Heartland Championship draw announced

Provincial bragging rights are back up for grabs when the Heartland Championship kicks off for 10 weeks of exciting competition in August.

The 2024 season saw Thames Valley end South Canterbury’s three-year reign in winning the Meads Cup, a dramatic extra-time thriller in the Lochore Cup Final and the Bill Osborne Taonga change hands six times.

Excitement is guaranteed from the moment the competition kicks off with a repeat of the Meads Cup Final in round one when Thames Valley host Mid Canterbury. The Bill Osborne Taonga will go on the line in round two when holders King Country host Poverty Bay in Taupō.

Both Thames Valley and King Country will have the chance to add to their trophy cabinets in pre-season with confirmed Ranfurly Shield Challenges against Taranaki.

New Zealand Rugby’s Head of Community Rugby Steve Lancaster said the Heartland Championship is a great example of rugby being at the heart of communities.

“Rugby in our Heartland Unions is thriving, we saw more players than ever before take the field in the community game across these Unions in 2024 and that was followed by a truly entertaining Heartland Championship.

“There is something special about seeing seasoned campaigners alongside emerging talent, fuelled by provincial pride, it always produces exciting and entertaining rugby,” said Lancaster.

The competition sees an eight-week round robin before the top eight teams play off for the Meads Cup and Lochore Cup. The Finals will be played the following weekend.