Q: What is the Farah Palmer Cup?

The women&rsquo;s domestic rugby competition in NZ is the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC). This competition continues to expand as the numbers of women playing rugby grows, and so the format of the Farah Palmer Cup is decided prior to the start of each season. View the 2026 FPC Fixtures and Results <a href="https://www.provincial.rugby/farah-palmer-cup/fixtures-and-results" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>

Q: <h5>What is the National Provincial Championship ?</h5>

<div> The men&rsquo;s domestic rugby competition in NZ is the National Provincial Championship (NPC). The NPC is played between all 14 Premier Competition Unions. The are teams divided into two conferences of seven teams based on the previous season&rsquo;s standings. Each team plays ten competition matches (five home games and five away games) (&ldquo;Round Robin&rdquo;) prior to quarter-finals and/ or semi-finals and/ or finals (&ldquo;Finals Rounds&rdquo;). View the 2026 NPC Fixtures and Results <a href="https://www.provincial.rugby/npc/fixtures-and-results" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> </div>

Q: What is the Heartland Championship?

The Heartland Championship is the second tier of men&rsquo;s rugby in New Zealand's domestic competitions. The competition boasts twelve teams, all of whom are contributors to the catchment areas of the New Zealand Super Rugby Clubs. View the 2026 Heartland Championship Fixtures and Results <a href="https://www.provincial.rugby/heartland-championship/fixtures-and-results" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>

Question 1

Who are the national representative rugby teams from New Zealand?

Accepted Answer

All Blacks
Black Ferns
Māori All Blacks
All Blacks XV
Black Ferns XV
All Blacks Sevens
Black Ferns Sevens
New Zealand Schools
New Zealand U20
Heartland XV
NZ Provincial Barbarians

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Question 2

What is DHL Super Rugby Pacific? Who plays in it?

Accepted Answer

DHL Super Rugby Pacific is made up of 11 teams who play a total of 15 matches during the regular season, leading up to a 3 series final round, with quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.

Delivered by the joint venture partnership between New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia, DHL Super Rugby Pacific hosts matches from both of these nations and the wider pacific with coverage provided by NZR’s long-standing broadcast partner Sky (throughout New Zealand).

Our NZ based teams include Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders, Highlanders and Moana Pasifika

Question 3

What is Sky Super Rugby Aupiki? Who plays in it?

Accepted Answer

Sky Super Rugby Aupiki is New Zealand's top women's domestic competition. The teams consist of nib Blues, Chiefs Manawa, Hurricanes Poua and Matatū (a combined South Island team governed by the Crusaders and Highlanders) who play across five weekends each year.

The name Super Rugby Aupiki reflects on the competition being a crucial stepping stone between Farah Palmer Cup and the Black Ferns, with Aupiki translating to mean 'the ascent to the upper most realm’.

Question 4

What is the Farah Palmer Cup?

Accepted Answer

The women’s domestic rugby competition in NZ is the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC).

This competition continues to expand as the numbers of women playing rugby grows, and so the format of the Farah Palmer Cup is decided prior to the start of each season.

View the 2026 FPC Fixtures and Results here

Question 5

What is the National Provincial Championship ?

Accepted Answer

The men’s domestic rugby competition in NZ is the National Provincial Championship (NPC).

The NPC is played between all 14 Premier Competition Unions. The are teams divided into two conferences of seven teams based on the previous season’s standings.

Each team plays ten competition matches (five home games and five away games) (“Round Robin”) prior to quarter-finals and/ or semi-finals and/ or finals (“Finals Rounds”).

View the 2026 NPC Fixtures and Results here

Question 6

What is the Heartland Championship?

Accepted Answer

The Heartland Championship is the second tier of men’s rugby in New Zealand's domestic competitions.

The competition boasts twelve teams, all of whom are contributors to the catchment areas of the New Zealand Super Rugby Clubs.

View the 2026 Heartland Championship Fixtures and Results here

Question 7

What is the Ranfurly Shield?

Accepted Answer

The Ranfurly Shield is more than a trophy. It's 124 years of rugby history, provincial pride, and community identity.

The Earl of Ranfurly, Patron of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Governor of New Zealand, donated the Shield in 1902. Originally intended to be a cup, it was discovered upon unveiling to be a shield, with a centrepiece showing an association football match which was later upgraded to create a rugby scene.

When the trophy arrived, it was decided that it would be awarded to the union with the best record in the 1902 season and then be to a challenge system. Auckland, who were unbeaten in 1902, were presented with the Shield. Wellington won the first challenge in 1904, becoming the first side to win the Shield through challenge.

17 unions have held the Shield since 1902: Auckland, Wellington, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, Manawhenua, Canterbury, Southland, Otago, South Canterbury, North Auckland, Waikato, Marlborough, Manawatu, Bay of Plenty, North Harbour, Counties Manukau, and Tasman.

Canterbury and Auckland have held the Ranfurly Shield the most. Canterbury has won it on 17 occasions (compared to Auckland's 16) and Auckland have successfully defended it on 148 occasions (compared to Canterbury's 142).

The challenge system

Unlike knockout trophies, the Shield operates on a challenge basis. The current holder must defend it against challengers at home games, during the regular season. If the challenger wins, they take possession and then defend it at upcoming home games during the regular season, creating a continuous, travelling trophy that moves whenever a challenger succeeds.

Canterbury and Auckland have held the Ranfurly Shield the most. Canterbury has won it on 17 occasions (compared to Auckland's 16) and Auckland have successfully defended it on 148 occasions (compared to Canterbury's 142).

Winners' Shields

Winners' names are engraved on small shields attached to the main trophy, along with the years held. In 2012, when Waikato lifted the Shield, the last small shield was filled, so the entire set was replaced to allow room for future winners while recognising all past holders.

FAQS

Who are the national representative rugby teams from New Zealand?

What is DHL Super Rugby Pacific? Who plays in it?

What is Sky Super Rugby Aupiki? Who plays in it?

What is the National Provincial Championship ?