New Zealand Rugby has unveiled the 2026 National Provincial Championship (NPC) draw, marking a landmark 50 years of the competition in New Zealand.
The NPC remains an important part of the domestic rugby landscape with communities uniting, rivalries running deep, and future All Blacks taking their first steps on the big stage. This milestone NPC season will honour past and present players, celebrate longstanding rivalries, showcase interprovincial trophies, and highlight the rich history that has shaped the competition over half a century.
The History
Since Bay of Plenty won the inaugural trophy in 1976 Auckland have been the most successful Provincial Union in NPC history having won the title 17 times, most recently in 2018. There have been 2 outstanding eras for Auckland being 1984-1990 where Auckland won 6 of 7 years and 1993-1996 where they won 4 in a row.
This season will be stacked with unmissable moments. Provincial Unions will celebrate their communities in unique ways as part of the 50-year milestone, while some of the game’s fiercest rivalries will be reignited and Auckland will be no exception with an exciting home season ahead.
Free-to-air!
In a major moment for the game, the NPC returns to free-to-air television for the first time in nearly 30 years. In addition to the live and uninterrupted coverage on Sky Sport, every match will stream free on TVNZ+, with select games broadcast in appointment viewing slots on TVNZ 1 (live to delayed), bringing provincial rugby back into living rooms across the country. With family-friendly kick-off times, some epic clashes, and free-to-air television for provincial rugby, NPC50 is set to be one of the most memorable seasons yet. 2026 is set to be Auckland’s year and we can't wait to celebrate it with our loyal supporters.
