Fans celebrate record-breaking Hilux NPC season
7 October 2026The Hilux NPC play-offs begin on Friday, and after 10 rounds of regular-season rugby, fans have been right behind the competition in the stands, at home and online.
More than 300,000 fans passed through stadium gates across the round robin, with crowds up 57 per cent on 2025.
That interest has carried through to broadcast. Across the regular season, 1.98 million New Zealanders watched NPC coverage on Sky Sport and TVNZ. That is made up of 1.58 million on TVNZ 1 and 1.1 million on Sky Sport, as many viewers watched on both.
Streaming has added to that reach, with 4.35 million streams recorded. Sky Sport Now and Sky Go accounted for 2.83 million, and TVNZ+ for 1.52 million.
Online, provincial rugby channels have added more than 35,000 followers, and their content has generated 92 million views, up 103 per cent on 2025. Match highlights on the Provincial Rugby YouTube channel have passed 1.8 million views.
The rugby has matched the interest. Tasman winger Kyren Taumoefolau scored 18 tries in the round robin, breaking the previous single-season record of 15, set by Terry Wright in 1984. Across the competition, 645 tries have been scored at an average of 61.6 points per match, making 2026 the highest-scoring regular season in NPC history.
The quarter-finals open on Friday when Northland host Tasman. Two more follow on Saturday, with North Harbour playing Taranaki, Otago meeting Hawke's Bay, before Canterbury and Waikato contest the last semi-final place on Sunday.
Hilux NPC quarter-final fixtures
Northland v Tasman, 9 October 2026 at Semenoff Stadium, kick off 7.10pm
North Harbour v Taranaki, 10 October 2026 at North Harbour Stadium, kick off 2.35pm
Otago v Hawke's Bay, 10 October 2026 at Forsyth Barr Stadium, kick off 4.05pm
Canterbury v Waikato, 10 October 2026 at One NZ Stadium, kick off 1.35pm
Farah Palmer Cup Championship Final
Wellington Pride v Northland Kauri, 10 October 2026 at Hnry Stadium, Wellington, kick off 12.05pm
Farah Palmer Cup Premiership Final
Canterbury v Auckland Storm, 11 October 2026 at One NZ Stadium, Christchurch, kick off 4.05pm
Meads Cup semi-finals
Mid Canterbury v Thames Valley, 10 October 2026 at Ashburton Showgrounds, Ashburton, kick off 2pm
North Otago v King Country, 10 October 2026 at Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru, kick off 1pm
Lochore Cup semi-finals
South Canterbury v Wairarapa Bush, 10 October 2026 at Fraser Park, Timaru, kick off 2pm
Horowhenua Kāpiti v Whanganui, 10 October 2026 at Levin Domain, Levin, kick off 1pm
