The Highlanders is a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Dunedin that compete in Super Rugby. The team was formed in 1996 to represent the lower South Island in the newly formed Super 12 competition, and includes the Otago, North Otago and Southland unions. The Highlanders take their name from the Scottish immigrants that founded the Otago, North Otago, and Southland regions in the 1840s and 1850s.
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 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 Mitre 10 Cup competition and contest for the Ranfurly Shield. Before 2006 the Lions competed in the National Provincial Championship.
Mark Garry 'Hammer' Hammett is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. Having represented Canterbury provincially 76 times, and the Crusaders 81 times and the All Blacks 30 times – including 29 Test matches, Hammett later went on to coach both Canterbury and Crusaders as a forwards/assistant coach. He is currently on the assistant coach of the Highlanders in Super Rugby and the Tasman Makos in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Zachary Robert Guildford is a retired New Zealand professional rugby union player who played as a wing most notably for National Provincial Championship club Hawke's Bay and the New Zealand national team.
Benjamin May is a former New Zealand rugby union player. His position of choice is prop.
James Ryan Marshall is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He played in the First five-eighth, Fullback and occasionally Second five-eighth positions for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby and Tasman in the Bunnings NPC. He also captained the Taranaki Bulls in the ITM Cup. He is the older brother of Crusader Tom Marshall. He announced his retirement on his What a Lad Podcast in January 2021 due to an ongoing injury to his hip. He is currently the assistant coach for the Crusaders.
Gareth Evans is a retired New Zealand rugby union player, who played as a loose forward for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and the Highlanders in Super Rugby.
Michael Allardice is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a lock for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the Chiefs in the international Super Rugby competition.
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.
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.
Vaea Tangitau Lapota Fifita is a Tongan professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Tonga national team.
Wesley Goosen is a South African-born New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays for Edinburgh Rugby in the United Rugby Championship.
Finlay Turner Christie is a professional rugby union player who plays as a half-back for Super Rugby club Blues. Born in Scotland, he represents New Zealand at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.
George Crispin Bridge is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as an outside back for Montpellier Hérault Rugby in France's domestic TOP 14. Bridge made his international debut for New Zealand in 2018, aged 23.
Peter Ionatana Jack Umaga-Jensen is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as an center or outside back for Wellington in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Asafo Junior Aumua is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a hooker for New Zealand franchise Hurricanes and the New Zealand national team. In his youth, he was selected to play in the 2016 and 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championships for New Zealand.
Pari Pari Matua Parkinson is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for Tasman in the Bunnings NPC and the Highlanders in Super Rugby. His position is Lock.
Reuben Graeme O'Neill is a New Zealand professional rugby union footballer who plays as a prop for New Zealand province Taranaki and the New Zealand national team. In his youth career, he was selected to play in the 2012 three-match international programme for the New Zealand Schoolboys and took part in New Plymouth Boys' High School first XV, the top representative team in secondary school.
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.
