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2025 Bunnings NPC (draft)
[edit]
| 2025 Bunnings NPC season | |
|---|---|
| Countries |  New Zealand |
| Date | 31 July – 25 October 2025 |
| Official website | |
| www | |
The 2025 Bunnings NPC season is the twentieth season of New Zealand's provincial rugby union competition, the National Provincial Championship, since it turned professional in 2006. It involves the top fourteen provincial rugby unions of New Zealand. For sponsorship reasons, the competition is known as the Bunnings NPC. The regular season begins on 31 July 2025, when Auckland host Waikato. The Final is scheduled for 25 October 2025.
Format
[edit]Under the current competition format, which is largely a continuation of that of 2023, the 14 provincial unions participating in the Bunnings NPC are grouped in one single division, ranked on one single competition table and play for one NPC title.[1][2]
All provincial teams play ten games during the regular season (round robin): five games are played at the provincial union's home ground and five games are away games. The seven teams that finished the previous season in 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th place will play each other as well as four cross-over matches against the teams that finished 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th and 14th. Likewise, the teams that finished 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th and 14th will also play each other as well as four cross-over games against the provinces that were ranked 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th or 13th at the end of the previous season.[1][2] The ten round robin games in 2025 are played over a period of ten weeks (starting on 31 July 2025); this period is one week longer than previous seasons because the competition schedule no longer includes a mid-week game.[3][4]
The regular season is followed by quarter-finals to be played by the eight highest ranked teams on the competition table. The finals rankings are determined by the number of competition points earned during the regular season. Competition points can be gained in the following way: four points are awarded to the winning team, two points to each team for a draw, and no points for a loss. Teams can also receive a bonus point if they score four or more tries in a match, or lose by seven points or less.[5]
If two or more provincial teams finish with an equal number of competition points, the following tiebreaker rules apply. If two unions are tied, the union which has defeated the other in a head-to-head is placed higher. In case of a draw between them, the side with the biggest points difference is ranked higher. If three or more unions are tied and they have all played each other, the team with most competition points in that year against the other tied unions is ranked higher; if they have not all played each other, the team with the biggest points difference in the round robin is ranked higher. In all cases, if these unions are still tied, the ranking is decided by the highest number of tries scored, the most points scored, or a coin toss.[1]
The quarter-finals are played as follows, with the highest ranked team hosting:
- QF 1: 1 v 8;
- QF 2: 2 v 7;
- QF 3: 3 v 6; and
- QF 4: 4 v 5.
In the semi-finals, the highest-ranked quarter-final winner hosts the lowest-ranked quarter-final winner and the second highest-ranked quarter-final winner hosts the third highest-ranked quarter-final winner.
The NPC Final will be played between the two semi-final winners, again at the home venue of the team with the higher finals ranking.[1][2]
The rules governing Ranfurly Shield Challenges state that every home game during the regular season played by the union that holds the Ranfurly Shield is a mandartory challenge match. No challenge matches will be played after the regular season has ended (i.e., during the finals). A holder who competes in the Bunnings NPC must also accept at least two challenges from unions competing in the Heartland Championship, including a challenge lodged by the winner of the Meads Cup at the end of the previous season. These non-mandatory challenge matches must be played before the start of the NPC season.[1]
Standings
[edit]The current standings for the 2025 Bunnings NPC season are:
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Bunnings NPC quarter-finals |
| 2 | Bay of Plenty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Canterbury | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Counties Manukau | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Hawke's Bay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Manawatu | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | North Harbour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | Northland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | Otago | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | Southland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | Taranaki (RS) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | Tasman | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | Waikato | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | Wellington | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
RS: Ranfurly Shield holders
Standings progression
[edit]Each team's cumulative points total is shown for every week of the regular season with the overall log position in brackets.
| Team | W1 | W2 | W3 | W4 | W5 | W6 | W7 | W8 | W9 | W10 | QF | SF | Final | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 0 (---) |
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| Bay of Plenty | 0 (---) |
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| Canterbury | 0 (---) |
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| Counties Manukau | 0 (---) |
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| Hawke's Bay | 0 (---) |
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| Manawatu | 0 (---) |
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| North Harbour | 0 (---) |
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| Northland | 0 (---) |
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| Otago | 0 (---) |
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| Southland | 0 (---) |
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| Taranaki | 0 (---) |
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| Tasman | 0 (---) |
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| Waikato | 0 (---) |
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| Wellington | 0 (---) |
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| Key: | Win | Draw | Loss | No game | DNQ = did not qualify | |||||||||||||||
Regular season
[edit]During the regular season of the 2025 Bunnings NPC, each team plays 10 games over a period of ten weeks. The competition starts on 31 July 2025, when Auckland host Waikato. The first Ranfurly Shield defence of the season takes place on 2 August 2025, when Taranaki plays Northland.[4][3]
Week 1
[edit]Week 2
[edit]Week 3
[edit]Week 4
[edit]Week 5
[edit]Week 6
[edit]Week 7
[edit]Week 8
[edit]Week 9
[edit]Week 10
[edit]Play-offs
[edit]| Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||
| 1 | ||||||||||||||
| 8 | ||||||||||||||
| 4 | ||||||||||||||
| 5 | ||||||||||||||
| 2 | ||||||||||||||
| 7 | ||||||||||||||
| 3 | ||||||||||||||
| 6 | ||||||||||||||
Quarter-finals
[edit]Semi-finals
[edit]Final
[edit]Statistics
[edit]Leading point scorers
[edit]| No. | Player | Team | Points | Average | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D | ||
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D | ||
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D | ||
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D | ||
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D | ||
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D | ||
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D | ||
| 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D | ||
| 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D | ||
| 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 T, 0 C, 0 P, 0 D |
Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published on provincial.rugby (see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats).
Leading try scorers
[edit]| No. | Player | Team | Tries | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 6 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 7 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 8 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 9 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 10 | 0 | 0 |
Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published on provincial.rugby (see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats).
Points by game
[edit]| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Total | Average | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bay of Plenty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Canterbury | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Counties Manukau | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hawke's Bay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Manawatu | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| North Harbour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Northland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Otago | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Southland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Taranaki | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasman | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Waikato | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wellington | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Source: Bunnings NPC Fixtures and Results 2025[4]
Tries by game
[edit]| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Total | Average | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Bay of Plenty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Canterbury | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Counties Manukau | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Hawke's Bay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Manawatu | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| North Harbour | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Northland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Otago | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Southland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Taranaki | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tasman | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Waikato | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wellington | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| For | Against |
Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published on provincial.rugby (see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats).
Discipline
[edit]| Player | Team |  Red
|
 Yellow
|
Sent off match(es) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
Ranfurly Shield
[edit]Pre-season challenges
[edit]On 3 March 2025, Taranaki Rugby announced that 2024 Lochore Cup winners King Country would be the first Heartland Championship team to challenge Taranaki for the Ranfurly Shield in 2025. The game would be played at the fully re-developed Stadium Taranaki (formerly Yarrow Stadium) on 11 June 2025.[9] Three days later, Taranaki Rugby confirmed that the second pre-season Ranfurly Shield game would be played at Manaia Domain in Manaia on 19 July 2025 against 2024 Meads Cup winners Thames Valley.[10]
| 11 June 2025 18:00 NZST |
| Taranaki | 78–7 | King Country |
| Try: JJ Pokai (2) 11', 25' Keightley Watson 15' Brayton Northcott-Hill 21' Vereniki Tikoisolomone (3) 41', 54', 60' Adam Lennox (3) 47', 49', 77' Meihana Grindlay 65' Jack Wiseman 70' Con: Brayton Northcott-Hill (6/7) 12', 16', 22', 26', 42', 49' Jack Wiseman (1/1) 55' Jack Parker (2/4) 66', 71' | Report | Try: Tom Ryan 38' Con: Kieron Rollinson (1/1) 39' |
| Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth Referee: Angus Mabey |
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c d e The venue for Wellington's home matches wasn't yet known at the time the schedule for the 2025 Bunnings NPC was released. On 28 May 2025, Wellington Rugby announced that the Lions' five home games of the regular season would be played at Porirua Park. Any home play-off games would be hosted at Sky Stadium, Wellington.[6]
- ^ a b c d e On 4 February 2025, the New Plymouth District Council published a media release in which it was announced that Yarrows the Bakers' naming rights sponsorship of Taranaki's home venue, Yarrow Stadium, would come to an end and that the stadium would be known as Stadium Taranaki from 8 March 2025.[7][8] When the draw for the 2025 Bunnings NPC was released on 17 March 2025, it still used the name Yarrow Stadium.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Competitions Regulations Handbook 2025" (PDF). New Zealand Rugby Union. 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "Bunnings Warehouse NPC – Key Information". provincial.rugby. 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Provincial rivalry takes centre stage this August". provincial.rugby. 17 March 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "Bunnings Warehouse NPC Fixtures & Results". provincial.rugby. 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Adjustment to Mitre 10 Heartland Championship bonus points system". RugbyHeartland.co.nz. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Lions lock in home games for 2025". Wellington Rugby (Press release). 28 May 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Yarrow Stadium naming rights agreement comes to an end". New Plymouth District Council (Press release). 8 February 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Long-standing sponsorship of Yarrow Stadium to end". Taranaki Daily News. 4 February 2025. Archived from the original on 4 February 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Yarrows Taranaki Bulls opening Ranfurly Shield defence to be played at redeveloped Yarrow Stadium". Taranaki Rugby (Press release). 3 March 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Manaia to host Yarrows Taranaki Bulls Ranfurly Shield defence". Taranaki Rugby (Press release). 6 March 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.