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<button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.unpin">hide</button> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <figure class="mw-halign-right" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:NZunions.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/NZunions.png/300px-NZunions.png" decoding="async" width="300" height="291" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/NZunions.png/450px-NZunions.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/NZunions.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="581" /></a><figcaption>Map of all provincial unions within New Zealand.</figcaption></figure> <p><b>Rugby union</b> in <b>New Zealand</b> is structured into four tiers. The top tier is composed of the national representative teams, with the men's team – known as the <a href="/wiki/All_Blacks" class="mw-redirect" title="All Blacks">All Blacks</a> – and the women's team – known as the <a href="/wiki/Black_Ferns" class="mw-redirect" title="Black Ferns">Black Ferns</a>, at the top, followed by other representative sides such as the <a href="/wiki/Junior_All_Blacks" class="mw-redirect" title="Junior All Blacks">Junior All Blacks</a> and <a href="/wiki/M%C4%81ori_All_Blacks" title="Māori All Blacks">Māori All Blacks</a>. These national sides are administered by the <a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_Rugby_Union" class="mw-redirect" title="New Zealand Rugby Union">New Zealand Rugby Union</a> (NZRU). Below this level is <a href="/wiki/Super_Rugby" title="Super Rugby">Super Rugby</a>, where there are five New Zealand sides, each representing a different region of the country. Below this level is provincial rugby, the third tier – each province has a representative side that plays in either the semi-professional <a href="/wiki/National_Provincial_Championship_(2006-present)" class="mw-redirect" title="National Provincial Championship (2006-present)">Bunnings NPC</a>, or amateur <a href="/wiki/Heartland_Championship" title="Heartland Championship">Heartland Championship</a>. These provincial sides are selected of Super Rugby players, and club players from within the province. Club rugby is the fourth and lowest tier, and consists of clubs competing in local leagues organised by a provincial union. </p><p>There are 26 provincial unions<sup id="cite_ref-TeAra6_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TeAra6-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and each administers their own club competitions. Within these provinces there are over 520 clubs<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> who are affiliated both to their province and the NZRU. The number of clubs in each province varies from six for the smallest unions such as West Coast to more than 30 for bigger unions such as Canterbury and Auckland. Many clubs pre-date the existence of the provincial or national unions.<sup id="cite_ref-TeAra5_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TeAra5-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Level_1:_Bunnings_Warehouse_NPC">Level 1: Bunnings Warehouse NPC</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Structure_of_rugby_union_in_New_Zealand&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Level 1: Bunnings Warehouse NPC"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The National Provincial Championship (NPC) was founded in <a href="/wiki/1976_in_sport" class="mw-redirect" title="1976 in sport">1976</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-TeAra5_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TeAra5-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The Bunnings Warehouse NPC, previously known as the Mitre 10 Cup, which was renamed from the ITM Cup after a 2016 sponsorship change, is fully professional and the competition usually runs from late July or early August to late October. From 2006, when the then <a href="/wiki/Air_New_Zealand_Cup" class="mw-redirect" title="Air New Zealand Cup">Air New Zealand Cup</a> replaced NPC division one, through to 2010, the competition contained 14 teams in a nationwide tournament. Starting with the 2011 season, the ITM Cup was split into two divisions,<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> each with seven teams—the top-level Premiership and second-level Championship. Each division remained a nationwide tournament, although one that declined in perceived importance, as Ron Palenski described: "For all its success, the NPC is now seen as a lesser competition by New Zealand Rugby (formerly the New Zealand Rugby Union), which gives priority to the Super Rugby teams."<sup id="cite_ref-TeAra6_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-TeAra6-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>With the split into two divisions, promotion and relegation was reintroduced into the top level; the bottom side in the Premiership is relegated to the Championship and replaced by that division's champion. </p><p>In 2021, <a href="/wiki/Bunnings" title="Bunnings">Bunnings</a> was named as the new sponsors for domestic rugby in New Zealand on a three-year deal. They restructured the NPC with all 14 teams now united in the same division but now with two conferences called 'Evens' and 'Odds' which was derived from their previous final placing.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The promotion and relegation that was present before was therefore removed. </p><p>The previous season's playing schedule would remain of ten regular season games, with five each both home and away and four crossover matches involving randomly drawn opponents from the other conference alongside the other six teams in each team's own conference. As all fourteen teams are now in the same competition, they will now compete for a quarter-final berth as opposed to a semi-final berth previously. </p><p>The current Bunnings Warehouse NPC teams, as of the 2022 season, are: </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Odds_Conference">Odds Conference</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Structure_of_rugby_union_in_New_Zealand&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Odds Conference"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Counties Manukau</li> <li>Hawkes Bay</li> <li>Otago</li> <li>Wellington</li> <li>Waikato</li> <li>Southland</li> <li>Bay of Plenty</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Evens_Conference">Evens Conference</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Structure_of_rugby_union_in_New_Zealand&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Evens Conference"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Manawatu</li> <li>Northland</li> <li>Taranaki</li> <li>Auckland</li> <li>Canterbury</li> <li>North Harbour</li> <li>Tasman</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Level_2:_Heartland_Championship">Level 2: Heartland Championship</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Structure_of_rugby_union_in_New_Zealand&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Level 2: Heartland Championship"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Heartland Championship is not fully professional. Like the Bunnings Warehouse NPC, the Heartland Championship is also a nationwide competition. The winners do not gain promotion to the NPC, so the Heartland Championship teams have remained the same since 2006. The Championship generally runs from late August to late October. The Heartland Championship contains 12 teams, 8 of which came from the NPC 3rd division in 2006 with the other already in the NPC 2nd division. The 12 teams in the Heartland Championship are: </p> <ul><li>Buller</li> <li>East Coast (formerly NPC 2nd division)</li> <li>Horowhenua Kapiti</li> <li>King Country</li> <li>Mid Canterbury</li> <li>North Otago (formerly NPC 2nd division)</li> <li>Poverty Bay (formerly NPC 2nd division)</li> <li>South Canterbury</li> <li>Thames Valley</li> <li>Wairarapa Bush</li> <li>Wanganui (formerly NPC 2nd division)</li> <li>West Coast</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Level_3_and_below:_Regional_Leagues">Level 3 and below: Regional Leagues</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Structure_of_rugby_union_in_New_Zealand&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Level 3 and below: Regional Leagues"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The club season in New Zealand usually runs from March until late July or early August in any given year and amateur clubs compete on a regional basis. The sides play in intra provincial competitions against other teams from within their own provincial unions boundaries and this is the highest level of club play possible. There is no National club league, or nationwide competition for amateur club rugby. </p><p>Most of the 26 provincial unions have a number of divisions of club rugby within their province, particularly larger unions who may have as many as 6 or 7 tiers of club leagues. Some smaller Unions only have 1 division however. Some unions have promotion and relegation between their divisions, while in others, clubs are represented in several divisions, and in those cases, the players are promoted or demoted within their own club to/from that club's higher-level team. Playing premier division one club rugby (also called "Seniors" in some provinces) in any union is the highest level of club rugby in New Zealand. In order to play in the Nationwide Representative competitions, The <a href="/wiki/National_Provincial_Championship_(2006%E2%80%93present)" title="National Provincial Championship (2006–present)">Bunnings Warehouse NPC</a> and <a href="/wiki/Heartland_Championship" title="Heartland Championship">Heartland Championship</a> players must be selected, usually due to their form during the club season which precedes the Provincial representative season. Therefore, a representative player will play both for a club and a provincial team in the same season. This is grassroots rugby. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="The_System">The System</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Structure_of_rugby_union_in_New_Zealand&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: The System"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="1" width="4%"> <p>Level </p> </th> <th width="96%"> <p>League(s)/Division(s) </p> </th></tr> <tr> <td colspan="1" width="4%"> <p>1 </p> </td> <td width="96%"> <p><b><a href="/wiki/National_Provincial_Championship_(2006%E2%80%93present)" title="National Provincial Championship (2006–present)">Bunnings Warehouse NPC</a> Premiership</b><br /> (Formerly NPC Division One, Air New Zealand Cup, ITM Cup and Mitre 10 Cup)<br /> <i>14 teams</i> </p> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="1" width="4%"> <p>2 </p> </td> <td width="96%"> <p><b><a href="/wiki/Heartland_Championship" title="Heartland Championship">Heartland Championship</a></b><br /> (Formerly NPC Division Two and NPC Division Three)<br /> <i>12 teams</i> </p> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="1" width="4%"> <p>3 </p> </td> <td width="96%"> <p><b>Local Club Competitions</b><br /> (Leagues administered by each of the 26 individual unions)<br /> <i>Number of teams in each league varies from union to union</i> </p> </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Structure_of_rugby_union_in_New_Zealand&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-TeAra6-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-TeAra6_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-TeAra6_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFPalenski2013" class="citation journal cs1">Palenski, Ron (5 September 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/rugby-union/page-6">"Page 6. Provincial and regional rugby since 1976"</a>. <i>Te Ara</i>: 6.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Te+Ara&rft.atitle=Page+6.+Provincial+and+regional+rugby+since+1976&rft.pages=6&rft.date=2013-09-05&rft.aulast=Palenski&rft.aufirst=Ron&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fteara.govt.nz%2Fen%2Frugby-union%2Fpage-6&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AStructure+of+rugby+union+in+New+Zealand" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.times.co.nz/sports/grassroots-sport-is-club-rugby-on-the-rocks/">"Grassroots sport: Is club rugby on the rocks?"</a>. <i>Howick and Pakuranga Times</i>. 27 May 2020.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Howick+and+Pakuranga+Times&rft.atitle=Grassroots+sport%3A+Is+club+rugby+on+the+rocks%3F&rft.date=2020-05-27&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.times.co.nz%2Fsports%2Fgrassroots-sport-is-club-rugby-on-the-rocks%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AStructure+of+rugby+union+in+New+Zealand" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-TeAra5-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-TeAra5_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-TeAra5_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFPalenski2013" class="citation journal cs1">Palenski, Ron (5 September 2013). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/rugby-union/page-5">"Page 5. Club and provincial rugby"</a>. <i>Te Ara</i>: 5.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Te+Ara&rft.atitle=Page+5.+Club+and+provincial+rugby&rft.pages=5&rft.date=2013-09-05&rft.aulast=Palenski&rft.aufirst=Ron&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fteara.govt.nz%2Fen%2Frugby-union%2Fpage-5&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AStructure+of+rugby+union+in+New+Zealand" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/14143/nz-rugby-competition-structure-revamped">"NZ rugby competition structure revamped"</a>. Radio New Zealand. 21 June 2009.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=NZ+rugby+competition+structure+revamped&rft.date=2009-06-21&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rnz.co.nz%2Fnews%2Fnational%2F14143%2Fnz-rugby-competition-structure-revamped&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AStructure+of+rugby+union+in+New+Zealand" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJohnstone2009" class="citation news cs1">Johnstone, Duncan (20 July 2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/2520504/NZ-domestic-rugby-structure-decided">"NZ domestic rugby structure decided"</a>. New Zealand: Stuff.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=NZ+domestic+rugby+structure+decided&rft.date=2009-07-20&rft.aulast=Johnstone&rft.aufirst=Duncan&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stuff.co.nz%2Fsport%2Frugby%2F2520504%2FNZ-domestic-rugby-structure-decided&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AStructure+of+rugby+union+in+New+Zealand" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.provincial.rugby/news/new-competition-format-for-the-bunnings-warehouse-npc/">"New competition format for the Bunnings Warehouse NPC"</a>. <i>Provincial Rugby</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">24 September</span> 2022</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Provincial+Rugby&rft.atitle=New+competition+format+for+the+Bunnings+Warehouse+NPC&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.provincial.rugby%2Fnews%2Fnew-competition-format-for-the-bunnings-warehouse-npc%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AStructure+of+rugby+union+in+New+Zealand" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl 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style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:black; color:white; box-shadow: inset 1px 1px 0 silver, inset -1px -1px 0 silver;;;width:1%">Men's</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team" title="New Zealand national rugby union team">New Zealand</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_national_rugby_sevens_team" title="New Zealand national rugby sevens team">Sevens</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_national_under-20_rugby_union_team" title="New Zealand national under-20 rugby union team">U-20</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_national_schoolboy_rugby_union_team" title="New Zealand national schoolboy rugby union team">Schoolboys</a></li> <li>Defunct: <a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_national_under-21_rugby_union_team" title="New Zealand national under-21 rugby union team">U-21</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_national_under-19_rugby_union_team" title="New Zealand national under-19 rugby union team">U-19</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:black; color:white; box-shadow: inset 1px 1px 0 silver, inset -1px -1px 0 silver;;;width:1%">Women's</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_women%27s_national_rugby_union_team" title="New Zealand women's national rugby union team">New Zealand</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_women%27s_national_rugby_sevens_team" title="New Zealand women's national rugby sevens team">Sevens</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:black; color:white; box-shadow: inset 1px 1px 0 silver, inset -1px -1px 0 silver;;;width:1%">Other notable teams</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/All_Blacks_XV" title="All Blacks XV">All Blacks XV</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_Barbarians" title="New Zealand Barbarians">Barbarians</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_Cavaliers" title="New Zealand Cavaliers">Cavaliers</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Classic_All_Blacks" title="Classic All Blacks">Classic All Blacks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_Heartland_XV" title="New Zealand Heartland XV">Heartland XV</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/M%C4%81ori_All_Blacks" title="Māori All Blacks">Māori All Blacks</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:black; color:white; box-shadow: inset 1px 1px 0 silver, inset -1px -1px 0 silver;;;width:1%">Competitions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Super_Rugby" title="Super Rugby">Super Rugby</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Super_Rugby_Aupiki" title="Super Rugby Aupiki">Super Rugby Aupiki</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_Provincial_Championship_(2006%E2%80%93present)" title="National Provincial Championship (2006–present)">National Provincial Championship</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Heartland_Championship" title="Heartland Championship">Heartland Championship</a> <ul><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="/wiki/Meads_Cup" title="Meads Cup">Meads Cup</a></span></li> <li><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="/wiki/Lochore_Cup" title="Lochore Cup">Lochore Cup</a></span></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ranfurly_Shield" title="Ranfurly Shield">Ranfurly Shield</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hanan_Shield" title="Hanan Shield">Hanan Shield</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_Sevens_(tournament)" title="New Zealand Sevens (tournament)">New Zealand Sevens</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_Women%27s_Sevens" title="New Zealand Women's Sevens">New Zealand Women's Sevens</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_National_Rugby_Sevens_Tournament" title="New Zealand National Rugby Sevens Tournament">National Sevens</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Farah_Palmer_Cup" title="Farah Palmer Cup">Farah Palmer Cup</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/National_First_XV_Championship_(New_Zealand)" title="National First XV Championship (New Zealand)">National First XV Championship</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/North_vs_South_rugby_union_match" title="North vs South rugby union match">North vs South rugby union match</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/The_Rugby_Championship" title="The Rugby Championship">The Rugby Championship</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:black; color:white; box-shadow: inset 1px 1px 0 silver, inset -1px -1px 0 silver;;;width:1%">Related articles</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_players" title="List of New Zealand national rugby union players">International players</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_New_Zealand_national_rugby_union_team_player_records" title="List of New Zealand national rugby union team player records">International player records</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_All_Blacks_tours_and_series" title="List of All Blacks tours and series">International tours and series</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_at_the_Rugby_World_Cup" title="New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup">New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/History_of_rugby_union_in_New_Zealand" title="History of rugby union in New Zealand">History of rugby union in New Zealand</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Structure of rugby union in New Zealand</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_New_Zealand_rugby_union_teams" title="List of New Zealand rugby union teams">List of New Zealand rugby union teams</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Racism_in_New_Zealand_rugby_union" title="Racism in New Zealand rugby union">Racism in New Zealand rugby union</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_Zealand_Rugby_Museum" title="New Zealand Rugby Museum">New Zealand Rugby Museum</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Oceania_Rugby" title="Oceania Rugby">Oceania Rugby</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:black; color:white; box-shadow: inset 1px 1px 0 silver, inset -1px -1px 0 silver;;;width:1%">Provincial unions</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:black; color:white; box-shadow: inset 1px 1px 0 silver, inset -1px -1px 0 silver;;;width:1%">North Island</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Auckland_Rugby_Union" title="Auckland Rugby Union">Auckland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bay_of_Plenty_Rugby_Union" title="Bay of Plenty Rugby Union">Bay of Plenty</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Counties_Manukau_Rugby_Football_Union" title="Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union">Counties-Manukau</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/East_Coast_Rugby_Football_Union" title="East Coast Rugby Football Union">East Coast</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hawke%27s_Bay_Rugby_Union" title="Hawke's Bay Rugby Union">Hawke's Bay</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Horowhenua-Kapiti_Rugby_Football_Union" title="Horowhenua-Kapiti Rugby Football Union">Horowhenua-Kapiti</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/King_Country_Rugby_Football_Union" title="King Country Rugby Football Union">King Country</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Manawatu_Rugby_Union" title="Manawatu Rugby Union">Manawatu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/North_Harbour_Rugby_Union" title="North Harbour Rugby Union">North Harbour</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Northland_Rugby_Union" title="Northland Rugby Union">Northland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Poverty_Bay_Rugby_Football_Union" title="Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union">Poverty Bay</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Taranaki_Rugby_Football_Union" title="Taranaki Rugby Football Union">Taranaki</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thames_Valley_Rugby_Football_Union" title="Thames Valley Rugby Football Union">Thames Valley</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Waikato_Rugby_Union" title="Waikato Rugby Union">Waikato</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wairarapa_Bush_Rugby_Football_Union" title="Wairarapa Bush Rugby Football Union">Wairarapa Bush</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Whanganui_Rugby_Football_Union" title="Whanganui Rugby Football Union">Wanganui</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wellington_Rugby_Football_Union" title="Wellington Rugby Football Union">Wellington</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="background:black; color:white; box-shadow: inset 1px 1px 0 silver, inset -1px -1px 0 silver;;;width:1%">South Island</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Buller_Rugby_Football_Union" title="Buller Rugby Football Union">Buller</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Canterbury_Rugby_Football_Union" title="Canterbury Rugby Football Union">Canterbury</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mid_Canterbury_Rugby_Football_Union" title="Mid Canterbury Rugby Football Union">Mid-Canterbury</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/North_Otago_Rugby_Football_Union" title="North Otago Rugby Football Union">North Otago</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Otago_Rugby_Football_Union" title="Otago Rugby Football Union">Otago</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/South_Canterbury_Rugby_Football_Union" title="South Canterbury Rugby Football Union">South Canterbury</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Southland_Rugby" class="mw-redirect" title="Southland Rugby">Southland</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tasman_Rugby_Union" title="Tasman Rugby Union">Tasman</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/West_Coast_Rugby_Football_Union" title="West Coast Rugby Football Union">West Coast</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=0" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Structure_of_rugby_union_in_New_Zealand&oldid=1264079865">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Structure_of_rugby_union_in_New_Zealand&oldid=1264079865</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" 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