Papakura and Weymouth will return to the McNamara Cup in 2026, making it an eight-team competition this season.
Papakura returns having dropped out early in the 2025 campaign but with a focused recruitment plan, have been able to make an immediate return to the topflight.
Weymouth enter a team in the McNamara Cup for the first time since 2022 on the back of improved depth in playing numbers.
“An eight-team competition is where wanted to get to, so it is awesome to see both Papakura and Weymouth take the steps to get back into premier rugby,” Head of Community Rugby Matt Megaw told Counties Sports Hub.
“It is crucial for the long-term sustainability of club rugby and will ultimately benefit the Steelers and the wider community.”
They join defending champions Karaka, runners-up Pukekohe, Patumahoe, Ardmore Marist, Bombay and Manurewa in an eight-team competition.
The Bob Chandler Cup will be an eight-team competition with Karaka, Pukekohe, Patumahoe, Ardmore Marist, Bombay, Manurewa and Weymouth fielding their reserve sides alongside Waiuku, who jump up from the Sid Marshall Shield.
The Sid Marshall Shield will be an 11-team competition with teams entered from Drury, Karaka, Maramarua, Manurewa, Onewhero, Pukekohe, Puni, Te Kauwhata, Te Kohanga, Tuakau and Waiuku.
There will be nine teams contesting the Massey Cup U21 competition. Karaka, Ardmore Marist, Manurewa, Patumahoe, Pukekohe, Papakura, Waiuku, Onewhero and the RuaNorth amalgamated team all plan on entering teams.
Ten teams are set to contest the U85kg grade in 2026 with Bombay, Drury, Karaka, Patumahoe, Beachlands Maraetai, Pukekohe and Waiuku fielding teams while Morrinsville Sports (Waikato), Fraser Tech (Waikato) and Hamilton Marist (Waikato) will also have teams in the competition.
A four-team Bright Cup U19 competition has been confirmed with Pukekohe, Patumahoe, Manurewa and Waiuku entering sides.
There will be seven local women’s teams competing in the Auckland competitions this season.
Manurewa and Patumahoe will contest the Women’s Premier grade, while Papakura and Pukekohe will field sides in the Women’s Premier 2 grade.
Te Kauwhata and Weymouth have entered the Women’s Development grade while Karaka will field an U17 side for the first time.
Ardmore Marist and Pukekohe will continue to enter teams in the President’s grade as they have for a number of seasons now.
Counties Manukau Rugby is working with Weymouth, Papakura and Waiuku as they transition into higher grades this season.
With a total of 55 local teams (not counting the three Waikato-based sides) competing across the grades, it is the highest number Counties Manukau has fielded since 2009.
