The McNamara Cup is set to move to an eight-team competition in 2026 with at least one Sid Marshall Shield club likely to feature in the top grade of Counties Manukau club rugby.
The Club Leaders Group were asked to provide opinions and feedback on the structure of the club competition over the past couple of months. After receiving that feedback and considering all options, the Club Rugby Committee has landed on an eight-team McNamara Cup, eight-team Bob Chandler Cup and up to 10-team Sid Marshall Shield format next year.
It means the six teams that finished the 2025 season in the McNamara Cup would return – champions Karaka, Pukekohe, Patumahoe, Ardmore Marist, Manurewa and Bombay – while Papakura would be given the chance to return if they can field a team that meets the criteria. The offer for an eighth team will be extended to teams within the Sid Marshall Shield competition from 2025.
Promotion and relegation will also be introduced from 2026. Teams that win their competition and meet the eligibility criteria will have the opportunity to move up. This ensures everyone has a fair chance to compete for the McNamara Cup and step into that competition when the time is right for them.
The 2026 season will kick off on March 28 and will include a night round for all Division 1, 2, and 3 teams on the Thursday before Easter Weekend (Round 2). Finals are scheduled for July 11.
In the U85s space, clubs have agreed to reinvite the Waikato teams into the competition. There are currently 11 teams who have expressed interest, and it’s shaping up to be another strong and competitive season, with Pukekohe chasing back-to-back titles. A Magic Round will also be introduced, with all teams playing at Pukekohe Rugby Club on May 9 (Round 5) in a festival-style event to showcase and promote the grade.
There’s plenty of excitement around new features across all competitions, with announcements for the Women’s, U21’s, and U19’s grades coming soon.
