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.
David Smith is a Samoan rugby union player who plays with RC Narbonne in the French Top 14 He previously played for the Hurricanes, Blues and Western Force in Super Rugby as well as Toulon & Castres Olympique.
Mike Peter Delany is a retired New Zealand rugby union player who last played for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and Bay of Plenty in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Jamie Ronald Nutbrown, is a former first-class New Zealand rugby union player and referee.
Daniel Kirkpatrick is a New Zealand rugby union player. He currently plays for the Blues in Super Rugby. He has also played for Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Richard James Gray is a Scottish professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for United Rugby Championship club Glasgow Warriors and the Scotland national team.
Sona Taumalolo is a former professional rugby union player. He played at prop for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup competition; the Chiefs in Super Rugby; several French clubs; and the Tonga national team. He retired at the end of the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup season.
Culum Retallick is a former New Zealand rugby union player who represented Bay of Plenty in the Mitre 10 Cup. He is the cousin of All Black Brodie Retallick.
Ross Geldenhuys is a South African rugby union footballer. His regular playing position is as a tighthead prop and he plays for Bay of Plenty in the Mitre 10 Cup in New Zealand. Geldenhuys holds the record of playing for the most provinces in South Africa; he played for eight of the fourteen provinces — Border Bulldogs, Pumas, Golden Lions, Boland Cavaliers, Free State Cheetahs, Griffons, Eastern Province Kings and Sharks. In addition, he spent time at the Blue Bulls and Western Province, but failed to appear in a first class match for them.
Rhys Joseph Jennings Marshall is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays as a hooker for Waikato in the National Provincial Championship and Highlanders in Super Rugby Pacific.
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.
Maama Vaipulu is a New Zealand rugby player of Tongan descent. He represented Counties Manukau and the Chiefs in New Zealand and Tonga on an international level. Currently he plays in the number 8 and occasionally flanker position for the France based Top 14 side, Castres.
Abraham Papali'i is a professional rugby player from New Zealand. He has played both rugby union and rugby league professionally. Papali'i currently plays rugby union for CA Brive Corrèze Limousin in France as back row. He last played league professionally with French side Lézignan Sangliers in the Elite One Championship, where he covered second-row, lock and centre.
Pita Gus Nacagilevu Sowakula is a Fijian professional rugby union footballer who plays as a flanker for New Zealand franchise Chiefs. In his youth career, he played basketball and was selected in the 2012 FIBA Oceania Under 19 Championships for Fiji.
Alex P. Nankivell is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a centre for Irish club Munster in the United Rugby Championship.
Quinn Puketahinga Claude Tupaea is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for New Zealand province Waikato. In his youth career, he was selected to play in the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championships for New Zealand and took part in Hamilton Boys' High School first XV, the top representative team in secondary school.
Filipo Nakosi is a Fijian rugby player for Castres Olympique in France's Top 14, the highest level of French rugby. His primary position is wing. His brother Josua Tuisova is also a Fiji international player.
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.
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 professional rugby union player, who currently plays as a loose forward for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He represents Tonga internationally.
