Heartland Championship schedule released marking 20 years of this competition

The Heartland Championship brings together 12 provincial unions from across the country and celebrates provincial identity, travelling supporters and the strong connections between teams and their local communities.

Interim General Manager Community, Carl Moon, says it’s great to see the Heartland Championship get underway for another season. “This competition continues to provide meaningful opportunities for players, coaches, match officials and volunteers to be involved in the game at a senior representative level, and we’re looking forward to another strong year of this competition”.

The 2026 schedule again features a full round robin regular season, with teams competing for places in the Meads Cup and Lochore Cup finals. Supporters can look forward to a mix of traditional match ups and key home fixtures that remain a highlight on the community sporting calendar.

Moon says, “What really stands out about the Heartland Championship is the commitment of the players. Many are balancing full time jobs, family life and significant travel each week, often to communities well outside their home regions, simply because they love playing rugby and want to do their province proud.”

The Bill Osborne Taonga will be contested in the first week of the season, helping to set the tone for the season from the very start and giving teams something meaningful to play for right out of the gates. 

The Taonga is more than a trophy. With every contest, the taonga grows in mana, linking past, present, and future through shared competition and respect.

The season kicks off on 15 August, before semi-finals on 10 October and the finals during the weekend of 17/18 October. 

Check out the full 2026 Heartland Championship draw below: