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 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 its headline sponsor. A concurrent women's tournament is also held, the Farah Palmer Cup.
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) is the governing body of rugby union in New Zealand. It was founded in 1892 as the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU), 12 years after the first provincial unions in New Zealand. In 1949 it became an affiliate to the International Rugby Football Board, now known as World Rugby, the governing body of rugby union for the world. It dropped the word "Football" from its name in 2006. The brand name New Zealand Rugby was adopted in 2013. Officially, it is an incorporated society with the name New Zealand Rugby Union Incorporated.
Robert Charles Stuart was a New Zealand rugby union player and administrator. He was given a lifetime service award by the International Rugby Board immediately after the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Sir Brian James Lochore was a New Zealand rugby union player and coach who represented and captained the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks. He played at number 8 and lock, as well as captaining the side 46 times. In 1999, Lochore was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.
Gavin Lyle Hill is a New Zealand former rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, and coached rugby union the 2000s. He resided in Wellington for 10-years before moving back to Auckland in 2008 to take a coaching position in the Air New Zealand Cup.
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.
Duncan McGregor, was a New Zealand rugby union and rugby league footballer. He was a member of the legendary 1905 Original All Blacks and later converted to rugby league when he went on the 1907 New Zealand league tour of Britain and Australia. He stayed in Britain following the 1907–08 tour, and opened a sport store as well as playing for Merthyr Tydfil RLFC. He returned to New Zealand after five years and continued to be involved in rugby league as an administrator and official.
The Cavaliers was an unofficial New Zealand rugby union team which toured South Africa in 1986. Because of the Apartheid policies of the South African government, the official New Zealand Rugby Union tour scheduled for 1985 was cancelled, and the Cavaliers tour was very controversial in New Zealand.
Charlie James Pearce was a New Zealand rugby footballer who was part of the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.
Samuel Lawrence Whitelock is a former New Zealand rugby union player.
Thomas Desmond Coughlan was a New Zealand rugby union player. A flanker, Coughlan represented South Canterbury and, briefly, King Country at a provincial level. He played just one match for the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks: a test against the touring Australian team in 1958. He later was a Mid Canterbury selector in 1973 and 1974.
Ralph Walter Caulton was a New Zealand rugby union player. A wing, Caulton played for the Poneke club and represented Wellington at a provincial level.
James Douglas Mackay was a New Zealand rugby union player. A wing three-quarter, Mackay represented Wellington at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 1928. He played two matches for the All Blacks, scoring four tries, but did not appear in any internationals.
John George Rankin was a New Zealand rugby union player. A flanker, Rankin represented Canterbury and, briefly, Wellington at a provincial level. He was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 1936 and 1937. He played four matches for the All Blacks including three internationals.
Robert Read Masters was a New Zealand rugby union player and administrator. A lock, Masters represented Canterbury at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1923 to 1925. He played 31 matches for the All Blacks including four internationals, scoring six tries in all.
Ronald Terowie Stewart was a New Zealand rugby union player. A loose forward, Stewart represented South Canterbury and Canterbury at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1923 to 1930. He played 39 matches for the All Blacks including five internationals. He was one of the selectors of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force rugby team, known as the "Kiwis", following the end of World War II, and was a Southland selector in 1950.
Neil Perriam McGregor was a New Zealand rugby union player. A first or second five-eighth, McGregor represented Wellington and Canterbury at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1924 to 1928. He played 27 matches for the All Blacks including two internationals. He went on to serve as the selector and coach of the Nelson provincial side from 1961 to 1963, and was a South Island selector from 1965 to 1968.
The following lists events that happened during 2019 in New Zealand.
William Archibald Strang was a New Zealand rugby union player. A first five-eighth and halfback, Strang represented South Canterbury at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1928 to 1931. He played 17 matches for the All Blacks including five internationals, and captained the side in his final Test match, against Australia in 1931.
Fletcher Newell is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays Prop for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and for the All Blacks in international matches.
