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2025 Bunnings NPC
2025 rugby union competition in New Zealand From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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 hosts Waikato. The Final is scheduled for 25 October 2025.
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Format
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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]
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Standings
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The current standings for the 2025 Bunnings NPC season are:
Updated to match(es) played on 3 August 2025. Source: Bunnings NPC fixtures & standings 2025
RS: Ranfurly Shield holders
RS: Ranfurly Shield holders
Standings progression
Each team's cumulative points total is shown for every week of the regular season with the overall log position in brackets.
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Regular season
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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 hosts Waikato. The first Ranfurly Shield defence of the season takes place on 2 August 2025, when Taranaki plays Northland.[4][3]
Week 1
| 31 July 2025 19:05 NZST |
| Auckland | 35–36 | Waikato |
| Try: Anton Segner 6' Xavier Tito-Harris (2) 14', 44' Payton Spencer 58' Con: Alex Harford (2/2) 7', 15' Rico Simpson (1/2) 45' Pen: Rico Simpson (3/3) 32', 43', 74' | Try: Bailyn Sullivan 18' Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia 24' Oli Mathis 61' Tepaea Cook-Savage 68' Rui Farrant 77' Lima Sopoaga 79' Con: Aaron Cruden (3/6) 25', 62', 80' Cards: Austin Anderson  31' |
| Eden Park, Auckland Referee: Paul Williams |
| 1 August 2025 19:05 NZST |
| Manawatu | 38–25 | North Harbour |
| Try: Jordi Viljoen 24' Taniela Filimone (2) 39', 77' Raymond Tuputupu 67' Jai Tamati 71' Con: Brett Cameron (5/5) 25', 40+1', 68', 72', 79' Pen: Brett Cameron (1/2) 31' | Try: Jed Melvin 27' Sofai Maka 46' Siaosi Nginingini 75' Con: Patrick Pellegrini (2/3) 47', 76' Pen: Patrick Pellegrini (2/2) 51', 64' |
| Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North Referee: Nick Hogan |
| 2 August 2025 14:05 NZST |
| Wellington | 15–33 | Canterbury |
| Try: Losi Filipo 27' Nui Muriwai 76' Con: Jackson Garden-Bachop (1/1) 28' Callum Harkin (0/1) Pen: Jackson Garden-Bachop (1/1) 54' | Try: Johnny McNicholl (2) 7', 60' Corey Kellow 55' Cullen Grace 67' Nick Hyde 80+1' Con: James White (2/3) 7', 61' Chay Fihaki (2/2) 68', 80+2' |
| Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua[a] Referee: Todd Petrie |
| 2 August 2025 16:35 NZST |
| Southland | 15–24 | Otago |
| Try: Jack Taylor 13' Nic Shearer 55' Con: Byron Smith (0/1) Mika Muliaina (1/1) 56' Pen: Byron Smith (1/1) 33' | Try: Sam Gilbert 16' Christian Lio-Willie 37' Will Stodart 40+1' Con: Cam Millar (3/3) 17', 38', 40+1' Pen: Cam Millar (1/1) 25' Cards: Sam Gilbert 55' |
| Rugby Park, Invercargill Referee: James Doleman |
| 2 August 2025 19:05 NZST |
| RS – Taranaki | 23–3 | Northland |
| Try: Vereniki Tikoisolomone 8' Josh Jacomb 21' Adam Lennox 44' Con: Josh Jacomb (1/3) 44' Pen: Josh Jacomb (2/2) 15', 57' | Pen: Rivez Reihana (1/1) 11' |
| Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth[b] Referee: Mike Winter |
| 3 August 2025 14:05 NZST |
| Bay of Plenty | 37–7 | Tasman |
| Try: Kaleb Trask (2) 4', 77' Kurt Eklund 15' Leroy Carter 60' Cole Forbes 67' Con: Kaleb Trask (3/5) 61', 68', 78' Pen: Kaleb Trask (1/2) 55' Drop: Emoni Narawa (1/1) 80+1' | Try: Ryan Coxon 46' Con: William Havili (1/1) 47' Cards: Josh Te Hira 14' |
| Tauranga Domain, Tauranga Referee: Marcus Playle |
| 3 August 2025 16:35 NZST |
| Hawke's Bay | 54–14 | Counties Manukau |
| Try: Nick Grigg 7' Jonah Lowe 22' Kienan Higgins 32' Lukas Ripley (2) 42', 74' Cooper Flanders 64' Andrew Tauatevalu 72' Lincoln McClutchie 80' Con: Harry Godfrey (6/6) 8', 23', 33', 43', 65', 73' Lincoln McClutchie (1/2) 80' Cards: Jonah Lowe 44' | Try: Leo Ngatai-Tafau 37' Jimmy Tupou 48' Con: Riley Hohepa (2/2) 38', 49' |
| McLean Park, Napier Referee: Stuart Curran |
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
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Play-offs
| Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||||||
| 1 | ||||||||||||||
| 8 | ||||||||||||||
| 4 | ||||||||||||||
| 5 | ||||||||||||||
| 2 | ||||||||||||||
| 7 | ||||||||||||||
| 3 | ||||||||||||||
| 6 | ||||||||||||||
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
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Statistics
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Leading point scorers
Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published on provincial.rugby (see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats).
Leading try scorers
Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published on provincial.rugby (see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats).
Points by game
Source: Bunnings NPC Fixtures and Results 2025[4]
Tries by game
| For | Against |
Source: The weekly reviews of the matches published on provincial.rugby (see "Report" in the individual match scoring stats).
Discipline
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Ranfurly Shield
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Pre-season challenges
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 |
| 19 July 2025 14:00 NZST |
| Taranaki | 97–0 | Thames Valley |
| Try: Logan Crowley (2) 3', 79' Bradley Slater 13' Taniela Rakuro (5) 18', 28', 58', 64', 70' Michael Loft (2) 25', 40' Josh Lord 37' Josh Jacomb 44' Vereniki Tikoisolomone (2) 52', 68' Meihana Grindlay 56' Con: Josh Jacomb (5/8) 4', 19', 29', 38', 45' Adam Lennox (0/1) Brayton Northcott-Hill (5/5) 57', 59', 65', 69', 71' Meihana Grindlay (1/1) 80' | Report |
| Manaia Domain, Manaia Referee: Stuart Curran |
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Notes
- 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]
- 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.
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References
External links
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