025. Source: Bunnings NPC fixtures & standings 2025
RS: Ranfurly Shield holders

Standings progression

Each team's cumulative points total is shown for every week of the regular season with the overall log position in brackets.

TeamW1W2W3W4W5W6W7W8W9W10QFSFFinal
Auckland 2
(8th)
Bay of Plenty 5
(2nd)
Canterbury 5
(3rd)
Counties Manukau 0
(14th)
Hawke's Bay 5
(1st)
Manawatu 5
(4th)
North Harbour 0
(10th)
Northland 0
(12th)
Otago 4
(7th)
Southland 0
(9th)
Taranaki 4
(6th)
Tasman 0
(13th)
Waikato 5
(5th)
Wellington 0
(11th)
Key:WinDrawLossNo gameDNQ = did not qualify

Regular season

During the regular season of the 2025 Bunnings NPC, each team plays 10 games over a period of ten weeks. The competition starts on 31 July 2025, when Auckland hosts Waikato. The first Ranfurly Shield defence of the season takes place on 2 August 2025, when Taranaki plays Northland. [4] [3]

Week 1

31 July 2025
19:10 NZST
Auckland 35–36 Waikato
Try: Anton Segner 6'
Xavier Tito-Harris (2) 14', 44'
Payton Spencer 58'
Con: Alex Harford (2/2) 7', 15'
Rico Simpson (1/2) 45'
Pen: Rico Simpson (3/3) 32', 43', 74'
Report Try: Bailyn Sullivan 18'
Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia 24'
Oli Mathis 61'
Tepaea Cook-Savage 68'
Rui Farrant 77'
Lima Sopoaga 79'
Con: Aaron Cruden (3/6) 25', 62', 80'
Cards: Austin Anderson Yellow card.svg 31'
Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Paul Williams
1 August 2025
19:05 NZST
Manawatu 38–25 North Harbour
Try: Jordi Viljoen 24'
Taniela Filimone (2) 39', 77'
Raymond Tuputupu 67'
Jai Tamati 71'
Con: Brett Cameron (5/5) 25', 40+1', 68', 72', 79'
Pen: Brett Cameron (1/2) 31'
Report Try: Jed Melvin 27'
Sofai Maka 46'
Siaosi Nginingini 75'
Con: Patrick Pellegrini (2/3) 47', 76'
Pen: Patrick Pellegrini (2/2) 51', 64'
Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North
Referee: Nick Hogan
2 August 2025
14:05 NZST
Wellington 15–33 Canterbury
Try: Losi Filipo 27'
Nui Muriwai 76'
Con: Jackson Garden-Bachop (1/1) 28'
Callum Harkin (0/1)
Pen: Jackson Garden-Bachop (1/1) 54'
Report Try: Johnny McNicholl (2) 7', 60'
Corey Kellow 55'
Cullen Grace 67'
Nick Hyde 80+1'
Con: James White (2/3) 7', 61'
Chay Fihaki (2/2) 68', 80+2'
Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua [a]
Referee: Todd Petrie
2 August 2025
16:35 NZST
Southland 15–24 Otago
Try: Jack Taylor 13'
Nic Shearer 55'
Con: Byron Smith (0/1)
Mika Muliaina (1/1) 56'
Pen: Byron Smith (1/1) 33'
Report Try: Sam Gilbert 16'
Christian Lio-Willie 37'
Will Stodart 40+1'
Con: Cam Millar (3/3) 17', 38', 40+1'
Pen: Cam Millar (1/1) 25'
Cards: Sam Gilbert Yellow card.svg 55'
Rugby Park, Invercargill
Referee: James Doleman
2 August 2025
19:10 NZST
RS – Taranaki 23–3 Northland
Try: Vereniki Tikoisolomone 8'
Josh Jacomb 21'
Adam Lennox 44'
Con: Josh Jacomb (1/3) 44'
Pen: Josh Jacomb (2/2) 15', 57'
Report Pen: Rivez Reihana (1/1) 11'
Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth [b]
Referee: Mike Winter
3 August 2025
14:05 NZST
Bay of Plenty 37–7 Tasman
Try: Kaleb Trask (2) 4', 77'
Kurt Eklund 15'
Leroy Carter 60'
Cole Forbes 67'
Con: Kaleb Trask (3/5) 61', 68', 78'
Pen: Kaleb Trask (1/2) 55'
Drop: Emoni Narawa (1/1) 80+1'
Report Try: Ryan Coxon 46'
Con: William Havili (1/1) 47'
Cards: Josh Te Hira Yellow card.svg 14'
Tauranga Domain, Tauranga
Referee: Marcus Playle
3 August 2025
16:35 NZST
Hawke's Bay 54–14 Counties Manukau
Try: Nick Grigg 7'
Jonah Lowe 22'
Kienan Higgins 32'
Lukas Ripley (2) 42', 74'
Cooper Flanders 64'
Andrew Tauatevalu 72'
Lincoln McClutchie 80'
Con: Harry Godfrey (6/6) 8', 23', 33', 43', 65', 73'
Lincoln McClutchie (1/2) 80'
Cards: Jonah Lowe Yellow card.svg 44'
Report Try: Leo Ngatai-Tafau 37'
Jimmy Tupou 48'
Con: Riley Hohepa (2/2) 38', 49'
McLean Park, Napier
Referee: Stuart Curran

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Play-offs

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
         
1  
8  
 
 
4  
5  
 
 
2  
7  
 
 
3  
6  

Quarter-finals

10 October 2025
19:05 NZDT
TBDvTBD
11 October 2025
16:35 NZDT
TBDvTBD
11 October 2025
19:05 NZDT
TBDvTBD
12 October 2025
14:05 NZDT
TBDvTBD

Semi-finals

17 October 2025
19:05 NZDT
TBDvTBD
18 October 2025
19:05 NZDT
TBDvTBD

Final

25 October 2025
19:05 NZDT
TBDvTBD

Statistics

Leading point scorers

No.PlayerTeamPointsAverageDetails
1 Kaleb Trask Bay of Plenty 1919.002 T, 3 C, 1 P, 0 D
2 Brett Cameron Manawatu 1313.000 T, 5 C, 1 P, 0 D
Josh Jacomb Taranaki 1313.001 T, 1 C, 2 P, 0 D
4 Harry Godfrey Hawke's Bay 1212.000 T, 6 C, 0 P, 0 D
5 Rico Simpson Auckland 1111.000 T, 1 C, 3 P, 0 D

Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published on provincial.rugby (see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats).

Leading try scorers

No.PlayerTeamTriesAverage
1 Taniela Filimone Manawatu 22.00
Johnny McNicholl Canterbury 22.00
Lukas Ripley Hawke's Bay 22.00
Xavier Tito-Harris Auckland 22.00
Kaleb Trask Bay of Plenty 22.00

Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published on provincial.rugby (see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats).

Points by game

Team12345678910TotalAverage
Auckland 3536353635.0036.00
Bay of Plenty 37737737.007.00
Canterbury 3315331533.0015.00
Counties Manukau 1454145414.0054.00
Hawke's Bay 5414541454.0014.00
Manawatu 3825382538.0025.00
North Harbour 2538253825.0038.00
Northland 3233233.0023.00
Otago 2415241524.0015.00
Southland 1524152415.0024.00
Taranaki 23323323.003.00
Tasman 7377377.0037.00
Waikato 3635363536.0035.00
Wellington 1533153315.0033.00

Source: Bunnings NPC Fixtures and Results 2025 [4]

Tries by game

Team12345678910TotalAverage
Auckland 46464.006.00
Bay of Plenty 51515.001.00
Canterbury 52525.002.00
Counties Manukau 28282.008.00
Hawke's Bay 82828.002.00
Manawatu 53535.003.00
North Harbour 35353.005.00
Northland 03030.003.00
Otago 32323.002.00
Southland 23232.003.00
Taranaki 30303.000.00
Tasman 15151.005.00
Waikato 64646.004.00
Wellington 25252.005.00
ForAgainst

Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published on provincial.rugby (see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats).

Discipline

PlayerTeam Red card.svg Red Yellow card.svg YellowSent off match(es)
Austin Anderson Waikato 01 Yellow card.svg Week 1 (vs. Auckland)
Sam Gilbert Otago 01 Yellow card.svg Week 1 (vs. Southland)
Jonah Lowe Hawke's Bay 01 Yellow card.svg Week 1 (vs. Counties Manukau)
Josh Te Hira Tasman 01 Yellow card.svg Week 1 (vs. Bay of Plenty)

Ranfurly Shield

Pre-season challenges

On 3 March 2025, Taranaki Rugby announced that 2024 Lochore Cup winners King Country would be the first Heartland Championship team to challenge Taranaki for the Ranfurly Shield in 2025. The game would be played at the fully re-developed Stadium Taranaki (formerly Yarrow Stadium) on 11 June 2025. [9] Three days later, Taranaki Rugby confirmed that the second pre-season Ranfurly Shield game would be played at Manaia Domain in Manaia on 19 July 2025 against 2024 Meads Cup winners Thames Valley. [10]

11 June 2025
18:00 NZST
Taranaki 78–7 King Country
Try: JJ Pokai (2) 11', 25'
Keightley Watson 15'
Brayton Northcott-Hill 21'
Vereniki Tikoisolomone (3) 41', 54', 60'
Adam Lennox (3) 47', 49', 77'
Meihana Grindlay 65'
Jack Wiseman 70'
Con: Brayton Northcott-Hill (6/7) 12', 16', 22', 26', 42', 49'
Jack Wiseman (1/1) 55'
Jack Parker (2/4) 66', 71'
Report Try: Tom Ryan 38'
Con: Kieron Rollinson (1/1) 39'
Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth
Referee: Angus Mabey

19 July 2025
14:00 NZST
Taranaki 97–0 Thames Valley
Try: Logan Crowley (2) 3', 79'
Bradley Slater 13'
Taniela Rakuro (5) 18', 28', 58', 64', 70'
Michael Loft (2) 25', 40'
Josh Lord 37'
Josh Jacomb 44'
Vereniki Tikoisolomone (2) 52', 68'
Meihana Grindlay 56'
Con: Josh Jacomb (5/8) 4', 19', 29', 38', 45'
Adam Lennox (0/1)
Brayton Northcott-Hill (5/5) 57', 59', 65', 69', 71'
Meihana Grindlay (1/1) 80'
Report
Manaia Domain, Manaia
Referee: Stuart Curran

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 The venue for Wellington's home matches wasn't yet known at the time the schedule for the 2025 Bunnings NPC was released. On 28 May 2025, Wellington Rugby announced that the Lions' five home games of the regular season would be played at Porirua Park. Any home play-off games would be hosted at Sky Stadium, Wellington. [6]
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 On 4 February 2025, the New Plymouth District Council published a media release in which it was announced that Yarrows the Bakers' naming rights sponsorship of Taranaki's home venue, Yarrow Stadium, would come to an end and that the stadium would be known as Stadium Taranaki from 8 March 2025. [7] [8] When the draw for the 2025 Bunnings NPC was released on 17 March 2025, it still used the name Yarrow Stadium.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Competitions Regulations Handbook 2025" (PDF). New Zealand Rugby Union. 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Bunnings Warehouse NPC – Key Information". provincial.rugby. 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Provincial rivalry takes centre stage this August". provincial.rugby. 17 March 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Bunnings Warehouse NPC Fixtures & Results". provincial.rugby. 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  5. "Adjustment to Mitre 10 Heartland Championship bonus points system". RugbyHeartland.co.nz. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  6. "Lions lock in home games for 2025". Wellington Rugby (Press release). 28 May 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  7. "Yarrow Stadium naming rights agreement comes to an end". New Plymouth District Council (Press release). 8 February 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  8. "Long-standing sponsorship of Yarrow Stadium to end" . Taranaki Daily News. 4 February 2025. Archived from the original on 4 February 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  9. "Yarrows Taranaki Bulls opening Ranfurly Shield defence to be played at redeveloped Yarrow Stadium". Taranaki Rugby (Press release). 3 March 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  10. "Manaia to host Yarrows Taranaki Bulls Ranfurly Shield defence". Taranaki Rugby (Press release). 6 March 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.