NPC 2026

@frugby said in NPC 2026:

2026 NPC Tips

1. Canterbury
2. Hawke’s Bay
3. Otago
4. Ta$man
5. Bay of Plenty
6. Taranaki
7. Auckland
8. Northland
9. Waikato
10. Wellington
11. Counties Manukau
12. Southland
13. Manawatu
14. Harbour

QFs
Northland beat Canterbury
Hawkes Bay beat Auckland
Otago beat Taranaki
Bay of Plenty beat Ta$man

Hawkes Bay beat Northland
Bay of Plenty beat Otago

Hawkes Bay beat Bay of Plenty

Canterbury rightfully the clubhouse favourites, but can’t help but feel they are going to be built around Mo’unga so how they adjust to playing without him will be key.

Ta$man look good - wonder whether they might be left short in the pack by the time the ABs and injuries get involved

Hawkes Bay have a nice draw and should be settled

Otago might well have the best pack, which will take them reasonably far provided they are not ravaged by injuries

Don’t discount Taranaki… no Barnes may sting them though

Auckland will be much improved I think. They look more settled this year than last

BOP always there or thereabouts, and by the EOYT, they could be left with one of the stronger squads

Can’t really see any of the other sides doing anything other than playing spoiler.

Otago will hold the shield right through… (I have them losing to HB & Counties)

Not bad tips as Wellington and Waikato will be severely hamstrung by having so many All Blacks unavailable.

I can’t really see Hawkes Bay going that well, they’ve just lost Walker-Leawere, Flanders, Rakete-Stones and a number of others I can’t think of right now. Those three in particular have been essential to the Bay setup for a long time.

I think Ta$man’s success will come down to how many players are picked for the South African tour. If not many are selected then they’ll be massive favourites.

Taranaki should also be higher in my view.

@frugby said in NPC 2026:

2026 NPC Tips

1. Canterbury
2. Hawke’s Bay
3. Otago
4. Ta$man
5. Bay of Plenty
6. Taranaki
7. Auckland
8. Northland
9. Waikato
10. Wellington
11. Counties Manukau
12. Southland
13. Manawatu
14. Harbour

QFs
Northland beat Canterbury
Hawkes Bay beat Auckland
Otago beat Taranaki
Bay of Plenty beat Ta$man

Hawkes Bay beat Northland
Bay of Plenty beat Otago

Hawkes Bay beat Bay of Plenty

Canterbury rightfully the clubhouse favourites, but can’t help but feel they are going to be built around Mo’unga so how they adjust to playing without him will be key.

Ta$man look good - wonder whether they might be left short in the pack by the time the ABs and injuries get involved

Hawkes Bay have a nice draw and should be settled

Otago might well have the best pack, which will take them reasonably far provided they are not ravaged by injuries

Don’t discount Taranaki… no Barnes may sting them though

Auckland will be much improved I think. They look more settled this year than last

BOP always there or thereabouts, and by the EOYT, they could be left with one of the stronger squads

Can’t really see any of the other sides doing anything other than playing spoiler.

Otago will hold the shield right through… (I have them losing to HB & Counties)

One of the things I like about the NPC, especially these days, is that any team can have a good year. So while I 100% back your predictions I wouldn't be surprised if it was 4 completely different teams in the finals.

Looking at the squads announced so far, it seems that the players signed for Japan are less likely to play NPC than those going to Europe.

@Bovidae said in NPC 2026:

Looking at the squads announced so far, it seems that the players signed for Japan are less likely to play NPC than those going to Europe.

Is that because the seasons slightly overlap?

@bayimports I see that Palmer has come back to BOP from Otago.

Someone asked about the naming of the Waikato squad on the Mooloo FB page. Next Tuesday (July 21) after the club final this Saturday.

@Nepia said in NPC 2026:

@Bovidae said in NPC 2026:

Looking at the squads announced so far, it seems that the players signed for Japan are less likely to play NPC than those going to Europe.

Is that because the seasons slightly overlap?

I don't know. Just an observation.

@Bovidae dont know the story behind it, but also noted that as well

@bayimports Riley Hohepa is a good pick up for the steamers

@Nepia said in NPC 2026:

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Where's Udy-Johns from?

@WoodysRFC Hastings Boys old boy. Was part of their 2017 Top Four winning side.

@MacDazzler said in NPC 2026:

@WoodysRFC Hastings Boys old boy. Was part of their 2017 Top Four winning side.

Feel like I've seen the name pop up in Southland club rugby too

@MacDazzler said in NPC 2026:

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Turbos are very strong in the loose forwards.

@WoodysRFC said in NPC 2026:

@Nepia said in NPC 2026:

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Where's Udy-Johns from?

Yeah, as @macdazzler says, Hastings Boys, he's bounced around though, played for Southland for a season and a bit over in Oz. This is his first Magpies squad (although should have made it earlier).

@Canes4life A Laumape/Brown midfield partnership doesn't sound that bad either. Brown is quality. It's a shame Brett Cameron is out for the season because they have the makings of a decent side and strong 10 is probably the one thing they're missing.

@bayimports Looks like a decent team, our propping stocks are looking good, all 3 halfbacks are class and even with probably 3 All Blacks out for SA in the Outside Backs, there's some gas out there too. Pretty well balanced all things considered though wouldn't mind more midfield cover.

@Nepia said in NPC 2026:

@Bovidae said in NPC 2026:

Looking at the squads announced so far, it seems that the players signed for Japan are less likely to play NPC than those going to Europe.

Is that because the seasons slightly overlap?

No overlap of actual seasons but Japan teams start their pre-season about four months before the competition starts.

@BellsGeorg said in NPC 2026:

Canterbury squad has been sent out a day early, via email. No real surprises.

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I see Williams is named. Hopefully that's a sign his rehab is going well.

The other name that has appeared in the BOP squad is Solomone Tukuafu. I'm not sure how long he has been back from France.

Squad namings are a great demonstration of why the NPC shouldn't pretend to be a professional competition.

@Crazy-Horse said in NPC 2026:

@BellsGeorg said in NPC 2026:

Canterbury squad has been sent out a day early, via email. No real surprises.

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I see Williams is named. Hopefully that's a sign his rehab is going well.

My gut feeling is that Canterbury are just naming all the contracted guys, regardless of injury status, and not asterixing the couple of guys who may not be available. It won't stop me hoping, though.

@BellsGeorg said in NPC 2026:

@Crazy-Horse said in NPC 2026:

@BellsGeorg said in NPC 2026:

Canterbury squad has been sent out a day early, via email. No real surprises.

View image

I see Williams is named. Hopefully that's a sign his rehab is going well.

My gut feeling is that Canterbury are just naming all the contracted guys, regardless of injury status, and not asterixing the couple of guys who may not be available. It won't stop me hoping, though.

That is correct. He has a contract so is named.

I’ve been told he won’t be playing again this year.

Taniwha have signed Hudson Creighton
Brumbies centre/wing for the 2026 Npc season
Played 9 x games for Otago in 2024

@Steven-Harris i wonder if there is some agreement between NZR and ARU given there feels like more.aussies playing NPC this year? Maybe they subsidise the salary?

I do not like that signing at all.

@taniwharugby said in NPC 2026:

@Steven-Harris i wonder if there is some agreement between NZR and ARU given there feels like more.aussies playing NPC this year? Maybe they subsidise the salary?

I do not like that signing at all.

I'm annoyed by our two Aussies as well, even worse one of them is from your Blues, you should have had him.

But I hope the ARU/Blues are subsidising the salary of our two.

@taniwharugby

yeah the aus SR players are already getting SR money, so they'll be relatively good value for NPC teams
for someone like Ram, i'd say his NPC money would be almost incidental
that he does not play the first 4 games, thinking that's a Force decision

now this is guna be real controversial
but i can see current ABs actually going the other way in sabbatical type deals to Aus SR teams in the future
i think the SR max in NZ is 185 k, and has not changed forever
I think the Aus SR teams will pay a lot more than that for a current AB
remembering they still get their AB money
just depends whether NZR will tick it off

Which squads are still outstanding? Auckland, Harbour, and Waikato?

@Tim said in NPC 2026:

Which squads are still outstanding? Auckland, Harbour, and Waikato?

Auckland, Harbour, Waikato and Welly I think.

dont think Northland have announced thiers, although @steven-harris did post one which was close to final.

@taniwharugby said in NPC 2026:

dont think Northland have announced thiers, although @steven-harris did post one which was close to final.

Northland have announced 28 of their players already, took that from their Instagram just for reference.

The sight of first-five Reece MacDonald running in open pasture could be a sign of good things to come for Manawatū Turbos this year.

Manawatū beat Wellington 54-35 at Johnston Park in Feilding on Friday in their only pre-season game ahead of their first National Provincial Championship game on August 2.

MacDonald, back from a year away in the United States and Japan, was in exciting form in the first half as Manawatū raced to a 33-7 lead at halftime.

I couldn't find the wellington lineup for this game anywhere. With the club semi finals tomorrow, would be interesting to see who played

@Kiwidom said in NPC 2026:

I couldn't find the wellington lineup for this game anywhere. With the club semi finals tomorrow, would be interesting to see who played

Manawatu won the game 54 - 35

Players I noticed from a couple of very short clips that Manawatu posted up -

Siale Lauaki
Losi Filipo
Sam Thomson (Petone lock)
Murphy Taramai
Sione Halalilo
Dominic Ropeti
Logan Henry

The more experienced Super players like Shields, Delany, Kirifi, Harkin, Solomon, Plummer and Savea didn’t feature I don’t think.

Wellington seem to have a partnership with a Japan based club because they’ve had a few Japanese players in the squad the last few seasons, looks like a couple of outside backs. Not sure I’m a fan as they will be taking up positions from local players that would otherwise be in the squad. Young wings like William Davis from Petone and Jacob Kennedy would be more deserving of those spots based on club form.

@Canes4life club weekly website said recently there would be a Japanese prop and a Japanese outside back, plus two players from Australia in the squad

My rough stab at a squad:, without including any allblacks

Outside backs - Harkin, Solomon, Filipo, Japanese player, Jacob Kennedy
Midfield - M Proctor , Savea, k Broughton
First fives - Garden-bachop, Piri Paraone
Half backs- Parapara, Komisai, Henry

Loosies - Ropeti, Taramai, kirifi, Halahilo, Jeremiah Collins, Shields
Locks- Plummer, Delaney, Petaia, Johnny Falloon
Props - Lauaki, Alex Hewitt, Sanele, Chrichton, Japanese player
Hooker - Poasa , ? ,?

No idea if O'Reilly or Harry Press are around at hooker

@Kiwidom said in NPC 2026:

@Canes4life club weekly website said recently there would be a Japanese prop and a Japanese outside back, plus two players from Australia in the squad

My rough stab at a squad:, without including any allblacks

Outside backs - Harkin, Solomon, Filipo, Japanese player, Jacob Kennedy
Midfield - M Proctor , Savea, k Broughton
First fives - Garden-bachop, Piri Paraone
Half backs- Parapara, Komisai, Henry

Loosies - Ropeti, Taramai, kirifi, Halahilo, Jeremiah Collins, Shields
Locks- Plummer, Delaney, Petaia, Johnny Falloon
Props - Lauaki, Alex Hewitt, Sanele, Chrichton, Japanese player
Hooker - Poasa , ? ,?

No idea if O'Reilly or Harry Press are around at hooker

Not a bad crack, a blonde guy was playing halfback so not sure who he is. Sam Thomson will be in the squad as a lock, he trained with the Canes all year.

O’Reilly is also in the squad.

Not expecting too much from Wellington this year though.