Finals Countdown

As the Farah Palmer Cup Premiership season ends on a high, playoffs are starting for the NPC and Heartlands Championship

Bunnings National Provincial Championship

The final weekend of the Bunnings NPC 2025 regular season delivered high drama and decisive results.

Canterbury’s bonus point win again Taranaki, in tough conditions, helped them reclaim the number one seed for the playoffs and pushing Taranaki into fifth, denying them home advantage. Earlier, Counties Manukau sealed the eighth and final playoff position with a high-scoring victory over Tasman in Nelson, leapfrogging Northland in the standings. Solid performances from Otago, Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, and Waikato will give these teams confidence going into the quarterfinals with Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty overtaking Taranaki to earn home advantage.

Fans can look forward to some great match ups next weekend and based off the regular season, the title is still anyone’s to win:

Friday 10 October
Otago vs. Waikato
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19:10

Tickets: Events - OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION

Saturday 11 October
Bay of Plenty vs. Tasman
Tauranga Domain, Tauranga
Kick-off: 16:10

Tickets: Bay of Plenty Rugby Union - Home Game Tickets

Hawke’s Bay vs. Taranaki
McLean Park, Napier
Kick-off: 19:10

Tickets: Events - Hawke's Bay Rugby Union

Sunday 12 October
Canterbury vs. Counties Manukau
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 14:10

Tickets: Canterbury Rugby Season 2025 tickets | Tours and Events | Ticketek New Zealand

Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings

Waikato edged their opponents, Canterbury, 19–13 in a tense Farah Palmer Cup Premiership final to claim back-to-back titles at FMG Stadium, Waikato.

In a gripping rematch of last year’s decider, the home side held their nerve to overcome a tough Canterbury side set to avenge previous losses. The match was a defensive arm-wrestle in tough conditions, with rain and sun on and off throughout the game. While Waikato dominated the set-piece and absorbed sustained pressure, they briefly fell behind in the second half. Spurred on by a vocal home crowd, they showed some of the brilliance they’ve displayed throughout the season to score a late try in the corner.

Well done to everyone who took part in the Farah Palmer Cup, Championship and Premiership competitions. What a great season! And congratulations to the Otago Spirit and Waikato Women on winning their respective competitions.

Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship

The final weekend of the 2025 Heartland Championship regular season wrapped up with the top eight teams working hard to lock in their place in either a Meads Cup or Lochore Cup semifinal.

At the beginning of the round, only five points separated those teams placed second to eighth, meaning three of the top four spots were still up for grabs. As games played out, some strong performances meant several teams moved. North Otago and Whanganui started the weekend in the top four, but losses saw them drop back with wins to Thames Valley and Wairarapa Bush helping them sneak into Meads Cup contention.

With the regular season now complete, attention shifts to the semifinals:

Meads Cup

Semi Final 1

Saturday 11 October

Mid Canterbury vs. Wairarapa-Bush

Ashburton Showgrounds, Ashburton

Kick-off: 13:35

Check out Sky Sport Select to watch this game

Semi Final 2

Saturday 11 October

South Canterbury vs. Thames Valley

Fraser Park, Timaru

Kick-off: 15:35

Check out Sky Sport Select to watch this game

Lochore Cup

Semi Final 1

Saturday 11 October

Whanganui vs. Horowhenua Kāpiti

Cooks Garden, Whanganui,

Kick-off: 14:30

Semi Final 2

Saturday 11 October

North Otago vs. Poverty Bay

A&P Showgrounds, Oamaru

Kick-off: 14:30