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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 Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Shield is based on a challenge system. The holding union must defend the shield in challenge matches, which are usually played at the shield holder's home venue, and if the challenger is successful in their challenge they will become the new holder of the Shield. There is a tradition for the first challenges of a new rugby season to be played against smaller associations from the Heartland Championship.
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.
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 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 Taranaki Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in Taranaki, New Zealand and was established in 1889. Taranaki is a region of New Zealand that covers areas in the districts of New Plymouth, Stratford and South Taranaki. Taranaki Rugby's two most senior representative teams are the men's NPC side, Taranaki Bulls, and the women's Farah Palmer Cup side, Taranaki Whio. The union is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their playing colours are amber and black and they play their home games at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth.
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.
Isaac Arapata Salmon is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a prop for Tasman in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship. He also plays for New Orleans Gold in Major League Rugby (MLR) in the United States. Salmon was educated at Nelson College from 2011 to 2014.
The New England Free Jacks are an American professional rugby union team based in Quincy, Massachusetts, that competes in Major League Rugby (MLR). They were announced in September 2018 and began to compete professionally in October 2018. They competed in their first season in MLR in the 2020 season. The team has won two MLR shields after defeating the San Diego Legion in 2023 and the Seattle Seawolves in 2024.
Jayson Potroz is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays at fullback in the Mitre 10 Cup for Taranaki. He also plays for the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Taranaki are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in New Plymouth, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1889, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at TET Stadium & Events Centre in Inglewood and Yarrow Stadium in the Taranaki region. The team is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are amber and black.
Liam Steel is a New Zealand rugby union player, currently playing for Major League Rugby side New England Free Jacks. His preferred position is centre or wing.
Freedom Vaha'akolo is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays as a wing for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship (NPC) competition.
Niko Jones is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Auckland in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Stan van den Hoven is a Dutch rugby union player, currently playing for the Miami Sharks of Major League Rugby (MLR). His preferred position is lock.
Kyle Stewart is a New Zealand rugby union player, currently playing for the Old Glory DC of Major League Rugby (MLR) and Taranaki in the National Provincial Championship. His preferred position is prop.
Tomas Aoake is a New Zealand rugby union player, who currently plays for the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby (MLR) and Auckland in the National Provincial Championship. His preferred position is wing.
Jamie Lane is a New Zealand rugby union player, currently playing for the Utah Warriors of Major League Rugby (MLR) and Auckland of the National Provincial Championship. His preferred position is lock.
Le Roux Malan is a Namibian rugby union player, who currently plays as a centre for the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby (MLR) and for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition. He represents Namibia internationally.
Setaleki Baker is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the New England Free Jacks and Manawatu in the Bunnings NPC. His position is Flanker.
References
- ↑ "Mills Sanerivi". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ↑ "Auckland Rugby names the 2024 NPC squad with a novel 'reverse jersey presentation'". Auckland Rugby (Press release). 29 July 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ↑ "Mills Sanerivi". New England Free Jacks. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- ↑ @TaranakiRugby (15 July 2021). "2021" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 July 2021– via Twitter.
