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The National Provincial Championship (NPC) is an annual round-robin rugby union competition in men's domestic New Zealand rugby. First played in 1976, 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 Bunnings, its naming rights sponsor. A concurrent women's tournament is also held, the Farah Palmer Cup.
The Tasman Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Tasman Bay / Te Tai-o-Aorere, a bay at the north end of the South Island in New Zealand. Headquartered in Nelson, TRU is New Zealand's newest provincial union, founded in 2006 with the amalgamation of the existing Marlborough and Nelson Bays sub unions.
The Wellington Rugby Football Union are a New Zealand governing body of rugby union in the New Zealand province of Wellington Region. The main stadium is Sky Stadium which is located in Wellington. The union also represents the Wellington Lions, which is professional rugby union team who compete in the National Provincial Championship competition and contest for the Ranfurly Shield. Before 2006 the Lions competed in the original National Provincial Championship.
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) serves as the governing body of the sport of rugby union in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand.
The National Provincial Championship, often simply called the NPC, was an annual promotion and relegation rugby union competition in men's domestic New Zealand rugby. First played during the 1976 season, it was the highest level of competition in New Zealand until Super Rugby launched in 1996. It was organised by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and ceased following the 2005 season.
Geoffrey Cridge is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a lock or loose forward for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship. He previously played for the Hurricanes and the Waratahs in Super Rugby as well as for Bayonne in the French Top 14.
Jonah Lowe is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a wing or centre for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and for the Highlanders in Super Rugby.
Kemara Henare Hauiti-Parapara is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a halfback for Auckland in the National Provincial Championship.
Wellington are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Wellington, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1879, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Sky Stadium in Wellington. The team is affiliated with the Hurricanes Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are black and gold.
Sosefo Losino 'Apikotoa is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a prop for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and for Anthem Rugby Carolina in Major League Rugby (MLR). He previously played for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but represents Tonga internationally, for which he is eligible due to his Tongan descent.
Tyrone Thompson is a New Zealand rugby union and rugby league player, who plays for the Newcastle Knights in the National Rugby League, having made a code switch from rugby union to league ahead of the 2025 NRL season.
Lincoln McClutchie is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a first five-eighth for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby.
Ollie Sapsford is a professional rugby union player, who currently plays as a midfield back or wing for the Brumbies in Super Rugby. In New Zealand, he most recently played for Hawke's Bay in the National Provincial Championship. Born in New Zealand, he represents Australia at international level, being eligible for that country on ancestry grounds.
'Api Kakalaia Solomone Funaki is a Tongan rugby union player, who currently plays as a loose forward for Dragons RFC in the United Rugby Championship and European Rugby Challenge Cup. He previously played for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby and Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition. He represents Tonga internationally.
Tom Parsons is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a lock for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan Rugby League One.
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.
Harry Godfrey is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a first five-eighth or fullback for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and the Hurricanes in Super Rugby.
Hugo Plummer is a New Zealand rugby union player, who plays for the Hurricanes and Wellington. His preferred position is lock.
The 2024 Bunnings NPC season was the 19th season of New Zealand's provincial rugby union competition, the National Provincial Championship, since it turned professional in 2006. It involved the top 14 provincial rugby unions of New Zealand. For sponsorship reasons, the competition is known as the Bunnings NPC. The regular season began on 9 August 2024, when 2023 champions Taranaki hosted Counties Manukau. The final took place on 26 October 2024, and saw Wellington beat Bay of Plenty 23–20 after extra time. The Ranfurly Shield changed hands twice during the season: Hawke's Bay came into the season as holders and survived two challenges before relinquishing it to Tasman in week 5 in a 25–24 loss; Tasman then survived two more challenges before losing the shield to Taranaki in the final week of the regular season, losing 42–29.
References
- ↑ "Kyle Preston". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- 1 2 3 "Why Wellington roofer Kyle Preston turned down the Hurricanes for the Crusaders". The Post . 14 November 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ↑ "Kyle Preston and Lions focused on NPC final this coming Saturday". Club Rugby. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- ↑ "Hurricanes Under-18s training camp squad named". Hurricanes. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- ↑ "Preston guiding young Billygoats resurgence". Club Rugby. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- ↑ "Wellington Lions name 2023 squad to defend Bunnings NPC title". Wellington Rugby (Press release). 31 July 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ↑ "12 Debutants named as Wellington Lions prepare for first Ranfurly Shield defence of 2023". Wellington Rugby (Press release). 11 July 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ↑ "Underdog Manawatū Turbos ready to have a crack against defending champions". stuff.co.nz. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
- ↑ "NPC final result: Wellington edge Bay of Plenty in extra-time to win title". The New Zealand Herald . 26 October 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ↑ "2025 Crusaders squad announced". Crusaders (Press release). 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
