Bunnings NPC (New Zealand) 2026/27

The Bunnings NPC is the second tier of New Zealand rugby union, sitting below the international Super Rugby Pacific and above the amateur Heartland Championship. It serves as a primary development pathway for emerging talent, featuring provincial unions that represent local communities rather than the franchises owned by New Zealand Rugby that compete in the top flight. The competition sits at a distinct level from its neighbours by maintaining a fixed membership structure with no promotion or relegation between the tiers.

Founded in 2006 following a restructuring of the original National Provincial Championship, the competition began its professional era as the Air New Zealand Cup. The format consists of a single unified division where each team plays ten matches in a round-robin style. The top eight teams advance to quarter-finals, with winners progressing to semi-finals and a final. This structure was solidified in 2021 after previous playoff systems were abandoned, ensuring stability for the participating unions.

Currently, fourteen provincial unions participate in the competition. Auckland is the most successful club overall with seventeen titles, including those from the pre-2006 era. Canterbury holds the record for the professional era with ten titles between 2006 and 2018. The competition has undergone several name changes due to sponsorship, transitioning from the ITM Cup and Mitre 10 Cup to the Bunnings NPC before becoming the Hilux NPC for the 2026 season. Notable history includes the 'Match of the Century' in 1985 and Taranaki's 2014 upset victory.