NPC TEAM PREVIEWS

Canterbury

COACH: MARTY BOURKE

CAPTAIN: BILLY HARMON

WEBSITE: canterburyrugby.co.nz

PHONE: 03 379 8300

TICKETS: www.ticket.co.nz

TAB ODDS: $4.00 from page 20

RUNNERS-UP IN 2022: Canterbury lost just one of 10 round-robin games and went into the play-offs red-hot favourites to win another NPC title. Wins over Northland and Bay of Plenty set-up a showdown with Wellington in the final in Christchurch. Against the odds, Wellington won 26–18 to claim the trophy.

KEY PLAYERS: Fergus Burke has made every post a winner since arriving in Christchurch from Hamilton. In 2019, he represented New Zealand Under-20s, made his debut for Canterbury and then the Crusaders. Burke has all the skills needed to be a top-notch first-five in the modern game. Flanker Tom Christie is an outstanding defender who dominates the tackle area.

YOUNG GUNS: Hooker George Bell proved himself at NPC level last year and is set to be one of the top-ranked rakes this season. Halfback Joel Lam had to be patient last year but if given the opportunity he looks a capable player. First-five Alex Harford is regarded as a future star and looked composed on debut last season.

SEASON PROSPECTS: It may surprise rugby fans to know Canterbury have not won the NPC since 2017. Their dominance of the trophy leading up to that season has not been repeated in recent campaigns. This is something head coach Marty Bourke will be desperate to change in 2023. With a squad packed full of Crusaders and New Zealand Under-20 talent, there is every chance the red-and-blacks will add to their NPC titles.

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Otago

FIFTH IN ODDS CONFERENCE IN 2022: Otago can rightly claim to be unlucky to miss out on a quarter-final place. They won five and lost five of their round-robin games but suffered defeats to Canterbury, Wellington, Bay of Plenty and Counties Manukau by only six points or less. They had winning positions in all those games.

KEY PLAYERS: Waisake Naholo makes a popular return to where he triumphed for the Highlanders. Utility back Sam Gilbert had his best Super Rugby campaign for the Highlanders and should again be a key player for Otago alongside talented midfielder Thomas Umaga-Jensen and winger Jona Nareki. Lock Josh Dickson will be at the heart of the forward pack with loose forward Christian Lio-Willie another top-quality player.

YOUNG GUNS: First-five Ajay Faleafaga and loose forward Will Stodart performed well for the New Zealand Under-20s. Loose forward Harry Taylor breaks his way into this year’s team after three years in the Otago Rugby Academy. Midfielder Jack Leslie is well-regarded, while five-eight Nathan Hastie has missed the last two NPC seasons with injury but made his debut for the Highlanders this year.

SEASON PROSPECTS: The squad remains relatively settled from 2022 with most players returning and nine new players named by head coach Tom Donnelly. There are high hopes for the local talent coming through the region – 18 squad players attended secondary school within the Otago region and 19 are graduating through the Otago Rugby Academy. In total, 21 players were involved in Super Rugby Pacific this year.

COACH: TOM DONNELLY

CAPTAIN: JAMES LENTJES

WEBSITE: www.orfu.co.nz

PHONE: 03 477 0928

TICKETS: orfu.flicket.co.nz

TAB ODDS: $18.00

Bunnings Warehouse Npc Explained 2023 National Provincial Championship

This year’s competition format sees all 14 teams represented in a single points table, with the top-eight teams progressing to the play-offs.

The quarter-finals see the topranked team hosting (1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6, 4 v 5). The following weekend’s semi-finals will see teams play-off for a spot in the finals (1 v 4, 2 v 3).

Quarter-finals will be played over the weekend of October 6–8, semi-finals the following weekend October 13–14 with the NPC final currently scheduled for Friday October 20, but the exact date and kick-off time is to be confirmed.

The Ranfurly Shield will run concurrently within the NPC match schedule, with the holders putting the Shield up for challengers at every home game during the round-robin stage of the NPC.

Wellington are the defending NPC champions and Ranfurly Shield holders. Wellington play Southland in their third Ranfurly Shield challenge of the season on August 10 at Sky Stadium, kicking off at 2.05pm. Wellington defeated Horowhenua Kapiti (68–7) and South Canterbury (67–21) in pre-season challenges.

FOR UP-TO-DATE

INFORMATION GO TO www.provincial.rugby