The National Provincial Championship, often simply called the NPC, is an annual round-robin rugby union competition in men's domestic New Zealand rugby. First played during the 2006 season, it is the second highest level of competition in New Zealand alongside the Ranfurly Shield. It is organised by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and since 2021, it has been known as the Bunnings NPC after its headline sponsor. A concurrent women's tournament is also held, the Farah Palmer Cup.
The North Harbour Rugby Union (NHRU), commonly known as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is the governing body of rugby union that encompasses a wide geographical area north of Auckland that includes North Shore City, Rodney District, the Hibiscus Coast and part of Waitakere City. There are 12 rugby clubs from Mahurangi RFC, based in Warkworth, Rodney District, in the north through to Massey the southernmost area of the union.
Scott Robertson is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. He is currently head coach of the Crusaders, and has been announced as the next head coach of the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks, from 2024.
The Otago Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union for the Otago region of New Zealand. The union is based in the city of Dunedin, and its home ground is Forsyth Barr Stadium. The top representative team competes in the ITM Cup, New Zealand's top provincial competition. The union was to have been liquidated in March 2012. However a deal involving the Dunedin City Council allowed it to keep operating. Otago have won the Ranfurly Shield on seven occasions. They were the National provincial championship winners in 1991 and 1998. They have a proud record playing international teams, having defeated South Africa and the British and Irish Lions.
The Waikato Rugby Union (WRU) is the official governing body of rugby union in the Waikato area in the North Island of New Zealand. Headquartered in Hamilton, WRU was founded in 1921.
The Manawatu Rugby Football Union (MRU) is the governing body of the sport of rugby union in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand.
Kurt Baker is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a fullback or wing for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby (MLR).
The New Zealand rugby league season 2010 was the 103rd season of rugby league that was played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the new National Zonal competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The premier teams competed for the Albert Baskerville Trophy, which was won by Auckland when they defeated Counties Manukau 14 - 6 in the Grand Final.
Kelly Brazier is a New Zealand rugby union and sevens player. She has played flyhalf, centre and fullback for the Black Ferns, New Zealand's women's national rugby team, and has competed at three Rugby World Cup's in 2010, 2014, and 2017. She has represented Otago, Canterbury and the Bay of Plenty in the Farah Palmer Cup.
Chris Eves is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a prop for the Bay of Plenty Steamers in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Sunwolves in the international Super Rugby competition.
Otere Black is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a first five-eighth for Bay of Plenty in the Mitre 10 Cup and the Blues in Super Rugby.
Kevin Alfred Eveleigh is a former New Zealand rugby union player. A flanker, Eveleigh represented Manawatu and Bay of Plenty at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1974 to 1977. He played 30 matches for the All Blacks including four internationals. He later captained Rhodesia between 1979 and 1980, and was the coach of Manawatu in 1987. In 1988, he was one of the first two "celebrity entries"—alongside Brian Ford—at the annual Coast to Coast adventure race.
Selica Winiata is a New Zealand Rugby union player and referee. She plays for the Black Ferns, the New Zealand women's sevens team and provincially for the Manawatu Cyclones.
Sean Wainui was a New Zealand rugby union player. He played on the wing for provincial side Bay of Plenty, the Chiefs in Super Rugby, and for New Zealand's Māori international side the Māori All Blacks.
Atunaisa Moli is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a Prop for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and Tasman in the Bunnings NPC. He has represented the New Zealand national rugby union team the All Blacks.
Sam McNicol is a New Zealand rugby union player who played as an outside back for Wellington and Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Hurricanes and Chiefs in the international Super Rugby competition.
Chase Tiatia is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a utility back for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition. He has signed with the Western Force for the 2023 and 2024 Super Rugby season. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but is eligible to represent Manu Samoa internationally due to his Samoan heritage.
Jeremy Cotter is a New Zealand rugby union coach. He is the former head coach of the Manawatu provincial side who compete in the Mitre 10 Cup. He is the brother of Vern Cotter, the current coach at Montpellier Hérault Rugby.
Ollie Sapsford is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a midfield back or wing for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and for the Brumbies in Super Rugby.
Nikora Broughton is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a loose forward for Bay of Plenty in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and will play for the Highlanders in Super Rugby Pacific from 2023.
