The 2017 Mitre 10 Cup season was the twelfth season of

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

's provincial

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 it ...

competition since it turned professional in 2006. The regular season began on August 17, when North Harbour hosted Otago. It involved the top fourteen rugby unions of New Zealand. For sponsorship reasons, the competition was known as the

Mitre 10 Mitre 10 is an Australian retail and trade hardware store chain. Operations are based on a cooperative system, where the store owners are members of the national group and each has voting rights. The chain name references the mitre joint. Th ...

Cup and it was the second season under the lead sponsor. The winner of the Championship,

Wellington 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 metr ...

was promoted to the Premiership, the seventh placed Premiership team,

Waikato Waikato () is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato District, Waipa District, Matamata-Piako District, South Waikato District and Hamilton City, as well as Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsul ...

was relegated to the Championship.

Format

The

Mitre 10 Cup The mitre (Commonwealth English) (; Greek: μίτρα, "headband" or "turban") or miter (American English; see spelling differences), is a type of headgear now known as the traditional, ceremonial headdress of bishops and certain abbots in t ...

standings were sorted by a competition points system. Four points were awarded to the winning team, a draw equaled two points, whilst a loss amounted to zero points. Unions could also win their side a respectable bonus point. To receive a

bonus point Bonus points are group tournament points awarded in rugby union tournaments in addition to the standard points for winning or drawing a match. Bonus points were implemented in order to encourage attacking play throughout a match, to discourage repe ...

, they must have scored four tries or more or lose by seven or fewer points or less. Each team was placed on their total points received. If necessary of a

tiebreaker In games and sports, a tiebreaker or tiebreak is used to determine a winner from among players or teams that are tied at the end of a contest, or a set of contests. General operation In matches In some situations, the tiebreaker may consi ...

, when two or more teams finish on equal points, the union who defeated the other in a head-to-head got placed higher. In case of a draw between them, the side with the biggest points deferential margin got rights to be ranked above. If they were tied on points difference, it was then decided by a highest scored try count or a

coin toss A coin is a small, flat (usually depending on the country or value), round piece of metal or plastic used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender. They are standardized in weight, and produced in large quantities at a mint in order to ...

. This seeding format was implemented since the beginning of the 2006 competition. The competition included a promotion-relegation process with the winner of the Championship receiving automatic promotion to the Premiership, replacing the seventh-placed team in the Premiership which was relegated to the Championship for the following year. The regular season consisted of two types of matches. The internal division matches were when each team played the other six unions in their division once, home or away. The cross-division matches were when each team played four teams from the other division, thus missing out on three teams, each from the opposite division. Each union played home or away games against teams from the other division, making a total of ten competition games for each union. The finals format allowed the top four teams from each division move on to the semi-finals. The top two division winners, based on table points, received a home semi-final. In the first round of the finals, the semi-finals, the second division winner hosted the third division winner, and the first division winner hosted the fourth division winner. The final was hosted by the top remaining seed.

Standings

Source: Mitre 10 Cup standings 2017

Standings progression

Regular season

The 2017 Mitre 10 Cup played across nine weeks with every team playing one Wednesday night fixture in a double-up round where they played twice that week. The competition started on Thursday, August 17, with North Harbour taking on Otago at QBE Stadium, in a repeat of the previous seasons Championship Division final. The opening round saw a repeat of the Premiership final with Tasman against the then current champions

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of ...

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Play-offs

Semi-finals

----

Finals

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George Bridge George Crispin Bridge (born 1 April 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as an outside back for in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and for the in the international Super Rugby competition. Bridge made his inte ...

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Richie Mo'unga Richard Fou'a Mo'unga (born 25 May 1994) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a first five-eighth for in the Bunnings NPC, the in Super Rugby, and the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks. Early life Mo'unga was bo ...

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Hamish Dalzell Hamish Dalzell (born 16 January 1996 in New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for Auckland in the National Provincial Championship. He also plays for the New York Ironworkers in Major League Rugby (MLR). His playing positio ...

, - , TP , , 3 , , Siate Tokolahi , , , - , HK , , 2 , , Ben Funnell , , , - , LP , , 1 , ,

Alex Hodgman Alexander T O A. Hodgman (born 16 July 1993) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a prop for in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the in the international Super Rugby competition. Career Early career Born and ra ...

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Brett Cameron Brett Donald Cameron (born 4 October 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player. A first five-eighth, Cameron plays for at a provincial level and the in the Super Rugby competition. He made his debut for the New Zealand national side, the All ...

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Will Jordan Will Jordan (born Wilbur Rauch, July 27, 1927 – September 6, 2018) was an American character actor and stand-up comedian best known for his resemblance to, and impressions of, television host and newspaper columnist Ed Sullivan. Early life B ...

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Tomas Aoake Tomas Aoake (born 6 September 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player, currently playing for the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby (MLR) and of the National Provincial Championship. His preferred position is wing. Professional career A ...

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Alex Nankivell Alex P. Nankivell (born 25 October 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for in the Bunnings NPC and the in Super Rugby. His position of choice is centre. Career In New Zealand Nankivell made his debut for during the 2015 ITM ...

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Mitchell Hunt Mitchell James Hunt (born 19 June 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a first five-eighth or fullback. Early career Born and raised in the city of Nelson in the South Island of New Zealand, Hunt attended Nelson Co ...

, - , SH , , 9 , , Finlay Christie , , , - , N8 , , 8 , ,

Jordan Taufua Sa Jordan Taufua (born 29 January 1992) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a loose forward. He previously played for Tasman in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup and the in the international Super Rugby competition. Early c ...

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Ethan Blackadder Ethan J. Blackadder (born 22 March 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for in the Bunnings NPC and the in the Super Rugby competition. His position of choice is flanker. He is the son of former All Blacks player Todd Blackad ...

, - , RL , , 5 , , Shannon Frizell , - , LL , , 4 , , Alex Ainley ( c) , , , - , TP , , 3 , ,

Tyrel Lomax Tyrel Shae Lomax (born 16 March 1996) is an Australian born New Zealand rugby union player who plays for in the Bunnings NPC and the in the Super Rugby. His regular playing position is prop. He is the son of former New Zealand (Kiwis) rugby ...

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Siua Halanukonuka Siosiua Halanukonuka (born 9 August 1986) is a Tongan rugby union player. He plays in the prop position for the France side Perpignan. Halanukonuka also represents Tonga at international level. Club career After appearing three times for in ...

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Pete Samu Peter Samu (born 17 December 1991) is an Australian professional rugby union player who is currently a loose forward for the in Super Rugby. He has represented Australia in international rugby. After several seasons playing in Australia and ...

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Billy Guyton Bill Guyton (born 17 March 1990) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He played at halfback for provincial side Tasman. Guyton spent the previous three years playing for North Otago in the Heartland championship, making 29 appearances for the p ...

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Trael Joass Trael Joass (born 14 May 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player. Rugby career After playing for Wanderers in Nelson's club rugby competition, Joass represented Tasman Mako in the Mitre 10 Cup and has captained the Tasman Mako seven team, ...

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Statistics

Leading point scorers

{, class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" , - ! No. !! Player , , Team , , Points , , Average , , class="unsortable" , Details , - , 1 , , style="text-align:left;" ,

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, , style="background:#ccc;" , 160 , , 16.00 , , 5 , 42 , 17 , 0 , - , 2 , , style="text-align:left;" , Jackson Garden-Bachop , , style="text-align:left;" ,

, , style="background:#ccc;" , 142 , , 12.90 , , 3 , 47 , 11 , 0 , - , 3 , , style="text-align:left;" , Fletcher Smith , , style="text-align:left;" , Otago , , style="background:#ccc;" , 116 , , 10.54 , , 5 , 26 , 13 , 0 , - , 4 , , style="text-align:left;" , Marty McKenzie , , style="text-align:left;" ,

Taranaki Taranaki is a region in the west of New Zealand's North Island. It is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano of Mount Taranaki, also known as Mount Egmont. The main centre is the city of New Plymouth. The New Plymouth D ...

, , style="background:#ccc;" , 100 , , 11.11 , , 1 , 34 , 9 , 0 , - , 5 , , style="text-align:left;" , Bryn Gatland , , style="text-align:left;" , North Harbour , , style="background:#ccc;" , 96 , , 10.67 , , 0 , 18 , 20 , 0 , - , 6 , , style="text-align:left;" , Mike Delany , , style="text-align:left;" ,

Bay of Plenty The Bay of Plenty ( mi, Te Moana-a-Toi) is a region of New Zealand, situated around a bight of the same name in the northern coast of the North Island. The bight stretches 260 km from the Coromandel Peninsula in the west to Cape Runaw ...

, , style="background:#ccc;" , 94 , , 9.40 , , 0 , 29 , 12 , 0 , - , 7 , , style="text-align:left;" ,

, , style="text-align:left;" , Tasman , , style="background:#ccc;" , 94 , , 8.55 , , 4 , 16 , 14 , 0 , - , 8 , , style="text-align:left;" , Jono Hickey , , style="text-align:left;" ,

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...

, , style="background:#ccc;" , 75 , , 7.50 , , 1 , 14 , 14 , 0 , - , 9 , , style="text-align:left;" ,

Daniel Hawkins Dan Hawkins (born 1960) is an American football coach and former player and sportscaster. Dan, Danny or Daniel Hawkins may also refer to: * Dan Hawkins (footballer), Welsh footballer for Salford City * Dan Hawkins (musician) (born 1976), English ...

, , style="text-align:left;" , Northland , , style="background:#ccc;" , 66 , , 7.33 , , 0 , 15 , 12 , 0 , - , 10 , , style="text-align:left;" , Jade Te Rure , , style="text-align:left;" , Manawatu , , style="background:#ccc;" , 66 , , 6.60 , , 3 , 9 , 11 , 0 Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published o
provincial.rugby
(see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats).

Leading try scorers

{, class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" , - ! No. !! Player , , Team , , Tries , , Average , - , 1 , , style="text-align:left;" , Tevita Li , , style="text-align:left;" , North Harbour , , style="background:#ccc;" , 11 , , 1.22 , - , 2 , , style="text-align:left;" , Braydon Ennor , , style="text-align:left;" ,

, , style="background:#ccc;" , 10 , , 1.11 , - , 3 , , style="text-align:left;" ,

Jona Nareki Jona Malanicagi Nareki is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the in Super Rugby. His playing position is wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have ...

, , style="text-align:left;" , Otago , , style="background:#ccc;" , 9 , , 1.00 , - , 4 , , style="text-align:left;" , Tim Bateman , , style="text-align:left;" ,

, , style="background:#ccc;" , 9 , , 0.81 , - , 5 , , style="text-align:left;" , Joe Webber , , style="text-align:left;" ,

, , style="background:#ccc;" , 8 , , 0.73 , - , 6 , , style="text-align:left;" , Alex Fidow , , style="text-align:left;" ,

, , style="background:#ccc;" , 8 , , 0.73 , - , 7 , , style="text-align:left;" ,

Lalakai Foketi Lalakai Foketi (born 22 December 1994) is an Australian rugby union player who currently plays as a centre for the in Super Rugby. Career Foketi first came to prominence in 2013 with some impressive displays while playing for the Manly Marl ...

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, , style="background:#ccc;" , 8 , , 0.67 , - , 8 , , style="text-align:left;" ,

Asafo Aumua Asafo Junior Aumua (; born 5 May 1997) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a Hooker (rugby union), hooker for New Zealand franchise Hurricanes (rugby union), Hurricanes and the New Zealand national rugby union team, Ne ...

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, , style="background:#ccc;" , 7 , , 0.70 , - , 9 , , style="text-align:left;" , Vince Aso , , style="text-align:left;" ,

, , style="background:#ccc;" , 7 , , 0.70 , - , 10 , , style="text-align:left;" ,

, , style="text-align:left;" ,

, , style="background:#ccc;" , 7 , , 0.58 Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published o
provincial.rugby
(see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats).

Points by week

{, class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%; width:100%" , - !Team !colspan=2, 1 !colspan=2, 2 !colspan=2, 3 !colspan=2, 4 !colspan=2, 5 !colspan=2, 6 !colspan=2, 7 !colspan=2, 8 !colspan=2, 9 !colspan=2, Total !colspan=2, Average , - , style="width:10%; text-align:left;",

, width=2%, 14 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 16 , width=2%, 10 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 8 , width=2%, 37 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 92 , width=2%, 38 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 49 , width=2%, 27 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 17 , width=2%, 26 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 34 , width=2%, 38 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 19 , width=2%, 18 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 31 , width=2%, 27 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 32 , width=2%, 235 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 298 , width=2%, 23.50 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 29.80 , - , align=left,

, 23 , style="background:#ccc;", 28 , 46 , style="background:#ccc;", 17 , 10 , style="background:#ccc;", 31 , 20 , style="background:#ccc;", 17 , 7 , style="background:#ccc;", 29 , 88 , style="background:#ccc;", 31 , 19 , style="background:#ccc;", 38 , 36 , style="background:#ccc;", 28 , 36 , style="background:#ccc;", 32 , 285 , style="background:#ccc;", 251 , 28.50 , style="background:#ccc;", 25.10 , - , align=left,

, 39 , style="background:#ccc;", 0 , 30 , style="background:#ccc;", 24 , 53 , style="background:#ccc;", 10 , 78 , style="background:#ccc;", 20 , 92 , style="background:#ccc;", 65 , 41 , style="background:#ccc;", 28 , 37 , style="background:#ccc;", 17 , 43 , style="background:#ccc;", 55 , 32 , style="background:#ccc;", 27 , 445 , style="background:#ccc;", 246 , 44.50 , style="background:#ccc;", 24.60 , - , align=left, Counties Manukau , 16 , style="background:#ccc;", 14 , 21 , style="background:#ccc;", 33 , 27 , style="background:#ccc;", 30 , 18 , style="background:#ccc;", 27 , 38 , style="background:#ccc;", 92 , 31 , style="background:#ccc;", 31 , 25 , style="background:#ccc;", 16 , 29 , style="background:#ccc;", 24 , 52 , style="background:#ccc;", 30 , 257 , style="background:#ccc;", 297 , 25.70 , style="background:#ccc;", 29.70 , - , align=left,

Hawke's Bay Hawke's Bay ( mi, Te Matau-a-Māui) is a local government region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. The region's name derives from Hawke Bay, which was named by Captain James Cook in honour of Admiral Edward Hawke. The region i ...

, 24 , style="background:#ccc;", 16 , 17 , style="background:#ccc;", 46 , 10 , style="background:#ccc;", 53 , 48 , style="background:#ccc;", 104 , 14 , style="background:#ccc;", 33 , 17 , style="background:#ccc;", 48 , 30 , style="background:#ccc;", 33 , 7 , style="background:#ccc;", 34 , 36 , style="background:#ccc;", 31 , 203 , style="background:#ccc;", 398 , 20.30 , style="background:#ccc;", 39.80 , - , align=left, Manawatu , 29 , style="background:#ccc;", 41 , 35 , style="background:#ccc;", 20 , 30 , style="background:#ccc;", 40 , 17 , style="background:#ccc;", 20 , 23 , style="background:#ccc;", 10 , 39 , style="background:#ccc;", 25 , 25 , style="background:#ccc;", 20 , 24 , style="background:#ccc;", 29 , 56 , style="background:#ccc;", 82 , 278 , style="background:#ccc;", 287 , 27.80 , style="background:#ccc;", 28.70 , - , align=left, North Harbour , 19 , style="background:#ccc;", 17 , 45 , style="background:#ccc;", 20 , 57 , style="background:#ccc;", 10 , 27 , style="background:#ccc;", 18 , 31 , style="background:#ccc;", 22 , 28 , style="background:#ccc;", 41 , 33 , style="background:#ccc;", 30 , 27 , style="background:#ccc;", 32 , 64 , style="background:#ccc;", 33 , 331 , style="background:#ccc;", 223 , 33.10 , style="background:#ccc;", 22.30 , - , align=left, Northland , 28 , style="background:#ccc;", 23 , 8 , style="background:#ccc;", 10 , 44 , style="background:#ccc;", 13 , 37 , style="background:#ccc;", 7 , 22 , style="background:#ccc;", 31 , 25 , style="background:#ccc;", 39 , 48 , style="background:#ccc;", 55 , 34 , style="background:#ccc;", 7 , 18 , style="background:#ccc;", 36 , 264 , style="background:#ccc;", 221 , 26.40 , style="background:#ccc;", 22.10 , - , align=left, Otago , 17 , style="background:#ccc;", 19 , 24 , style="background:#ccc;", 30 , 40 , style="background:#ccc;", 30 , 64 , style="background:#ccc;", 21 , 27 , style="background:#ccc;", 29 , 34 , style="background:#ccc;", 26 , 54 , style="background:#ccc;", 59 , 28 , style="background:#ccc;", 36 , 43 , style="background:#ccc;", 19 , 331 , style="background:#ccc;", 269 , 33.10 , style="background:#ccc;", 26.90 , - , align=left,

Southland Southland may refer to: Places Canada * Dunbar–Southlands, Vancouver, British Columbia New Zealand * Southland Region, a region of New Zealand * Southland County, a former New Zealand county * Southland District, part of the wider Southland Re ...

, 16 , style="background:#ccc;", 24 , 20 , style="background:#ccc;", 45 , 13 , style="background:#ccc;", 44 , 20 , style="background:#ccc;", 78 , 17 , style="background:#ccc;", 27 , 17 , style="background:#ccc;", 107 , 20 , style="background:#ccc;", 25 , 12 , style="background:#ccc;", 61 , 19 , style="background:#ccc;", 43 , 154 , style="background:#ccc;", 454 , 15.40 , style="background:#ccc;", 45.40 , - , align=left,

, 34 , style="background:#ccc;", 29 , 26 , style="background:#ccc;", 42 , 30 , style="background:#ccc;", 27 , 49 , style="background:#ccc;", 38 , 29 , style="background:#ccc;", 7 , 48 , style="background:#ccc;", 17 , 40 , style="background:#ccc;", 26 , 55 , style="background:#ccc;", 43 , 79 , style="background:#ccc;", 89 , 390 , style="background:#ccc;", 318 , 39.00 , style="background:#ccc;", 31.80 , - , align=left, Tasman , 0 , style="background:#ccc;", 39 , 20 , style="background:#ccc;", 35 , 31 , style="background:#ccc;", 29 , 37 , style="background:#ccc;", 35 , 29 , style="background:#ccc;", 27 , 50 , style="background:#ccc;", 17 , 26 , style="background:#ccc;", 40 , 52 , style="background:#ccc;", 32 , 30 , style="background:#ccc;", 52 , 275 , style="background:#ccc;", 306 , 27.50 , style="background:#ccc;", 30.60 , - , align=left,

, 29 , style="background:#ccc;", 34 , 33 , style="background:#ccc;", 21 , 64 , style="background:#ccc;", 58 , 7 , style="background:#ccc;", 37 , 10 , style="background:#ccc;", 23 , 10 , style="background:#ccc;", 34 , 17 , style="background:#ccc;", 37 , 11 , style="background:#ccc;", 13 , 32 , style="background:#ccc;", 36 , 213 , style="background:#ccc;", 293 , 21.30 , style="background:#ccc;", 29.30 , - , align=left,

, 41 , style="background:#ccc;", 29 , 42 , style="background:#ccc;", 26 , 31 , style="background:#ccc;", 10 , 75 , style="background:#ccc;", 64 , 60 , style="background:#ccc;", 14 , 34 , style="background:#ccc;", 10 , 27 , style="background:#ccc;", 24 , 61 , style="background:#ccc;", 12 , 36 , style="background:#ccc;", 18 , 407 , style="background:#ccc;", 207 , 40.70 , style="background:#ccc;", 20.70 Source: Mitre 10 Cup Fixtures and Results 2017

Tries by week

, width=2%, 2 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 1 , width=2%, 1 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 1 , width=2%, 4 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 11 , width=2%, 5 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 6 , width=2%, 4 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 2 , width=2%, 4 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 5 , width=2%, 4 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 3 , width=2%, 2 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 5 , width=2%, 3 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 4 , width=2%, 29 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 38 , width=2%, 2.90 , style="width:2%; background:#ccc;", 3.80 , - , align=left,

, 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 6 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 1 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 1 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 13 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 5 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 5 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 38 , style="background:#ccc;", 34 , 3.80 , style="background:#ccc;", 3.40 , - , align=left,

, 5 , style="background:#ccc;", 0 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 7 , style="background:#ccc;", 1 , 11 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 13 , style="background:#ccc;", 9 , 5 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 6 , style="background:#ccc;", 7 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 59 , style="background:#ccc;", 33 , 5.90 , style="background:#ccc;", 3.30 , - , align=left, Counties Manukau , 1 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 6 , style="background:#ccc;", 13 , 5 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 1 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 8 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 35 , style="background:#ccc;", 38 , 3.50 , style="background:#ccc;", 3.80 , - , align=left,

, 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 1 , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 6 , 1 , style="background:#ccc;", 7 , 7 , style="background:#ccc;", 15 , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 7 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 1 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 6 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 28 , style="background:#ccc;", 52 , 2.80 , style="background:#ccc;", 5.20 , - , align=left, Manawatu , 5 , style="background:#ccc;", 6 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 6 , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 7 , style="background:#ccc;", 13 , 34 , style="background:#ccc;", 40 , 3.40 , style="background:#ccc;", 4.00 , - , align=left, North Harbour , 1 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 6 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 7 , style="background:#ccc;", 1 , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 1 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 10 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 39 , style="background:#ccc;", 25 , 3.90 , style="background:#ccc;", 2.50 , - , align=left, Northland , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 1 , style="background:#ccc;", 1 , 6 , style="background:#ccc;", 1 , 5 , style="background:#ccc;", 1 , 1 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 6 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 1 , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 6 , 29 , style="background:#ccc;", 25 , 2.90 , style="background:#ccc;", 2.50 , - , align=left, Otago , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 1 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 6 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 9 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 5 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 5 , style="background:#ccc;", 6 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 6 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 43 , style="background:#ccc;", 33 , 4.30 , style="background:#ccc;", 3.30 , - , align=left,

, 1 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 6 , 1 , style="background:#ccc;", 6 , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 11 , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 17 , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 9 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 6 , 18 , style="background:#ccc;", 66 , 1.80 , style="background:#ccc;", 6.60 , - , align=left,

, 6 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 6 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 1 , 7 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 6 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 7 , style="background:#ccc;", 6 , 12 , style="background:#ccc;", 13 , 56 , style="background:#ccc;", 44 , 5.60 , style="background:#ccc;", 4.49 , - , align=left, Tasman , 0 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 8 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 6 , 8 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 8 , 38 , style="background:#ccc;", 43 , 3.80 , style="background:#ccc;", 4.30 , - , align=left,

, 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 6 , 5 , style="background:#ccc;", 3 , 9 , style="background:#ccc;", 7 , 1 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 2 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 1 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 3 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 1 , style="background:#ccc;", 1 , 5 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 31 , style="background:#ccc;", 38 , 3.10 , style="background:#ccc;", 3.80 , - , align=left,

, 6 , style="background:#ccc;", 5 , 5 , style="background:#ccc;", 4 , 5 , style="background:#ccc;", 1 , 11 , style="background:#ccc;", 8 , 8 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 5 , style="background:#ccc;", 1 , 4 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 9 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 6 , style="background:#ccc;", 2 , 59 , style="background:#ccc;", 27 , 5.90 , style="background:#ccc;", 2.70 {, class="wikitable" style="width:20%; text-align:center; line-height:90%; font-size:90%; float:right;" , - , align=center, For , style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;", Against Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published o
provincial.rugby
(see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats).

Sanctions

{, class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" !Player !Team ! Red ! Yellow ! class="unsortable", Sent off match(es): , - , align="left" ,

Elliot Dixon Elliot Christopher Dixon (born 4 September 1989) is a professional rugby union player. He represents the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition and Southland in the ITM Cup, playing at number 8. Dixon is best known for his three test app ...

, align="left",

, , 1 , , 2 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , Viliami Lolohea , align="left", Tasman , , 1 , , 2 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , Levi Aumua , align="left", Tasman , , 1 , , 0 , align="left", vs. Otago , - , align="left" , Augustine Pulu , align="left", Counties Manukau , , 1 , , 0 , align="left", vs. Manawatu , - , align="left" , Albert Nikoro , align="left", Counties Manukau , , 1 , , 0 , align="left", vs. Tasman , - , align="left" ,

Tony Lamborn Tony Lamborn (born 31 July 1991) is a New Zealand-born American rugby union player who plays as a flanker. He currently plays his club rugby for Southland in the Mitre 10 Cup, and the Blues in the Super Rugby competition. He also played for th ...

, align="left",

, , 1 , , 0 , align="left", vs. Manawatu , - , align="left" , Newton Tudreu , align="left", Manawatu , , 1 , , 0 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , Sam Henwood , align="left", Counties Manukau , , 0 , , 2 , align="left", vs.

and

, - , align="left" , Pouri Rakete-Stones , align="left",

, , 0 , , 2 , align="left", vs.

and

, - , align="left" ,

Marcel Renata Marcel T. Renata (born 24 February 1994) is a New Zealand Rugby Union, rugby union player who currently plays as a Prop (rugby union), prop for in New Zealand's domestic Mitre 10 Cup. Senior career Renata first made the Auckland provincial sq ...

, align="left",

, , 0 , , 2 , align="left", vs.

and

, - , align="left" ,

Ryan Tongia Ryan Tongia (born 31 May 1990, in Brisbane) is a professional rugby league and rugby union footballer. He is currently based out of Hawke’s bay in New Zealand. Tongia is of Papua New Guinean, Chinese and German descent, but was born and raise ...

, align="left",

, , 0 , , 2 , align="left", vs.

and

, - , align="left" , James Tucker , align="left",

, , 0 , , 2 , align="left", vs. Northland and North Harbour , - , align="left" , Geoffrey Cridge , align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , Jordan Trainor , align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Northland , - , align="left" , Tima Fainga'anuku , align="left", Tasman , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Manawatu , - , align="left" ,

, align="left", Tasman , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Manawatu , - , align="left" , Nick Werahiko , align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , James Lowe , align="left", Tasman , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , Heiden Bedwell-Curtis , align="left", Manawatu , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" ,

Henry Stowers Henry Stowers (born 3 March 1995) is a New Zealand born, Samoan rugby union player who plays for the Benetton Rugby in the United Rugby Championship. His playing position is flanker. He is also a Samoan international. Biography Stowers was bo ...

, align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , Lachlan Boshier , align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" ,

Josh Ioane Joshua R. Ioane (born 11 July 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for Otago in the Mitre 10 Cup and the in Super Rugby. His position of choice is fly-half. Early life Born in Auckland. Ioane moved to Otago for university, aft ...

, align="left", Otago , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Tasman , - , align="left" , Alex Ainley , align="left", Tasman , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Otago , - , align="left" ,

, align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , Regan Verney , align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" ,

Kara Pryor Kara A. Pryor (born 2 April 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a loose forward for Rugby United New York (RUNY) of Major League Rugby (MLR). Senior career Pryor started out his National Provincial Championship ca ...

, align="left", Northland , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Otago , - , align="left" ,

James Lentjes James Anthony Richard Lentjes (born 16 January 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently for the Bunnings NPC. His position is Flanker. Early career Born and raised in the city of Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealan ...

, align="left", Otago , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Northland , - , align="left" ,

Slade McDowall Slade McDowall (born 8 March 1998 in New Zealand) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby (MLR) and for the in Super Rugby Super Rugby is a men's professional rugby union club com ...

, align="left", Otago , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Northland , - , align="left" ,

, align="left", Tasman , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , Hapakuki Moala-Liava'a , align="left", North Harbour , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , Billy Proctor , align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Otago , - , align="left" ,

, align="left", Tasman , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. North Harbour , - , align="left" , Antonio Kiri Kiri , align="left", Manawatu , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Counties Manukau , - , align="left" , Tevita Nabura , align="left", Counties Manukau , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Manawatu , - , align="left" ,

Tim Nanai-Williams Tim Nanai-Williams (born 12 June 1989) is a New Zealand-born Samoan rugby union player. He currently plays for Stade Toulousain in the Top 14. He has also represented New Zealand and Samoa in sevens rugby. Early life and education Nanai-Wi ...

, align="left", Counties Manukau , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Manawatu , - , align="left" ,

Sam Nock Sam J. Nock (born 18 June 1996) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a halfback for in the Bunnings NPC and the in the Super Rugby competition. Early career Attending Saint Kentigern College in Auckland, Nock's talent ...

, align="left", Northland , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" ,

Sevu Reece Sevuloni Lasei Reece (born 13 February 1997) is a rugby union player who currently plays as a wing for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and in the Bunnings NPC. Born in Fiji, he moved to New Zealand in 2014. He made his debut for the New Zealand na ...

, align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. North Harbour , - , align="left" , Michael Ala'alatoa , align="left", Manawatu , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , Declan O'Donnell , align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Manawatu , - , align="left" , Ben Nee-Nee , align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , Inga Finau , align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" ,

, align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , Pita Ahki , align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , Phil Halder , align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Otago , - , align="left" , Baden Kerr , align="left", Counties Manukau , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Tasman , - , align="left" ,

Sam Moli Samiuela Moli is a New Zealand born Tongan rugby union player who plays for the Tasman Mako in the Bunnings NPC and Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. His position of choice is Hooker. Tasman Moli made his debut for in Round 9 of the 2017 Mitr ...

, align="left", Tasman , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Counties Manukau , - , align="left" , Dan Pryor , align="left", Northland , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , Hugh Blake , align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Otago , - , align="left" , Latu Vaeno , align="left", Otago , , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs.

, - , align="left" , Seta Tamanivalu , align="left",

, , 0 , , 1 , align="left", vs. Tasman

Ranfurly Shield

Pre-season challenges

December 2016,

accepted

Ranfurly Shield 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 challeng ...

challenges from both

Wanganui Whanganui (; ), also spelled Wanganui, is a city in the Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand. The city is located on the west coast of the North Island at the mouth of the Whanganui River, New Zealand's longest navigable waterway. Whang ...

and

Mid Canterbury Mid Canterbury (also spelt Mid-Canterbury and mid-Canterbury) is a traditional, semi-official subregion of New Zealand's Canterbury Region extending inland from the Pacific coast to the Southern Alps. It is one of four traditional sub-regions of C ...

after it was confirmed that several offers were received from

and

Heartland Championship The Heartland Championship competition, known for sponsorship reasons as the Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship, is a domestic rugby union competition in New Zealand. It was founded in 2006 as one of two successor competitions to the countr ...

unions. Wanganui will travel to Christchurch and play at AMI Stadium, while the Shield will go on the road for a challenge against Mid-Canterbury which will be played at the Ashburton Showgrounds. In the first challenge, Canterbury beat Wanganui 71−5 in Christchurch, after running in 10 tries with 10 uncapped players. Canterbury's win ensured them their 133rd successful Shield defence. Captain and halfback Jack Stratton scored the opening try in the 10th minute, before four more first-half tries resulted in the lead out to 36−5 at the break. Also early in the half, a yellow card was awarded to

prop Viki Tofa, for a high tackle on flanker Billy Harmon. Debutant first-five eighth Brett Cameron kicked 17 points in the match, while hooker Nick Werahiko scored a double.

Wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is e ...

Ngane Punivai impressed with his power and speed. Midfielder Timoci Seruwalu scored the visitors' only try late in the first half, when he powered over the line on the back of a close scrum. Wanganui veteran Peter Rowe retired after the loss with 112 games. The late pre-season match saw the current holders take on

, with the opposition losing all 13 of their Ranfurly Shield challenges, with eight of the defeats against Canterbury. Canterbury went on to win another successful defence 69–7. Having led 33–0 at halftime, the defending

champions went on to run in eleven tries to one and beat the

side at the Ashburton Showgrounds. Former New Zealand under-20s World Cup winner Josh McKay was one of four Canterbury players to make their debut in the match, with himself and outside back Nigel Gibb, who beat four defenders on his way to the line, scoring tries in the blowout win. Wing Marshall Suckling and hooker Nathan Vella scored doubles in the win also.

References

External links

* {{NPC National Provincial Championship 2017 in New Zealand rugby union 2017 rugby union tournaments for clubs