Precision, power and pride: this year's Provincial competitions have rugby fans talking

It’s the business end of the 2025 provincial rugby season and across the country, storylines are being written each week that will be talked about for years to come.

Bunnings National Provincial Championship

Two rounds remain in the regular Bunnings NPC season. Two teams, Canterbury and Otago, have locked in their finals berth and 11 others are in the hunt for the six remaining spots.

Throughout the season we’ve seen several upsets, including last year’s wooden spoon team, Manawatū, triumphing over Waikato, and Northland beating the 2024 champions Wellington. And there have been several close calls too.

Waikato have clutched victory by one-point in three of their games, with Canterbury, Tasman and Otago also having some tight contests. We’ve also seen some big margins from Wellington, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury, making it difficult to pick finals favourites across the board.

The Ranfurly Shield has also been a talking point this season, travelling over 2,000 kilometres across the country as it changes hands. It started the season in Taranaki but was won by Waikato in a dramatic one-point victory. Southland stunned Waikato a week later, 25-10, seeing the Shield head to Southland for the first time in 14 years. After a busy week in Invercargill, Canterbury claimed the win and the Shield headed to red and black country. They defended it a week later against a tough Tasman team but fell to Otago last weekend, seeing the Shield hit the road again. This week Otago take on North Harbour. A win will see the Shield enjoy an Otago Summer. A loss will see it head to the 09 where it would be up for grabs for Southland again at the end of the regular season.

This year's competition has showed the depth and diversity of rugby in New Zealand, with the return of several All Blacks throughout the season adding to some already exciting games. With so many teams in the hunt for a finals spot, the last couple of weeks of the regular season will be great rugby watching.

Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings

In the women’s game, there has been plenty of excitement in the Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings with some amazing skill shown on the field and a lot of interest in the women’s game off the field.

Over the weekend, the Otago Spirit took out the 2025 Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Championship!

The Spirit made it through the season undefeated and came up against a formidable Northland Kauri side. Both teams wanted to etch their names in the trophy for only the second time, with the Spirit coming out on top on this occasion.

In the Premiership, we’re down to the semi-finals with only five points between the top four teams – Waikato, Canterbury, Manawatū and Auckland. Last year’s Championship winners, Manawatū, are looking for their first Premiership win, while Waikato are looking to stay at the top, two years in a row.

The skill level and intensity on display have reaffirmed the competitions status as a cornerstone of New Zealand's rugby future.

Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship

In the Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship, grassroots glory and provincial pride are on full display.

After six weeks of competition, Mid-Canterbury are unbeaten with a healthy points margin over their closest competition South Canterbury. Only five points separate the next seven teams on the table, meaning a tight race to the playoffs.

The competition has delivered thrilling scorelines, including Thames Valley’s commanding 84–5 win over Ngāti Porou East Coast and Wairarapa-Bush’s 73–27 triumph over Buller. These commanding wins and high scores across the board has the average winning margin across the season so far at 22 points.

The Bill Osborne Taonga has been on the move this season too. Horowhenua-Kapiti claimed the Taonga off King Country early in the season and will defend it against Wairarapa Bush this coming Saturday. A win will see the Taonga stay in the Horowhenua-Kapiti Coast until next season. If Wairarapa Bush get up, they will defend the Taonga in the last regular season match against Poverty Bay.

Across the board, the Heartland Championship continues to showcase the passion and perseverance of community rugby, with local legends stepping up and fans rallying behind their hometown heroes.

As we head into the business end of the season, one thing is clear, New Zealand’s domestic rugby competitions are thriving. This season is standing out as a celebration of culture, connection, and the unbreakable spirit of the provinces.