NPC 2026

It's a short gap for Waikato and BOP with a Thu night game to kick off the NPC. What you don't want in pre-season games are injuries.

@mohikamo said in NPC 2026:

@bovidae said in NPC 2026:

Counties beat Southland 45-26.

that is a very long-range pre-season trial match up (at Manurewa?)

Yeah, Southland must have some money to fly up a large number of players/staff. Waikato and HB meet in the middle for their game.

So Aaron Cruden is part of the coaching group along with Jackson Willison and Nathan White.

It seems that the team list naming schedule for last year (https://silverfern.rugby/post/1065098 ) isn't going to continue this year.

I checked on the Waikato and BOP socials for the team lists, and they won't be named until tomorrow.

4pm tomorrow all out

@zedsdeadbaby So the same as Super Rugby then

Is there a Ranfurly challenge map floating around anywhere?

@jimmyb https://npc50.nz/ranfurly-shield

This is a heck of a yarn about Tepaea Cook-Savage.

Is behind a paywall. Essentially he signed for BoP. Chsnged his mind and now BoP is playing hardball about his 2026 season.

@southernmann heard he was close to coming back up here last year too

For those that can't read the article, the change of mind relates to childcare circumstances. His partner Mia Anderson is a Black Fern so will be overseas at times. I think the label of naive for TCS and petty for BOP is spot on.

It makes tomorrow's game a bit more spicy.

FYI the NPC table is on the 'Home' page now. It updates a couple of hours after the games

Free TCS

Caleb Delaney Wellington captain.

DPK vice captain.

There are some strong-looking NPC teams out there, even with a larger-than-usual All Blacks squad. Auckland are looking stacked.
North Harbour might be in for a rough season.
BOP look a little underwhelming but hopefully that changes.

Otago is going to put a cricket score up against Southland. The stags have been smashed with injuries. They are running out kids and club players.

@sinton_enjoyer said in NPC 2026:

North Harbour might be in for a rough season.

Hopefully it's not going to be like the disastrous one we had last year!

@southernmann said in NPC 2026:

Otago is going to put a cricket score up against Southland. The stags have been smashed with injuries. They are running out kids and club players.

Real shame, that. Real shame. I'll definitely have to tune into The Roar podcast next week.

@uptheharbs Hope not either, there's a lot of good teams out there though, should be a cracking season where anybody can beat anybody on their day.

There's more Force players involved in the NPC than you think: