Leading contenders in 2024, Counties and Canterbury, made strong starts. In the championship, there was a thriller between North Harbour and Otago. Meanwhile, Wellington and Northland opened with encouraging displays.
Auckland Storm: 31 (Aldora Itunu, Presayus Singh, Levonah Motuliki, Amarante Sititi, Maama Vaipulu; Aleiyah Tuala 3 cons) Waikato: 28 (Grace Houpapa-Barrett 2, Foa Samuelu, Regan Chapman tries; Kaea Nepia 4 cons). HT: 26-7
Defending Premiership champions Waikato inflicted two sixty-point drubbings upon Auckland last year, who rebounded in the strongest fashion possible, starting 2025 with a fine victory on the affluent College Rifles artificial surface.
The Storm established a 26-7 lead by halftime, with former Black Ferns Aldora Itunu and Eloise Blackwell (playing in her 90th match for Auckland) helping the hosts dominate at the set piece, securing two tightheads from the scrum along with practical lineout work.
Itunu opened the scoring in the 9th minute, marking her 16th try in 64 appearances, by powering over from close range. Avondale College winger Presayus Singh then scored a contender for try of the season with a stunning 70-meter rush in the 18th minute.
Former Black Ferns hooker Grace Houpapa-Barrett, who has scored 13 tries in her last nine games, kept Waikato in the hunt with two powerful tries during rare visits inside the 22; otherwise, Waikato struggled to keep pace with Auckland's abrasive enthusiasm.
In the 69th minute, the momentum shifted when Regan Chapman crossed the line for her debut try, and Kaea Nepia successfully converted from the sideline, narrowing the score to 26-21.
However, Auckland extinguished any hopes of a Waikato comeback just three minutes later when Black Ferns XV teammates Hollyrae Mete-Renata and Maama Vaipulu combined for a try. Mete-Renata was a finalist for the FPC Player of the Year in 2024, contributing significantly to Manawatū's Championship win.
Taufa Bason was outstanding for Auckland, making a dozen tackles and gaining 95 meters. Amarante Sititi, the sister of All Black Wallace Sititi, also impressed with 10 tackles and several strong carries. Singh had an eye-catching display, gaining 179 meters, while Houpapa-Barrett was immense, and Black Ferns XV loose forward Mia Anderson fought valiantly.
In their last twelve encounters, both unions have each secured six wins.
Wellington Pride 39 (Harmony Kautai 2, Keira Su'a Smith, Ivana Samani, Jackie Patea-Fereti, Litia Bulicakau; Arene Landon-Lane pen, 3 con) Tasman 7 (Precious Auimatagi try; Ashleigh Wood con). HT: 12-0.
Lookout for Keira Su'a Smith to light up this year's FPC. The recent Black Ferns XV tourist in South Africa is an X-factor player the Wellington Pride can turn to in their quest to break out of the Championship division.
The Petone Ponies club star and former Sacred Heart College fullback cut through the Mako backline to put Ivana Samani across inside 90 seconds. Later in the match, she made a break that led to a try to wing Harmony Kautai. Su'a-Smith later got a well-deserved try of her own in a victory that was comfortable enough on paper but hard work for long periods.
Following that first try, it was another 30 minutes before the Pride added to it, their own errors and the host's ability to retain possession for long periods frustrating them. It didn't help their cause, however, when Nahliah Tagatauli-Tolova'a was yellow-carded just before the break.
The frustration continued into the third quarter. Eventually, Wellington broke the shackles when centre Litia Bulicakau broke two tackles, skipped past two more, and scooted 50m to score. Tasman continued to offer stubborn resistance, but Wellington blew the score open in the final 10 minutes. Wellington will definitely want more out of their starting pack next week.
Northland Kauri: 48 (Stacey Tupe, Zandra Patrick-Motu, Terai Elia, Tyler Nankivell, Wikitoria Rogers, Patricia Murray, Ocean Tierney, Turia Stowers tries; Nankivell 4 con) Taranaki Whio: 17 (Zeta Barber, Danielle Muggeridge, Rosie Moffitt tries; Moffitt con) HT: 24-12.
The Kauri have the experience of spending last season in the top division, Taranaki struggled at the bottom again last year and went into this match with nine players on debut. The 31-point difference here reflected this.
This was the first first-class match to be played on the newly re-laid artificial 'Gully' ground at New Plymouth Boys' High School, so underfoot conditions were perfect.
The Whio were in the contest throughout the first half. They conceded two early tries but showed good commitment to come back into the game and stay in the hunt with a try on halftime to first-five Rosie Moffitt off a backpeddling scrum. Two tries in short order – including a searing 90-metre runaway try to Northland fullback Tyler Nankivell proved big plays for the visitors.
Northland's pack took control after halftime, their dominance of the second-half set-piece battle laying the groundwork for another four tries.
Otago Spirit: 34 (Olivia Fowler 2, Naomi Sopoaga, Abigail Paton, Jamie Church, Sarah Jones tries; Paton 2 con) North Harbour Hibiscus: 33 (Rialani Onesemo-Tuilaepa, Holly Williams, Ellie Harrison, Ursola Eteru-Fuailefau, Ella Henderson tries; Henderson 4 con). HT: North Harbour 19-17.
A helter-skelter clash at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and the one that got away from the visitors, for the second year in a row in this clash.
North Harbour were ahead for much of the game and had led 14-0 early when fleet-footed first-five Ella Henderson cut through traffic to score and then convert her own try, and with 10 minutes remaining, they looked to have clinched victory.
Otago worked their way towards the tryline, and replacement forward Sarah Jones was tackled five metres short of the line. But she got back up and powered over to score the winning try.
The Hibiscus regrouped and launched a desperate final few minutes of frantic attack. Brave Otago held on, but only just. Otago escaped trouble through a penalty, only for North Harbour to have one last crack before coming up short.
That final sequence largely summed up a match that saw both sides play as positively as possible, only for execution to often fall short.
For the home side, evergreen No. 8 Greer Muir (71 games) and lively halfback Abigail Paton played well, while fullback Olivia Fowler, who scored two tries, has played for the Spirit for a dozen years and has a prominent involvement in Otago Touch.
Counties Manukau Heat: 88 (Mafi Pasikala, Shyanne Thompson, Sariyah Paitai 3, Teuila Sotutu, Hazel Tubic, Esther Afoa-Tilo, Grace Gago, Esther Amataga, Irene Haupeakui, Sina Tainefu, Katrina Hall, Paris Mataroa; Tubic, 9 con) Bay of Plenty Volcanix: 0. HT: 45-0
Counties celebrate their 70th anniversary in 2025, and the Heat have signalled their intent to be title contenders with a commanding victory over Bay of Plenty at Navigation Homes Stadium.
The statistics speak volumes: fourteen unanswered tries and nine conversions showcase Counties' dominance.
Sariyah Paitai, who was selected for the New Zealand Barbarians Under-18 team in 2023 and 2024, has scored six tries in five games for the Heat. Teuila Sotutu is the sister of former All Blacks loose forward Hoskins Sotutu.
Second-five Shyanne Thompson, hailing from the Manurewa club, has become a veteran with 33 appearances. She charged for 75 meters and was instrumental in driving much of the Heat's attacking efforts.
Bay of Plenty struggled against the dynamic Counties forwards, including former Black Ferns front rowers Esther Faiaoga-Tilo, Grace Gago, and Leilani Perese. The loose forward trio of Halapupuahi Finefeuiaki, Katrina Hall, and Esther Amataga was outstanding, combining for 17 tackles and covering 213 meters with the ball in hand.
Counties' largest victory stands at 107-3 against Taranaki in 2020, where Hazel Tubic kicked 11 conversions and scored 27 points. On the other hand, Bay of Plenty's heaviest defeat was a 101-0 loss to Auckland in 2015. The last time they failed to score was in a 50-0 loss to Waikato in 2023.
Canterbury: 44 (Lailanie Muamua 2, Holly Wratt-Groeneweg, Louise Blyde 2, Harriet Cochrane 2, Neve Anglesey tries; Hannah King 2 cons) Manawatū Cyclones: 5 (Jacinta Windsor try). HT: 20-0
Manawatū stormed their way to the championship title last year, winning all seven games and scoring 61 tries. They were served a harsh reality check as to how difficult the Premiership will be at Rugby Park in Christchurch.
Despite enjoying plenty of possession, the hosts were far too clinical, bolstered by a host of recruits, inculding Fiaali'i Solomona from Tasman, who has converted from winger to No.8, Louise Blyde, who scored four tries in 11 appearances for Taranaki and Black Ferns XV captain Holly Wratt-Groeneweg back from her stint in Bay of Plenty.
Hurricanes Poua ten Te Rauoriwa Gapper has shifted out one place to second five-eighths and, in combination with Hannah King, provided Canterbury with two compelling playmakers.
Wratt-Groeneweg produced a manful performance with 17 tackles and a try. Former Black Ferns loose forward Lucy Jenkins was busy with 20 tackles and a series of robust carries, while Neve Anglesey, the second top tackler in FPC 2024, made a staggering 31 tackles. Fullback Winnie Palamo was electric, galloping for 134 metres gained. Winger Lailanie Muamua comes from a rugby league background.
Kahurangi Sturmey and Elinor Plum King were lion-hearted for the Cyclones. Manawatū suffered their largest defeat since a 32-5 loss to Auckland in 2022.