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National Provincial Championship (1976–2005)
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. The league was restructured into two distinct competitions. The National Provincial Championship would include professional and semi-professional players, and consist of the top fourteen financial and best performing regional teams. For sponsorship reasons it was rebranded as the Air New Zealand Cup. The remaining teams would form a breakaway amateur competition known as the Heartland Championship. Twenty-eight teams had competed since the inception of the competition in 1976. Auckland were the most successful union with fifteen titles and Bay of Plenty were the inaugural champions. Six other teams had w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rugby Union
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its most common form, a game is played between two teams of 15 players each, using an oval-shaped ball on a rectangular field called a pitch. The field has H-shaped goalposts at both ends. Rugby union is a popular sport around the world, played by people of all genders, ages and sizes. In 2014, there were more than 6 million people playing worldwide, of whom 2.36 million were registered players. World Rugby, previously called the International Rugby Football Board (IRFB) and the International Rugby Board (IRB), has been the governing body for rugby union since 1886, and currently has 101 countries as full members and 18 associate members. In 1845, the first laws were written by students attending Rugby School; other significant ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bay Of Plenty (National Provincial Championship)
Bay of Plenty (often known as the Bay of Plenty Steamers) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1911, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Rotorua International Stadium in Rotorua or Tauranga Domain, Tauranga, both in the Bay of Plenty region. The team is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are blue and yellow. Current squad The Bay of Plenty Steamers squad for the 2022 Bunnings NPC is: Honours Bay of Plenty have been overall Champions on 1 occasion, winning the inaugural title in 1976. Their full list of honours include: ;National Provincial Championship First Division * Winners: 1976 ;National Provincial Championship Second Division North Island * Winners: 1978 ;National Provincial Championship Second Divisi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
North Otago Rugby Football Union
The North Otago Rugby Football Union (NORFU) is a New Zealand rugby union province based in Oamaru and compete in the Heartland Championship. They are one of the strongest teams in The Heartland Championship, winning the Meads Cup section of the competition in its second year, 2007 as well as 2010. Their home ground is Whitestone Contracting Stadium, formerly Centennial Park. The North Otago Rugby Football Union was founded in 1927 and over the years they have had many highs and lows. In 1930 they hosted the All Blacks before the first test against the British and Irish Lions, In 1962 they hosted and beat Australia during their tour of New Zealand. In the NPC they had sat near the bottom of the third division table until they beat Horowhenua-Kapiti Rugby Football Union in the final in 2002 and moved to the second division where they were regular semi-finalists. In the 2006 Heartland Championship they lost the Meads Cup semi-final to Wairarapa Bush Rugby Football Union after be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
South Canterbury Rugby Football Union
The South Canterbury Rugby Football Union (SCRFU) is a rugby province based in the central South Island city of Timaru, New Zealand. The South Canterbury team play at Fraser Park located in Timaru. History Club rugby in South Canterbury predated the formation of South Canterbury RFU by at least two decades. The first recorded club rugby match in South Canterbury was played on 15 October 1867 between The Timaru and Temuka Clubs at Arowhenua. Eight years later, in 1875, the South Canterbury Football Club was formed, founded by Alfred St. George Hamersley the former captain of the England national rugby union team and resident of Timaru. Soon after on 24 May 1875 a match was played between North and South Canterbury at Ashburton that resulted in a draw. More clubs were formed, such as the Waimate Football Club on 24 May 1876, and Christchurch are recorded as playing Temuka in 1876. On 26 July 1879, a meeting was held in Timaru at the instigation again of Hamersley, at which delega ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union
The Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union (MCRFU) is a rugby province in the South Island of New Zealand. History The Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union was formed in 1904 as Ashburton Country, first as a sub-union of the South Canterbury Rugby Football Union and then of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union. The union gained full status in 1927, and changed its name to Mid Canterbury in 1952. Representative Rugby The Mid Canterbury team play from Ashburton Showgrounds, Ashburton and in the 2006 season are in Pool B of the Heartland Championship. They are seeded 9th for the Championship as they finished 5th in the 3rd division in 2005. Clubs Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union is made up of 9 clubs: * Allenton * Celtic * Collegiate * Hampstead * Methven * Mt Somers * Rakaia * Southern * Tinwald Mid Canterbury in Super Rugby Mid Canterbury along with Canterbury, Tasman, Buller, South Canterbury and West Coast make up the Crusaders Super Rugby franchise. Championships Mid Ca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hanan Shield
The Hanan Shield is one of the most prestigious trophies in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1946 after being presented by the Mayor of Timaru, A.E.S. Hanan. The Hanan Shield is based on a challenge system played between North Otago, South Canterbury and Mid Canterbury. The holding union must defend the shield in challenge matches, and if a challenger defeats them, they become the new holder of the shield. A rules change at the end of the 2011 season meant that the shield is up for challenge in any meeting between the holders and one of the other two teams. The Hanan Shield is held by Mid Canterbury, who beat South Canterbury 34–27 on 21 September 2013. [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Provinces Of New Zealand
The provinces of the Colony of New Zealand existed as a form of sub-national government. Initially established in 1846 when New Zealand was a Crown colony without responsible government, two provinces (New Ulster and New Munster) were established. Each province had its own legislative council and Governor. With the passing of the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 the provinces were recreated around the six planned settlements or "colonies". By 1873 the number of provinces had increased to nine, but they had become less isolated from each other and demands for centralised government arose. In 1875 the New Zealand Parliament decided to abolish the provincial governments, and they came to an end in November 1876. They were superseded by counties, which were later replaced by territorial authorities. Following abolition, the provinces became known as provincial districts. Their principal legacy is the use of some provincial boundaries to determine the geographical boundaries for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by metro area, and is the administrative centre of the Wellington Region. It is the world's southernmost capital of a sovereign state. Wellington features a temperate maritime climate, and is the world's windiest city by average wind speed. Legends recount that Kupe discovered and explored the region in about the 10th century, with initial settlement by Māori iwi such as Rangitāne and Muaūpoko. The disruptions of the Musket Wars led to them being overwhelmed by northern iwi such as Te Āti Awa by the early 19th century. Wellington's current form was originally designed by Captain William Mein Smith, the first Surveyor General for Edward Wakefield's New Zealand Company, in 1840. The Wellington urban area, which only includes urbani ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Waikato (National Provincial Championship)
Waikato (often known as the Waikato Mooloos) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Hamilton, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1921, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton in the Waikato region. The team is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are red, yellow and black. Current squad The Waikato Mooloos squad for the 2022 Bunnings NPC is: Honours Waikato have been overall Champions on three occasions, winning the titles in 1992, 2006 and 2021. Their full list of honours include: ;National Provincial Championship Second Division North Island *Winners: 1980 ;National Provincial Championship Second Division *Winners: 1986 ;National Provincial Championship First Division *Winners: 1992 ;Air New Zealand Cup *Winners: 2006 ;Mitre 10 C ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Manawatu (National Provincial Championship)
Manawatu (often known as the Manawatu Turbos) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1886, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. The team is affiliated with the Hurricanes Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are green and white. Current squad The Manawatu Turbos squad for the 2022 Bunnings NPC: Honours Manawatu have been overall Champions on one occasion, winning the title in 1980. Their full list of honours include: ; National Provincial Championship First Division *Winners: 1980 ;ITM Cup Championship Division *Winners: 2014 Current Super Rugby players Players named in the 2022 Manawatu Turbos squad, who also earned contracts or were named in a squad for an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Counties Manukau (National Provincial Championship)
Counties Manukau (often known as the Counties Manukau Steelers) are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Pukekohe, New Zealand. The union was originally established in 1955, with the National Provincial Championship established in 1976. They now play in the reformed National Provincial Championship competition. They play their home games at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe in the Auckland region. The team is affiliated with the Chiefs Super Rugby franchise. Their home playing colours are black, white and red. Current squad The Counties Manukau Steelers squad for the 2022 Bunnings NPC is: Honours Counties Manukau have been overall Champions on one occasion, winning the title in 1979. Their full list of honours include: ;National Provincial Championship First Division *Winners: 1979 ;National Provincial Championship The National Provincial Championship may refer to: * National Provincial Championship (1976–2005), original competition before reform ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
