NZR Confirms 12-Team Format for 2026 Farah Palmer Cup

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has confirmed the competition format for the 2026 Farah Palmer Cup (FPC), with 12 teams set to compete across two pools - Premiership and Championship.
The change follows a review of the current competition structure and aligns with NZR’s long-term commitment to strengthening women’s rugby at all levels, ensuring sustainable and competitive environments for all participating Provincial Unions.

From 2026, the competition will transition to 12 teams with two pools of six teams, which is a change from 2025 which saw 13 Provincial Unions compete in the FPC. While promotion and relegation will not occur in 2026, both pools will be reset to ensure balance and competitive integrity.

The decision on which Provincial Union would transition out of the 2026 FPC followed a structured review, taking into account women’s club depth, playing numbers, and competitive performance trends. Following this review, NZR worked with the identified unions to understand the current state of their development pathways and determine the best approach to support ongoing athlete development.

Following this process, the Central Roofing Taranaki Whio will move into the Northern Regions Development Competition in 2026. This competition will provide consistent, high-quality game time for players, and aligns strongly with NZR’s focus on strengthening development pathways.

Taranaki Rugby remains firmly committed to supporting and developing female players, coaches and referees, and will continue to invest in new programmes, talent identification and academy support. A future promotion and relegation mechanism may allow Provincial Unions to re-enter the FPC as the women’s game continues to grow.

Both NZR and Taranaki Rugby are committed to maintaining strong women’s rugby programmes in the region. A dedicated Central Roofing Taranaki Whio development plan is in place, including pre-academy and academy programmes and access to the soon-to-be-completed Te Whare Pūngao o Ngā-Motu training facility.

Taranaki Rugby will continue to provide meaningful playing opportunities and build formal relationships with nearby unions, enabling origin athletes to represent the Whio while studying or training elsewhere.
Jimmy Fastier, Taranaki Rugby CEO, said; “The Whio will continue to play competitive rugby in 2026, and we remain focused on providing meaningful matches that develop and grow our players. The new competition gives us the chance to strengthen our pathways while continuing to build the women’s game in Taranaki.”

NZR Head of Women’s High Performance Hannah Porter said the format change reflected a shared commitment to the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the women’s game.

“The Farah Palmer Cup continues to evolve in step with the growth of women’s rugby. We’re focused on strengthening the entire pathway, ensuring players are supported at every stage so they are ready to thrive once they reach FPC.”

Women’s rugby continues to grow at all levels, with participation, viewership and engagement increasing year-on-year. NZR remains committed to working with Provincial Unions to ensure all women and girls have access to meaningful rugby opportunities across Aotearoa New Zealand.